TheBuzz
TheBuzz
More reasons for
Wynn’s toothy grinWell-known Honolulu cosmetic dentist Wynn Okuda is about to step into the limelight again as he assumes the presidency of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
"It's the first time in Academy history the president will be inducted in his own home state," Okuda said. He will officially get the gig during the academy's 18th annual Scientific Session May 7-12 at the Hawaii Convention Center.
Okuda has been lecturing in Japan, hoping his colleagues there will reciprocate and come here for the convention.
Beyond hope, however, Okuda has headed a concerted international marketing effort working with the Japan Travel Bureau, he said. "I'm working with them to get attendees from different countries in the Pacific Rim area."
The effort seeks to attract cosmetic dentists from Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand. The academy has some 5,000 members in 40 countries around the world and so far close to 2,000 have committed to attend the event.
The organization promotes excellence in the field, he said. "Truly we're at the cusp, no pun intended, we're right at the cusp of knowledge" in state of the art technology and developments in the profession.
It was decided in October 1999 that the convention would be staged here, following Okuda's 1998 proposal that the event be in Hawaii.
"It was a good feeling," Okuda said, "especially because at that time the (American Dental Association) was in town."
The ADA had a good convention in the islands which served as a major selling point."
It was more than the ADA convention, however, which has drawn other toothsome assemblies to the islands.
"The dental profession has supported the convention center more than any medical segment," said Randy Tanaka, the center's director of sales and marketing.
Chicago resident Jim Sweeney "pioneered those efforts," Tanaka said, referring to the former ADA meeting planner who now serves as the organization's chief operating officer.
"He's a bright guy who's done wonderful things for the association, for meeting planning, and Jim has just been great for Hawaii because he has a passion for it," Tanaka said.
"He loves Hawaii, he has been a fan. He is just somebody that should have been born a brownie," said Tanaka. "I think he has plans to have a home on the Big Island."
The well-laid enthusiasm has attracted meetings of endodontists, periodontists and orthodontists.
Additionally the Academy of General Dentistry is coming in July.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
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