SHINING STARS
Awards go to 4 educators and an insurer
The
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii has honored educators
Jane O. Komeiji, Richard H. Kosaki, Margaret Y. Oda and
Dennis M. Ogawa; and the
Island Insurance Cos. Ltd. with its Leadership and Achievement Awards for their contributions to the community.
Komeiji is a retired teacher, historian and co-author of "Okage Sama De: The Japanese in Hawaii, 1885-1985."
Kosaki, chancellor emeritus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and president emeritus of Hawaii Tokai International College, developed UH's community college system.
Oda developed the state foundation program that implemented the middle school concept for the state Department of Education.
Ogawa, professor of American studies at UH-Manoa, is a senior fellow for the East-West Center and distinguished historian from the Hawaiian Historical Society. He is the author of several best-selling books, including "JanKenPo: The World of Hawaii's Japanese Americans."
Alissa Arp, vice president for research and dean of the College of Natural Sciences at Hawaii Pacific University, has been elected chairwoman of the Women Leaders in Higher Education's Hawaii chapter, and appointed president-elect of the Hawaii Academy of Science.
Shining Stars appears several times a week in the Star-Bulletin