January is Youth Services Month
From the meeting of January 7, 2026
Call to Order: President Tim Hansen called the meeting to order at 7 am.
Pledge: Richard Cunningham
Inspiration: Mike Carroll - “Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Francis of Assisi
Trivia: In what year was Youth Services adopted as a Pillar of Service? 2010!
Guests: Victoria Adams, Mr. Katsuji & Atsuko Takazawa, (Katsuji is a Rotarian in Japan)
Birthdays: Dale Tokuuke, Dwayne Mukai, Deb Beaver
Anniversaries: None
Inductions: Sandra Sakaguchi
Club Announcements:
- President Hansen acknowledged the work done by Jan, Anita, Deb Beaver and others that made for a fabulous holiday party at the Bank of Hawaii.
- He also acknowledged the great turnout of Rotarians at Steve Jacunski’s Celebration of Life.
- Finally, he announced the memorial service for Fire Chief Kuzuo Todd was on January 11th. Chief Todd was very involved in RYLA as a member of the Rotary Club of Hilo.
- Virginia Juettner updated the Club on the reading program and the Birthday Books. She is looking for a few more volunteers as readers and to assist with Birthday Books.
- Jan Haraguichi-Abundo is leaving for PALS, formerly PETS, and is still looking for a Treasurer for next year as well as a Vocational Services Chair. A PE Designee is needed for the years 2029-2030.
- JoB reported on the upcoming Navy-Blue Program. The Navy is planning on bringing two hundred sailors to Hilo between March 9-12 to engage in civic projects. JoB, Jan and Virginia came up with a list of projects including the Friend of Liliuokalani Park, the literacy projects, Food Basket boxing etc. JoB also reported that Pepeekeo Community Center is kicking off its community relations project on Jan. 18th
- Richard Cunningham explained the goals for the HRYF and the Nursing Scholarship. We need $5,000 for the Nursing Scholarship and he would like to raise around $3,000 for HRYF by April. Of course, he is building an incentive in the form of silver oak jewelry box which will be finished around April 1st.
Happy Dollars
$20 – Patrick Bodell – Has lived in Hilo for 3 years and finally made it to Lyman
Museum, The Imiloa Astronomy Center and The Panaewa Rainforest Zoo. We all should visit or visit again, soon!
$20 – Miyuki Lee – Sorry for her absence for 3 months. Her mom is doing good but
Miyuki needs to go back to Japan again in March ’26, for Mom’s heart surgery.
$20 – David DeLuz, Jr. – For Steve Jacunski’s Celebration of Life. David and his wife
spent Christmas in Osaka, Kobe, Miyajima Island/Hiroshima, Japan.
$10 – Katsuji & Atsuko Takazawa – Happy to see us again! He is Rotarian in Rotary
Club Isesaki Chuo in Gunma, Japan. Katsuji reported there are 100 members.
Katsuji will bring a Rotary Banner next time he visits us.
$5 – Tim Hansen – Wonderful trip to Mexico and family time in California.
$5 – Virginia Juettner – Vending Machine car – Steve Jacunski humor, Tristan lunch
with Jan & JoBee. Rotary visit to Arizona? How about a Rotary cruise with us club
members?
Guest Speakers
Jen Tonouye, RC of Hilo and D5000 Youth Services Chair, was assisted by Kennedy Moniz and Ava Sorenson. They updated the Club on RYLA and Rotaract.
- Thanks to the efforts of Kazuo Todd and others, RYLA is more student oriented. Youth Facilitators run most of the daily program under the direction of returning Youth Coordinators.
- RYLA will take place between Feb. 13-15 with 63 Big Island students already enrolled.
- Volunteer Rotarians are needed as drivers and support personnel and of course as monetary donors.
- Kennedy and Ava reported on the activities of the Rotaract Club of East Hawaii which was recharted in August of 2025
- The Rotaract Club is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Hilo, Hilo Bay and South Hilo and draws members from the U. H. Hilo and the community college.
Closing Announcements
- Fire Chief Kazuo Todd Memorial Service is Sunday, January 11th, Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
- Check your emails and the Club website.
- Sign up for door prizes and inspirations with Lorraine.
Door Prizes: Kathleen Rowden won the $100 gift card and two beaded South African cups from a women’s program in Cape Town.
Four Way Test: Kennedy Moniz
January door prizes and inspirations:
January 14 is Patrick Bodell
January 21 is Sandra Wagner-Wright
January 28 is Anita Cunningham
Next Guest Speak is Susan Osborne