2024 Annual Report
Pauline Ono Schick, Hanagatami, 2022.
Goaisatsu
Honoring Yesterday, Shaping Tomorrow
Aloha kākou,
As we look back on 2024, we are filled with gratitude for all the opportunities presented to Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaiʻi Foundation and its students that made this such a busy and growth-filled year. From additions to the HDAHF ʻohana to building exciting new partnerships, we celebrate the continued efforts of our students and their families, natori, instructors, and Board Members as we collectively work to actualize our mission of perpetuating traditional Japanese performing arts in Hawaiʻi. We look towards 2025 – and the countdown to our 25th Classical Japanese Dance Grand Recital – with immense excitement.
Of course, central to the efforts of our Academy are okeiko lessons run by Hanayagi Mitsujyūrō sensei and Hanayagi Mitsuakemi sensei. Our instructors and students continue to pour in countless hours as they embark on learning and refining dances for the Grand Recital – progress is slow but steady! Over the course of the year we have also welcomed four new students to HDAHF, and we are excited to share in our passion for nihon buyō and nagauta shamisen with them.
We have also been blessed with many opportunities for our students to showcase their talents with several performances throughout the year. Most notably, our shamisen natori and sensei were invited by the UH Mānoa Department of Theatre and Dance to collaborate in their production of the kabuki play The Maiden Benten and the Bandits of the White Waves as the University celebrated 100 years of producing kabuki plays in Hawaiʻi. This huge endeavor involved many months of preparation that culminated in several performances at UH Mānoa’s Kennedy Theatre, and finally a performance in Gifu, Japan at the historic Aioi-za. Taihen otsukaresama deshita to Kineya Sakio, Kineya Samei, Kineya Sakikatsu, and Kineya Sakinao for all your tireless work!
We hope you enjoy reading and reminiscing about our many activities throughout the year. We extend to you our deep appreciation for joining us on this lifelong journey of perpetuating the lasting legacy of our forebears and the mission of the Foundation.
Mahalo nui!
2024 Activities
Nihon Buyō and Nagauta Shamisen Okeiko
In 2024, Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaiʻi Foundation members continued to dedicate hundreds of hours towards the refinement of their skills in the arts of nihon buyō and nagauta shamisen. Hanayagi Mitsujyūrō sensei and Hanayagi Mitsuakemi sensei collectively offer lessons on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and are a model of tireless dedication to their craft. Mahalo to our sensei for giving so much of themselves so that our students may succeed.
While okeiko may not be as visible or glamorous of an activity compared to other HDAHF engagements, it truly forms the backbone of our Academy. Okeiko is the place where we learn patience and humility as we develop our sense of physical awareness, as the body becomes our vehicle of storytelling in these traditional artforms. As Mitsujyūrō sensei reminds us, the pursuit of mastery in these artforms is lifelong and neverending.
Interested in becoming a student? Email us at hanayagihawaii@gmail.com!
Performances
Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaiʻi Foundation Annual Osarai Kai
We were fortunate to return to Mission Memorial Auditorium on the grounds of Honolulu Hale for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and had missed this familiar venue for our annual recital. Huge mahalo to all the family and friends who came to support our Academy, and heartfelt congratulations to students and natori for their wonderful performances.
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi ʻOhana Festival
We were invited to return to JCCHʻs first festival of the year to share in their new year celebrations with a presentation of four dances. See the event recap on the JCCH website here.
Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce 74th Production of Shōko Shiranami Gonin Otoko
As HDAHF has done since the inception of this event, natori and sensei supported HJCCʻs annual production of the famous play with costuming, makeup, and musical accompaniment.
University of Hawaiʻi English Kabuki 100th Anniversary Production of The Maiden Benten and the Bandits of the White Waves
Our Kineya Samon-Kai natori took on the huge commitment to lend their musical talents to this UH Mānoa production, which enjoyed a two-week run at Kennedy Theatre in April and May and a special performance in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, in June 2024. Enjoy this promotional video highlighting our members and the role of live music ensembles in traditional Japanese drama.
Image credits:
Renee Carlyle, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of Theatre and Dance
Volunteer Service
Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaiʻi Foundation members give back by volunteering at several community events throughout the year. HDAHF cherishes its partnerships with Hawaiʻi Kotohira Jinsha – Hawaiʻi Dazaifu Tenmangu and Soto Mission of Hawaiʻi and enjoyed participating in the following functions.
Hawaiʻi Kotohira Jinsha – Hawaiʻi Dazaifu Tenmangu Events
Chinowa Blessing for People & Pets: June 2
Back-to-School Blessing: August 4
Shichigosan: October 20 through November 10
New Year Omamori Pre-Sale & Hatsumode: December 26 through January 4, 2025
Soto Mission of Hawaiʻi New Year Party community service performance
HDAHF extends its mahalo to Soto Mission for our use of their community hall space to okeiko throughout the year. We were happy to lend entertainment to their new year celebrations!
Fundraising: 2024 Highlights
Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaiʻi Foundation extends its warm gratitude to all its members for participating so enthusiastically in our fundraising initiatives. From rummage sales and trade shows to partnerships with local restaurants, our HDAHF members have done it all!
foodland give aloha program
As our biggest fundraiser of the year, HDAHF deeply appreciates students and their families, natori, instructors, and community members for their continued participation in our Give Aloha fundraising drive. Foodlandʻs partial match of our membersʻ donations totaling $5,250 helped us bring in $6,500 total for the 2024 cycle! These donations help ensure the financial sustainability of the Foundation and support our operating costs for the year.
Zippyʻs Benefit Fundraiser
HDAHF hosted our third benefit in partnership with Zippyʻs nonprofit fundraising program, to great success. The 600 tickets our members were able to sell helped us raise $3,000 to go towards our 2025 Grand Recital. Mahalo to everyone for participating!
Looking Ahead to 2025
25th Classical Japanese Dance Grand Recital
Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaiʻi Foundation will hold its 25th Classical Japanese Dance Grand Recital on June 28, 2025 at the historic Hawaiʻi Theatre in Downtown Honolulu. The production will commemorate 78 years since the founding of our Academy in 1947 and feature an array of traditional nihon buyō dance performances in full traditional costume that our students are already diligently working to master.
We are so excited to bring nihon buyō performances to our local community at a scale that is not often accessible to folks outside Japan – preparations are underway with our students being fitted for their hon-ishō (costumes), securing backdrops and ōdōgu (large-scale stage props), and finalizing plans for several guest artists to join us on this special day. Notably, the Hanayagi School of Classical Japanese Dance 5th Generation Headmaster, Sōke Iemoto Hanayagi Jusuke V, will grace our stage with two dances. We are also incredibly fortunate to have Hanayagi Kusumitsu, senior instructor at the Hanayagi School of Classical Dance and Mitsujyūrō senseiʻs own sensei, join us for his second Grand Recital in Hawaiʻi.
Mark your calendars – we hope to see you there!
Celebrations
Welcome, Little One!
HDAHF joyfully celebrated the birth of Mitsujyūrō sensei and his wife Reikoʻs first child, a son. The HDAHF ʻohana is so excited to share in this happy moment with the Goda family. Heartfelt congratulations and well wishes as Mitsujyūrō sensei and Reiko begin this new chapter.
A Fruitful Year
2024 began and ended with two Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaiʻi Foundation members celebrating an important milestone, the successful completion of their shihan master teaching license examination in Tokyo, Japan. Congratulations to Hanayagi Mitsuakemi and Hanayagi Mitsusae on this momentous achievement!
This result is the culmination of years of effort as both dancers worked tirelessly under the guidance of Mitsujyūrō sensei to master two examination dances, the famous nagauta Kyōkanoko Musume Dōjōji and kiyomoto, Hokushū. These dances are meant to test both technical skill as well as oneʻs range and ability to embody multiple types of roles, and are celebrated works within the Hanayagi-ryū nihon buyō repertoire. Mitsuakemi sensei will perform Dōjōji at our 25th Grand Recital in 2025, which we at HDAHF are all eagerly awaiting.
Special mahalo also goes to Hawaiʻi Kotohira Jinsha – Hawaiʻi Dazaifu Tenmangu for awarding both dancers their annual Hawaiʻi Dazaifu Tenmangu scholarship. Their support was invaluable to both dancers in their pursuit of this prolific certification.
In Memoriam
This year, HDAHF mourns the passing of two natori who both devoted decades to our academy.
Diane H. Ogasawara, or Hanayagi Mikami, was a graduate of Mid-Pacific Institute and UH Mānoa. Born the eldest of three, she was predeceased by her father, Minoru Ogasawara, mother, Haruko (Nishibata) Ogasawara, and brother, Ronald Minoru Ogasawara. She is survived by younger brother, Norman Ogasawara, niece, Laura Turner, nephew, Michael Ogasawara, and her cat, Hoku. In addition to her dedication to Hanayagi Dancing Academy, Mikami-san was a talented seamstress and crafter of Girls’ Day dolls.
Eiko O. Seita, or Hanayagi Mitsukane, was born in Japan to a family that ran a small business and lived through World War II as a teenager. After moving to Hawaiʻi with her Maui-born husband Takeshi, Eiko enjoyed a 37-year career at the Surf Room of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel where she won numerous awards. For over 50 years, Eiko was a dedicated member of the Hanayagi Dancing Academy, and was also involved with Urasenke Hawai’i and then the Shufu Society. One of Eiko’s strengths was that she showed grace under pressure, and whatever difficulties she encountered, she overcame them with poise and dignity. Eiko is survived by her sons Alex (Sheila Shea) and Alfred, brother Yuzo Otsuka, grandchildren Daniel, Matthew, and Catherine Eiko, nephews Wallace Seita, Seiji Otsuka, and Koji Otsuka. She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Takeshi.
Our deepest mahalo for your continued support!
Connect with us
hanayagihawaii@gmail.com
hdahf.org
Address
P.O. Box 12177
Honolulu, HI 96828
Donations to Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaiʻi Foundation (HDAHF), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, are much appreciated!
Gratitude
To our 2024 donors
Hanayagi Itsue Sensei
The Toma Family
Honolulu Japanese
Chamber of Commerce
Faith Ichida
The Hamada-Kwock Family
Alex Seita
Tammy Burks
