Da’ Hawaiii Seniors Club held its Annual Picnic on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Cerritos Park. Approximately 130 members, family and friends gathered to enjoy challenging games, entertainment by club members, and especially to share their favorite foods at the potluck lunch. They all said that they had a wonderful time in spite of the 100 degrees or more heat that day.
This is the sixth year that Richard Nakamura has chaired the club’s picnic, and he said that everything went smoothly because each committee member knew what their responsibilities were and did them. Nakamura did an excellent job of organizing the event by delegating responsibilities to committee members for registering people, setting up tables, providing entertainment, preparing food tables, game and door prizes, and having everyone help with cleaning up at the end of the day. He also brought many of the items that were needed for the day, such as ice chests, tarps and equipment and prizes for three games. He made it look easy to chair the picnic, but everyone knew that he spent hours planning for the picnic months in advance. Many members thanked him for chairing another wonderful picnic.
All the tables were covered with red and white checked tablecloths by the Set-Up Committee and were also decorated with ti leaves and fresh flowers. Ti leaves on stalks, plumeria plants in pots and kahilis decorated the temporary stage area.
Prior to the start of the Potluck Lunch, Nakamura announced the winners of the three games that people played that day. Youling Chen won first place by putting 33 marbles in a bowl with chopsticks within one minute. Sue Nagamine surprised herself by winning first place in the dart game by scoring 43 points with three darts. There was a four-way tie for first place with Joanne Dissinger, John Fagaragan, Ken Matsuno and Karen Richards with each person scoring six points to win first place in the Ladderball game. All winners won a $5 Trader Joe’s gift certificate.
The Food Committee prepared three tables for the main dishes, salads, desserts and other miscellaneous food that members brought. Some of the dishes that members made or bought included chicken dishes, noodles, all kinds of salads, fruits, churros, cookies, pies, cakes, and of course, Spam sushi and even prune and apricot mui. Many different desserts filled one table, and there was also a cake with fresh fruit from Honey’s Bakery. There was so much food that members and their guests could take home leftovers for their dinner that night.
Entertainment Chairman Lorraine Piohia asked President Dannny Chang to M.C. the entertainment program. Chang announced each number as different members performed songs as a solo, as a group or as a duet. As part of the entertainment, hula instructor Hedy Harrison Anduha led the members of her dance classes in dancing the hula to Pua Mana, and Frances McCormick taught members two line dances.
Many lucky people went home at the end of the day with door prizes donated by members. President Danny Chang thanked Mike Tamashiro for donating many of the potted plumeria trees and other plants as door prizes. At the conclusion of the potluck, Chang invited everyone to form a circle while holding hands and join in singing Hawaii Aloha and Aloha O’e.
Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club is an active social club for seniors and there is a waiting list for Cerritos residents who wish to join the club and also a separate waiting list for non-residents. Persons interested in joining Da’ Hawaii Seniors Club in 2015 can contact Membership Chairman Joan Oshiro at 562-865-1982.
