The Living Treasures of Hawaiʻi program was created in 1976 by the Buddhist temple Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii to honor residents of Hawaii. It was inspired by the Living National Treasures of Japan award, and is awarded annually.[1]
The criteria for selection are, "First, the designee must demonstrate continuous growth in his or her field; second, the potential Living Treasure must have made significant contributions toward a more humane and fraternal society (and this perhaps is the most important criteria); and finally, he or she must have shown an on-going striving for excellence and a high level of accomplishment."[2] Honorees are nominated by members of the general public by August 1 of each year, and chosen by a committee designated by the temple.
These are the people who have been so honored.
1976
edit1977
edit1978
edit1979
edit- Abraham Kahikina Akaka
- Emma Kalani-kau'i-ka'alaneo-kilioulaninui-amamao-ho'opi'i-wahine-keakaleihilinaka deFries
- John Dominis Holt, IV
- Edward Leilani Kamae
- Edith Kekuhikuhi-i-pu'uone'ona'ali'i-o-kohala Kenao Kanaka'ole
- Clorinda Low Lucas
- Aldyth Vernon Morris
- Alice Kuʻuleialohapoʻinaʻole Kanakaoluna Nāmakelua
- Gabby Pahinui
1980
edit1981
edit1982
edit1983
edit1984
edit1985
edit1986
edit1987
edit- Agnes C. Conrad
- Agnes Kalanihoʻokaha Cope
- Edmund M. K. Enomoto
- Joe Harper
- Claude Horan
- David Kuraoka
- John Keolamaka'ainanakalahuiokalani Lake
- Kahauanu Lake
- Toshiko Takaezu
1988
edit1989
edit1990
edit1991
edit- Daniel G. Chun
- Dwight Pauahi Kauahikaua
- Moses Kapalekilahao Keale, Sr.
- Puanani Kanemura Van Dorpe
1992
edit- Helen Hoakalei Kamau'u
- David Nu'uhiwa Enoka Kaohelauli'i
- Marie Emilia Leilehua McDonald
- Harry Seisho Nakasone
- Matsuno Yasui
- David Nu'uhiwa Enoka Kaohelauli'i
1993
edit- Elaine Arita
- Yoshiko Matsuda
- Stewart Valentine Medeiros, Sr.
- Edith Hanae Tanaka
- Shige Yamada
1994
edit- Todd Toshiaki Akita
- Daniel J. Dever
- Yoshiaki Fujitani
- Roy T. Fukumura
- Deborah Kepola Kekalia
- Yukio Ozaki
- Marion Grace Saunders
1995
edit- Donald Tai Loy Ho
- Sally Fletcher Murchison
- Leone Kamana Okamura
1996
edit- Wallace F. Froiseth
- Hiroki Morinoue
- Shinichi Suzuki
1997
edit- Robert Aitken
- Henry A. Auwae
- Martha Kaumakaokalani Aoe Poepoe Hohu
- Ralph Chikato Honda
- Iwao Mizuta
1998
edit- Hubert Victor Everly
- George Sanford Kanahele
- Beatrice Kapua'okalani Hilmer Krauss
- Jerry Okimoto
- Vladimir Ossipoff
- Ruth Tabrah
1999
edit- Earl E. Bakken
- Samuel S. A. Cooke
- Shimeji Ryusaki Kanazawa
- Yutaka Kimura
- Abraham St. Chad Pi'ianai'a
- Adam A. "Bud" Smyser
2000
edit- Glenna Fusae Kimura Ewing
- James K. Fujikawa
- Ah Quon McElrath
- Rose Nakamura
- Charles Nainoa Thompson
2001
edit- Ronald E. Bright[5]
- Sean Kekamakupa'a Lee Loy Browne
- Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jensen
- Bob Krauss
- Jesse "Takamiyama" Kuhaulua Azumazeki Oyakata
- Clarence K. M. Lee
2002
edit- Alfred Bloom[5]
- Takeshi Fujita
- Takashi Nonaka
- Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone
- Yoshihiko Sinoto
- Myron "Pinky" Thompson
2003
edit- Beatrice "Beebe" Freitas[5]
- Mary Lou Kekuewa
- Dr. Albert H. Miyasato
- Dr. Margaret Y. Oda
- Ted T. Tsukiyama
- Masaru "Pundy" Yokouchi
2004
edit- The Rev. Mitsuo Aoki[6]
- Genoa Keawe
- Pat Namaka Bacon
- Fujio Matsuda
- Edith Kawelohea McKinzie
- Tau Moe
2005
edit- Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbott[7]
- Gabriel "Gabe" Baltazar Jr.
- Momi Cazimero
- Dr. Thomas Klobe
- Sione Tui'one Pulotu
- Dr. Benjamin B.C. Young
2006
edit- Richard K. Paglinawan[5]
- James T. Kunichika
- Carol Kouchi Yotsuda
- Edward T. Kaʻanana "Uncle Eddie"
- Walter H. K. Paulo "Uncle Walter"
- Dr. Terry Shintani
2007
edit- Malia Craver[8]
- George Na'ope
- Dr. Terence Rogers
- Norman Sakata
- Barbara Barnard Smith
- Dorothy "Aunty Dottie" Thompson
- Wally Yonamine
2008
edit- Edwin Mahiai Beamer[9]
- Dr. Charles P.K.M. Burrows
- Rev. Sam Cox
- Benjamin Kodama
- Elsie T. Tanaka
2009
edit- Amy Agbayani[10]
- Puanani Sonoda Burgess
- Sister Joan Chatfield
- Bert N. Nishimura
- Nalani Olds
2010
edit- S. Stanley Okamoto
- Elizabeth Kawohiokalani Ellis Jenkins
- Paul Weissich
- Reverend Toshihide Numata
- Patti Lyons
2011
edit- Josephine Kaukali Fergerstrom
- Dr. Claire Ku’uleilani Hughes
- Masaru Oshiro
- Dr. Jack H. Scaff Jr.,
- Dr. Livingston M.F. Wong, MD, FACS
2012
edit- Barbara Kawakami
- Ben Finney
- Goro Arakawa
- Gordon Mark
- Lynette Paglinawan
2013
edit- Dennis Kauahi[11]
- Nola A. Nahulu
- Michael Nakasone
- Oswald K. Stender
- Gary Washburn
2014
edit- Ida Keliʻiokalani Chun
- Samuel ʻOhukaniʻohiʻa Gon III
- Robert Mitsuru Hamada
- Arthur & Rene Kimura
- Chikai Yosemori
2015
edit- Haunani Apoliona
- Blossom Puanani Alama-Tom
- Laura Ruby
- Bernice Hirai
- Paulette Kahalepuna
- Barry Taniguchi
2016
edit- Paul Leland Breese
- Sooriya Kumar
- Puakea M. Nogelmeier
- Dennis Masaaki Ogawa
- Lillian Noda Yajima
2017
edit- Ryokan Ara
- Beatrice Kanahele Dawson
- Nobuko Kida
- Roy Sakuma
- George Yokoyama
2018
edit- Mitchell Eli
- Mary Jo Freshley
- Hailama Farden
- Gordon Umialiloalahanauokalakaua Kai
- Takejiro Higa
2019
edit- John M. Hara
- Earl Kawaʻa
- Gertrude Yukie Tsutsumi
- James "Jimmy" T. Yagi[1]
2020
edit- Robert Cazimero
- Larry Kimura
- Carolee Nishi
- Sachie Saigusa
2021
editNot awarded
2022
edit2023
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "2019 Living Treasures of Hawaii to be Honored at 44th Annual Program". Hawaii Pacific Press. February 1, 2019.
- ^ Stone, Scott S.C. Living Treasures of Hawaii 25th Anniversary of the Selections of Outstanding Persons as Honored by The Honpa Honwanji Mission of Hawai'i Island Heritage, Honolulu (2000)
- ^ for 1976 through 2000: Stone, Scott S.C. Living Treasures of Hawaii 25th Anniversary of the Selections of Outstanding Persons as Honored by The Honpa Honwanji Mission of Hawai'i Island Heritage, Honolulu (2000)
- ^ Scott Ishikawa (January 16, 2003). "Kupuna Brandt dies at 96". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Thirty Second Annual Living Treasures of Hawai'i 2007 (Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i, 2007)
- ^ "6 more named 'Living Treasures'". archives.starbulletin.com. January 25, 2004. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
- ^ "Six named Living Treasures". Honolulu Advertiser. January 16, 2005. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ "Keepers of culture named". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. January 13, 2007.
- ^ "2008 Living Treasures chosen by Honpa Hongwanji". Honolulu Advertiser. January 15, 2008.
- ^ "5 in isles named Living Treasures". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. January 20, 2009.
- ^ "Honpa Hongwanji names 5 'Living Treasures'". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Staradvertiser.com. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2013-10-17.