Honolulu Sunset’s Past President Dr. Dan Murariu says it all, quote: “What an incredible way to wrap up our 2025–2026 Rotary year at this weekend’s District 5000 Conference!”
The 2026 District Conference was so much fun with the Tournaments, the Taiko Center of the Pacific Drummers, Lion Dance (with Mililani Sunrise Rotarian Dean), the People Bingo Game (with Master Gamer Lee LaBrash) and the Peace Game, which was an app that encouraged participants to meet new people (Game Leader Nancy Lowrey and Techie Brian Dunkel.)
We heard from inspiring speakers who all had a peace message but from different perspectives. Waianae Coast President Glenn Arakawa said about our Speaker: "What an inspiring time at the Rotary District 5000 Conference, centered around this year’s powerful theme: Peace Through Leadership. We were honored to hear from renowned educator and peace advocate Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, whose message reminded us that peace is something we actively build through compassion, understanding, and connection. Leadership isn’t just about the positions we hold. It’s about how we use our voices, our gifts, and our service to bring people together. Mahalo, Rotary District 5000, for reminding us that peace begins with each of us and through Service Above Self, we can create lasting impact."
Thank you to the inspiring speakers Maya Soetoro. Kent Keith, Ray Matsumiya and Ambassador James Moriarty. Governor Josh Green even popped in to acknowledge the work Clubs all over the state do to support our communities during Times of crisis.
Rotary’s strength lies not in any one club, but in our collective commitment to serve. Every project, every volunteer hour, every act of kindness contributes to a brighter future for our communities. The People of Action Awards program is a guide for clubs to strive for excellence. The Club of the Year recognizes clubs that excel in all areas of service, as judged by club presidents. Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Clubs of the Year!
Small Club- Rotary Club of Kapolei, President Jason Schreur
Medium Club- Rotary Club of Hickam Pearl Harbor, President Emilie Smith
Large Club, Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset, President, Dan Murariu
RI President's Representative Johrita Solari assisted IPDG Nancy Cabral in presenting 3 special Rotary International Awards. The Service Above Self Award is RI's highest individual honor, given to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide each year for exceptional humanitarian service. The Service Above Self award.is awarded to Honolulu Sunset Rotarian Arjun Aryal. Arjun led eight Global Grant projects across five Areas of Focus (Education, WASH, Disease Prevention, Environment, and Economic Development) in Malawi, the Philippines, and Nepal, making significant contributions to the success of many other grants.
Big Mahalo to our 2026 Conference Sponsors: Title Sponsors: Day Lum Hawaii, Corteva, Stretch Lab, DGE Rich Proctor. Sponsors: KTA Super Stores, W.H. Shipman Limited, Randy Kurohara, HPM Building Supply, FundDevelopment Group. Event Sponsor: Naomi Masuno
Special thanks to Edward Enterprises for printing services, Tracy Hargrave for the Centerpieces and leis, Green Point Nurseries for the beautiful flowers, Eugene Price - PD Technologies for the beautiful stage backdrop.
Many clubs and individuals around the District have donated hygiene kit item and Ernie Anderson from the Rotary Club of Pearl Harbor coordinated the bagging of the items. We were able to assemble over 300 kits for the U.S. Vets program. Tamah-Lani accepted the donation and thanked Rotary for our invaluable support.
Executive Director Tamah-Lani Noh from the U.S. Vets Barber's Point spoke on Saturday about their program which offers on-site transitional, long-term and permanent housing, and is home to U.S.VETS’ signature program, Veterans in Progress, assisting homeless veterans gain residential stability, increase their skill levels and income, and achieve a greater level of self-determination through employment. Tamah-Lani expressed the gratitude they have for all the work Rotary has done for them.
Thank you to Hilo Bay's Jan Abundo and Tim Hansen for putting the Celebration of Life information together. Rest in Peace to the following who passed this last Rotary Year:
A huge Mahalo to Dr. Kent Keith for gifting each conference attendee with a copy of his book, Anyway The Paradoxical Commandment which encourages readers to lead a paradoxical life and seek meaningful existence despite societal absurdities. Embracing these commandments offers a path to true happiness and liberation from social pressures.
We were mesmerized by the music of Dr. Sun Hui, Ph.D. She played the Erhu, a two-stringed bowed musical instrument or spike fiddle that is sometimes known in the Western world as the Chinese violin or a Chinese two-stringed fiddle that is about a thousand years older than the violin. It is the most popular of the Chinese huqin family of bowed string instruments. Perhaps no musical instrument is more evocative of China than the erhu even though its origins most likely developed beyond the borders of Chinese culture. It is historically known as the barbarian’s fiddle. She is an Excellence Prize Winner of the National Erhu Competition in Taiwan, Sun has performed throughout Europe and the Americas in many prestigious music venues and in Taiwan’s National Concert Hall and the Taiwan National Opera.
It took a team to put on the conference, under the leadership of Laurie Yoshida and Oahu co-chairs Tina and John Doty. We were fortunate to have Johrita Solari represent the RI President.
Thank you to Marietta Bustamante for leading the Young Professional Exchange to Thailand. The participants, Nicole Baltazar, Aiesha Pradhan and Michael Tong had a wonderful time experiencing the culture and learning about the vocations in Thailand. Congratulations to Bev Heikes for graduating the District Leadership Academy Cohort: Lily Shaw, Claudia Wilcox-Boucher, Natasha Clarin, Kat Haber and, Stefanie Coury.Thank you to the caterer, Stacey’s Mom Hawaii Events for the delicious food. Thank you to the Walk for Peace Chair – Kahala Sunrise Erika Gallaneau and the team.
Awesome job with the online auction goes to Marietta Bustamante and House of Friendship Chair, Beth Hoban.
The terrific Sergeant-At-Arms were lead by Al Weiland.
