Members of Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club elected their officers for 2026 and honored the club’s veterans at their general meeting on November 13, 2025, at the Cerritos Senior Center in Cerritos.
Club President Carmelita Tiongson welcomed members and guests to the meeting at 2:00 p.m. and asked David Ethington to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Winona Chang and Gladys Ujiie led the singing of “Hawai’i Pono’i,” the state anthem for Hawai’i, and honors unity among Hawaiian people and the club’s members, who are Hawaiians at heart.
Hedy Anduha then led the singing of “Happy Birthday” in Hawaiian and English to November birthday celebrants Larry Anduha, Winona Chang, and Bette Kurihara.
President Tiongson then began the business portion of the day and received reports from her board members including Ken Matsuno’s treasurer’s report and Helen Limbo’s minutes of the last meeting. It was clarified that the raffle prize donations for the Holiday Party should be a minimum of $10.00 and not $20. She then proceeded to conduct the election of officers for 2026, with the assistance of past president Danny Chang.
The following members were elected to serve as members of the Board of Directors for Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club in 2026: President, Carmelita Tiongson; 1st VP Programs, Rosaria “Loke” Manetta; 2nd VP Membership, Myrna Matsuno and Carrie Kumabe; 3rd VP, Performances, Irina Soleymani and Ping Chen; Secretary, Helen Limbo and Rotating Secretaries; Treasurer, Ken Matsuno; Ohana Care, Malorette Gascon and Annie Kelly; Audio Techs, Susan McCormick, Cesar Franco, Carrie Kumabe, Irina Soleymani, and Ping Chen.The club voted that members may bring their own refreshments to share at meetings.
Carmelita then thanked the members who served on the 2025 Board of Directors and who are continuing to serve on her 2026 Board of Directors. She said there are still openings on the Board of Directors and she would welcome new volunteers.
As part of the Veterans Day program, members of the Kupunawahine (elder women or grandmothers) danced two hulas to “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful.” The women were patriotically dressed in while dresses with red cloths draped over their left shoulders, and wearing blue yarn leis and red, white, and blue flowers in their hair.