Members of Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club were surprised again at their May 23, 2024, meeting at the Cerritos Senior Center when Program VP Rosaria “Loke” Minetta asked everyone to bring cuttings of plumeria plants for a raffle at the meeting.
President Carmelita Tiongson opened the meeting, and the meeting started, as all their meetings usually do, with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Larry Anduha and the singing of Hawai’I Pono’i. led by Edna Ethington and sung by all members. This was followed by Hedy Anduha leading the singing of Happy Birthday in Hawaiian and in English for six May birthday celebrants who were present. Celebrants included Remy Convento, Edna Ethington, Cesar E. Franco, Winston Goo, Calvin Kunimoto, and Albert Ujiie.
President Carmelita Tiongson conducted the business portion of the meeting and then turned the meeting over to Program VP Rosaria “Loke” Minetta. Loke then introduced the first of the entertainment groups for the day. Director Ann Kho and the Angklung Indonesian bamboo players performed two songs with their instruments, Amazing Grace, and America the Beautiful. Ann later performed a solo hula to the song, Come, Become Hawaii.
The second group that performed were the women of Na’ Kupunawahine O’ Cerritos led by Hedy Anduha as they danced to the music of Ka’ Uluwehi O’ Ke Kai and invited people to join in the dancing.
Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club members of Na’ Kupunawahine O’ Cerritos dancing a hula to Ka’ Uluwehi O’ KeKai.
The third group that performed were a duet, Irina Soleymani and Cesar E. Franco who sang, I Remember You, and a song in Spanish, El Progresso, that they both sang.
While the entertainment was happening, the refreshment committee led by Ann Ohara, Yolanda Andrade, and Bette Kurihara, brought grapes, tortilla rolls, and candies to each table. Members also shared other refreshments on their tables.
After the third group had performed, Loke, as she likes to be called, started drawing prizes for the unusual raffle that she had prepared. She was assisted by Lucio Fonte as she drew the red tickets with the winning members’ numbers. Loke surprised members by giving some items that she baked as prizes, such as round loaves of bread, and other items that she baked. Loke also gave many cuttings of plants that she and other members had brought for the raffle. She then started giving away all the plumeria cuttings that many members had donated for the raffle.
Members must have enjoyed the entertainment that was provided and the winning of the raffle prizes and plumeria cuttings because most members stayed until the end of the raffles. They gathered in a circle to sing their closing songs of Hawaii Aloha and Aloha O’e, which was led by Hedy Anduha.
Members are looking forward to what new experiences and surprises they might experience at their next club meeting when they are gathering for at Picnic a Liberty Park on June 8, 2024. Persons interested in learning more about cultural traditions and joining Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club can contact Membership VP Myrna Matsuno for more information at 310-538-2148.