Aloooooooooooha!

Your ( self appointed and perpetual ) high commissioner would like to take this opportunity to thank all who attended this year's Aloha Club golf tournament and reunion. By my count, 32 attended with just 2 non-golfers. First timers included Clark and Marilyn's friends, Jim and Carine Pierson from Fort Collins, Dave Tagawa's brothers, Ken, Jim, and George from Denver, Barbara Banks' brother Bruce Shadiow, wife Janet and sons Mark and Luke from Indiana, along with Lorraine's sister Anita Rodero and her friend Karen Uchiyama from San Francisco. My apologies to some of our Denver members for scheduling this year's golf get together which conflicted with your annual event in Denver. I will make it a point to confer with you before we set the dates for next year.

Our New Mexico host committee consisting of Dave and Karen Tagawa did a truly outstanding job with the accommodations, selection of golf courses, nice casino, great restaurants and so generously hosted a steak fry on Friday evening at the hotel grounds. Ken, Jim and George Tagawa and Suzy Stephenson ( Dave and Karen's daughter ) helped to prepare the fabulous meal and also stayed in the kitchen to clean up after us. Coupled with the steak fry was a wine bar hosted by Anita, Lorraine and me which was also very popular. Anita is a highly regarded grape producer in the Napa/Somoma region and is also very knowledgeable about wine. I would also like to thank Jerry and Carol Kishiyama for hosting the "pupu" hour after our practice round on Wednesday. Thanks also to Sam Cook who took care of the scoring and Jim Pierson, my designated minister of finance who collected your money and did not spend it on himself. A big MAHALO to Dave and Karen and all who helped make this year's get together another successful and memorable experience. Sam and Lorraine ( among others ) took mucho photos which will become an indelible part of our 15 year history. Forgive me if I failed to acknowledge others.

Now for the golf results:

Wednesday practice round at Towa Golf Course: 

1. Carol Kishiyama: 66
2. Lorraine Inouye and Clark Tuck: 69
3. Jim Pierson: 70
4. Dave Tagawa: 72. 
5. Low gross: Clark Tuck: 78.

Thursday: Cochiti Golf Club: 

1. Dave Tagawa: 71
2. Bruce Shadiow, Mark Shadiow: 72
3. John Holt, Steve Jordan, Carol Kishiyama, George Tagawa, Luke Shadiow : 73
4. Sam Cook: 74. 
5. Low gross: Mark Shadiow and Dave Tagawa: 81.

Friday: Black Mesa Golf Club: 

1. Sam Cook, Dawn Johnson, George Tagawa: 68
2. Skip Johnson: 69
3. Lorraine Inouye, Janet Jordan, Carol Kishiyama, Jim Pierson: 74. 
4. Low gross: Sam Cook with an amazing 77 on a very tough course.

Saturday: Final round at Towa: 

1. Dawn Johnson: 65
2. Gordon Inouye, John Holt: 66
3. George Tagawa: 67
4. Skip Johnson, Dave Tagawa: 68
5. Carol Kishiyama, Anita Rodero, Lorraine Inouye: 69. 
6. Low gross: John Holt, 77

Overall champion and winners: 

1. Skip Johnson was last year's winner in Denver. This year's champion was George Tagawa with a cumulative three day net score of 208. 
2. Dawn Johnson: 212
3. Sam Cook: 213
4. Dave Tagawa and Skip Johnson: 214
5. Honorable mention:
   1. Carol Kishiyama: 216
   2. Lorraine Inouye: 218 and John Holt: 220

Congratulations to our winners and especially George Tagawa for his stellar and consistent play!

Next year: Hawai'i is scheduled to host but after getting input from a number of you, we will be exploring the possibility of having our tourney and reunion at Lake Tahoe or Reno. Anita and Karen Uchiyama are assisting me in getting more information about lodging and golf. I also have a friend, Vern Yamanaka, here in Hilo that hosts an annual golf tourney at Lake Tahoe/Reno and will ask him for more details about lodging and the golf courses they play.

Gordon and I visited with Papa Ben and Mama Lily yesterday and gave them your regards. Papa Ben turned 89 on June 22nd and is unable to walk and requires 24/7 assistance but his mind is ever so sharp. Papa Ben and Mama Lily miss all of you and have many fond memories of our Aloha Golf Club travels and send their best wishes. Again, mahalo and aloha to Dave and Karen.

a hui hou,

Vern Inouye aka da commish

Your Benevolent High Commissioner

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