By Edna Ethington
One hundred and twenty-five members and guests gathered at Liberty Park in Cerritos to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the founding of Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club at their Annual Potluck Picnic. The Decorations Committee, headed by Marion Tesoro, arrived at 10:00 a.m. to transform Liberty Park to a little sample of Hawaii. They decorated the stage and tables with ti leaves, leather ferns, plumerias, hibiscus, orchids, bird of paradise, and other flowers to add to the Hawaiian ambience.
By 11:00 a.m., members and guests entered Camp Liberty at Liberty Park to register themselves and receive their name tags and a ticket to possibly win a door prize later. They carried their donations of food for the potluck and many also donated door prizes. They filled three tables with main dishes, salads and side dishes, and desserts. Food Committee Co-Chairs Mary Jane Fujimura and Gladys Yoshii helped to decorate and prepare the tables of food. They made sure that there were enough paper plates, napkins and utensils for everyone. Some of the men of the club brought bottles of water, soft drinks, cups, coffee, ice and condiments and distributed cold or hot drinks under the direction of Stan Enomoto.
M.C. Danny Chang welcomed everyone to the Potluck Picnic, and Hedy Harrison Anduha said the opening prayer and grace before meals. Danny introduced the current Board members of Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club and thanked them for all the work they have been doing for the club and especially for the picnic. Danny then invited members and guests to come to the food tables as he called the number of their tables
After almost everyone had enjoyed their lunch, Amy Tong introduced a game where people passed gifts around their table while music was played. When the music stopped, the person who held it last did not win the gift, but had to pass it left, right or across the table as Amy directed. It was fun for all to play the game and hope to win the gifts.
M.C. Danny Chang then started the entertainment for the day with Frank Yoshii singing Lahaina Luna. Frank asked everyone to join in singing the song, and then announced that he was celebrating his birthday. Everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to him in English and Hawaiian. Danny, and his wife Winona, then sang “Welcome to my world,” and the song “Grandpa,” accompanied by the club’s musicians.
A variety of songs were then sung in English and Hawaiian by the A’Ala Park Serenaders, Puniwai’s Ohana, and Bruno and the Brunettes did a “lip sinc” and dance. There were also hulas danced by Worship Hula dancers, Na Kupuna Wahine and Na Kupuna Kane. Spontaneous hulas were also done by dancers who felt like dancing when they heard the songs played by the musicians.
Solos were performed by Al Shota, Ann Kho, and Harry Aipia, and duets were performed by Rocky Asistin and Howard Koga, Frank Yoshii and Larry Anduha, and David and Edna Ethington.
David also read the story of how the melody “TAPS” originated during the Civil War. It is the melody that is usually played by a bugler at funerals for veterans and there are actually three verses of the poem that was written for “TAPS.” Harry Aipia ended the entertainment by leading the singing of “Kokee” accompanied by the club’s musicians.
Door prizes that were donated by members were drawn throughout the day and members and guests were pleased to receive their prizes, however, members only could receive the top three door prizes. Amy Tong congratulated the three big winners of gift certificates. The winners were Marion Tesoro for a $25 gift certificate to Trader Joe’s, Carol Yamaguchi for a $50 gift certificate to Roy’s Restaurant, and Stan Enomoto for a $50 gift certificate to Wood BBQ in Cerritos.
M.C. Danny Chang thanked everyone for coming to celebrate the club’s 21st anniversary. He also thanked everyone who brought all the delicious food for the potluck picnic. There was so much food that there was enough for people to take home leftovers for dinner at the end of the day!