UH Arts & Sciences Alumni Reunion

Today, the University of Hawaii Arts & Sciences Alumni Reunion honored the classes of 1948 and 1949, 1958 and 1959, 1968 (gigi’s class) and 1969, and 1978 and 1979.  We had free parking behind Kennedy Theater.  It was a splendid all-day affair, which my husband also attended.  There were 73 participants.

Continental breakfast at Kennedy Theater.

We dined on the lanai.  By the way, the weather was perfect.  Not a drop of rain.

David with Tom Bingham, Interim Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities.  Tom told us he recognized David as a music education major and me as a writer of letters to the editor!  Tom is a music professor.

David with Dr. Robert Jedicke, who was a featured speaker about killer asteroids.  He told us that if we donated money to the Institute for Astronomy, we would be given a guided tour of the observatory on Mauna Kea!  We shall do that!  Dr. Jedicke was a Canadian Football League player with the B.C. Lions.  He is Hawaiian-Canadian and came to UH in 2003.

Bernadette Baraquio gave the welcoming remarks.

After a morning devoted to piano music by Aaron Sala, a killer-asteroid speech by Dr. Jedicke, and a discussion by an alumni panel — Penny Bergman (All My Children), Harold Koda (Metropolitan Museum of Art), and Patrice Tanaka (CRT/Tanaka) — all of whom made it big in the Big Apple, we walked down the mall to the Campus Center.

We had lunch in the Campus Ballroom, located in the Campus Center.

President David McClain spoke about the accomplishments of the University of Hawaii and then dined at my table.  When he got up to leave, he shook my hand and said, “You can put my picture on the Internet.”  Will do, sir!

Lunch consisted of a tossed salad, chicken stuffed with chopped almonds, and lilikoi sorbet.

After an afternoon devoted to another alumni panel, consisting of Momi Cazimero (graphic artist), Victoria Kneubuhl (playwright), and Mary Philpotts McGrath (interior designer), we boarded a trolley for a tour of the campus.

Our first stop was Hamilton Library.

Here’s David peering at 1968 issues of Ka Leo, the student newspaper.  We also saw the preservation room, the Hawaiiana collection, and the Jean Charlot collection.  Hamilton Library also has copies of my three memoirs in the Hawaiian section.

The next stop was the Stan Sheriff Center, which opened in 1994.

David and I posed with Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Nash, who I think is 6′8″ tall.  We listened to speeches by the head coaches of Women’s Tennis, Women’s Volleyball, and Men’s Basketball.  Assistant Athletic Director John McNamara then showed us the arena.

UH players who became professional players.

Coach Nash in the men’s locker room.

Humongous tree fronting the Art Department, where we had refreshments like lavosh, cheese, iced tea and fruit punch.

Dinner under the stars (on Hawaii Hall lawn).  Again, the weather cooperated.

Loved the shrimp with mango, the opakapaka, and the sirloin steak.

The day went by swiftly, because the event was very well coordinated and very interesting.  We feel such a strong bond with our alma mater that we are more than willing to donate money to the school.  Whoever thought of organizing these alumni reunions was super smart and clever.  We had a wonderful time!