1991 113th National Guard Association of the United States Annual Conference

Agena cites accomplishments; passes Oka gavel

By Lt.Col. Clarence M. Agena

. . .

“HAWAII 91”, 113th NGAUS General Conference, to be hosted by the HNGA, will be held during the period 4-6 September 1991 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. There are plenty of jobs and work available for you as volunteers. It is not too early to start “the wheels turning” for the planning and execution of a successful “HAWAll
. . .
event. Your unselfish support and assistance will be needed to make “HAWAll 91” a big success. . ..

– 1988 April – June Pūpūkahi pp. 9

Hawaiian hospitality

The (HNGA) delegation hosted a hospitality room and promoted the 113th NGAUS General Conference to be held 1991, in Hawaii.

Donations of flowers, pineapples and juices, and cookies contributed by Lt. Col. Nelson Kunitake, Capt. Gordon Fujimoto, Master Sergeants Claire Miyamoto and Walter Tanaka, Staff Sgt. James Takahashi, Hawaii Visitors Bureau, and Dole Pineapple Company, help promote the Aloha spirit.

– 1988 October – December Pūpūkahi pp. 9

In September, the Hawaii National Guard Association (HNGA) hosted the 113th National Guard Association of the United States annual conference. More than 3,000 persons attended the three-day event that culminated five years of planning, coordination and hard work by HNGA officers, staff, spouses and friends.

– 1991 Annual Report pp. 1

One final note. The Hawaii National Guard Association will be hosting the I 13th National Guard Association Conference, September 4-6, 1991. We have been working on this project for several years and it is finally coming to fruition. Volunteers are still needed for most of our committees. I solicit your help to make this a firstclass event.

– 1991 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 2

Hawaii will host Guard association conference

By Maj. Stan Osserman

More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the 113th General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States, Sept. 4-6. Delegates, National Guard members and exhibitors from every U.S. state, territory and district will meet at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

The conference brings National Guard members together for business sessions, formal committee meetings and guest lectures by distinguished speakers. Delegates address important military, legislative and budgetary topics affecting state militias.

Hawaiian cultural activities will be available to guests not attending the business session (see signup form on this page). A formal dinner and exclusive night at the Polynesian Cultural Center is planned for after-hours.

The Hawaii National Guard is counting on all of its members to help with this major event. The conference is an opportunity to get together with our friends from the mainland and to share the
aloha spirit.

– 1991 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 9

The 113th National Guard Association of the United States (NGA US) Conference was a resounding success, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the entire Hawaii National Guard.

The three-day conference at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel from Sept. 4-6, was the culmination of more than five years of preparation, planning and plain hard work. Maj. Gen. Alexis T. Lum, our former adjutant general, Col. William Spillane(Ret.), Lt. Col. Jerry Aoki and Lt. Col. Richard Tsuchiya (Ret.) deserve special recognition for their vision and persistent efforts in 1986 to bring the conference to Hawaii. Also, the exemplary job done by Lt. Col. Don Arakaki, president of the Hawaii National Guard Association (HNGA), past and present HNGA officers, as well as the more than 350 committee chairpersons, volunteers and staff were instrumental in making the I 13th conference the best ever.

Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway, chief of the National Guard Bureau, commended our people for their prof essionalism and noted that the Hawaii National Guard
had won the hearts of the more than 2,900 delegates and
conference attendees. This noteworthy praise was representative of the many compliments I received from our
dignitaries and guests. They were especially impressed
by your well-organized operations, efficiency, accommodating attitude and gracious Hawaiian hospitality.

I’d like to personally thank all of our volunteers who
worked so diligently to ensure every last-minute requirement was planned for, coordinated in detail, and implemented in an exceptional manner. It was a first-rate effort by a first-rate team. Thank you.

I’d also like to thank those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to respond to the many changes we experienced and to those who completed the daily workload in our various departmental offices. Without your support we could not have invested the necessary time and effort we needed to be successful and completed alf of the requirements for this immense undertaking.

And, finally, I’d like to convey my gratitude to the spouses, families and loved ones of our volunteers and staff. It has been a long five years for many of you. Our Guard volunteers have been busy attending planning and coordination meetings or tending to other conference business. This has meant frequent disruptions to your family schedules and other changes in plans. I appreciate your sacrifices throughout this period and I assure you that our success was due in large part to your support, patience and understanding.

Our hosting of the national conference came at a very crucial time in our history. It was the first gathering of NGAUS, active component and congressional leaders since the Operation Desert Storm victory in the Persian Gulf. As such, it was the focal point for far-reaching discussions on defense budget reductions which were largely suspended because of the war, as well as deliberations on the future roles and force structure of the active and reserve components.

This gathering of prominent leaders in national defense enabled us to meet separately with members of the U.S. Congress, Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, chief of staff of the Army, Mr. G. Kim Wincup, assistant secretary of the Army, Lt. Gen. John Conaway and other National Guard Bureau directors, to discuss specific force structure issues relating to the Hawaii National Guard. These one-on-one meetings were highly productive and were very instrumental in our efforts to help restore proposed cuts to the Hawaii Army National Guard being imposed by the active Army’s Quicksilver and Program Agreement Memorandum reduction plans.

The conference also provided a unique opportunity for many of our people to attend this annual NGA US event. The distinguished speakers, prominent guests and extensive discussion of defense-related issues exposed our people to matters of national significance and underscored the strength and scope of influence of the National Guard Association. The gala festivities and social events in the evening were equally impressive and enjoyable. I believe it was a worthwhile experience for many of our younger members and I am certain they appreciated being a part of these activities.

The highlight of the conference, however, was the presentation of the NGA US Harry S. Truman Award to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. The award citation specifically recognized his personal sacrifices and his lifelong contributions to national defense and security. The award was a fitting tribute to a distinguished statesman, Iawmaker, and American patriot.

Again, I appreciate the outstanding job each of you did as conference hosts and staff. It was a mammoth undertaking and I am proud, as you are, of being a member of the Hawaii National Guard.

I ask for your continued support as we take on the many challeges on our road to becoming the best National Guard in the nation. Thank you.

– 1991 July – September Pūpūkahi pp. 2

HAWAII ’91

113th Annual National Guard Association of the United States Conference Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel, Sept. 4-6

The Hawaii National Guard Association thanks the more than 350 volunteers who generously gave of their time and talent to make the recent NGA US conference an overwhelming success. Special recognition is extended to the conference and committee chairpersons:

• Maj. Gen. Edward Richardson, Ex Officio
• Lt. Col. Jerald Aoki, Conference Co-Chair
• Lt. Col. Don Arakaki, NGAUS President and Conference Co-Chair
• Col. (Ret.) Bob Perry, Conference Co-Chair
• Lt. Col. Jiro Arakaki, Administration
• 1st Lt. Randy Tom, Registration
• Chief Warrant Officer Karen Stender, Housing & Commercial Air Travel
• Col. Kenneth Wicks, Airfield Operations
• Lt. Col. Eric Tom, Budget & Finance
• Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Kenji Sumida, Community Support
• Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Thomas Ito, Retiree Activities
• Lt. Col. Bernard Takano, Communications
• Maj. Gervin Miyamoto, Security
• Lt. Col. Walter Kinoshita, Distinguished Guests
• Lt. Col. Ed Chung-Hoon, Audio Visual
• Col. Michael Rawlins, Food Service
• Lt. Col. Wayson Wong, Legal Affairs
• Col. Norberto Baysa, Medical Support
• Maj. Raymond Jardine, Entertainment
• Staff Sgt. Jan DeRego and Capt. Jeffrey Protacio, Decorations
• Lt. Col. Jerry Matsuda, Facilities
• Maj. Leslie Bise, Adjutants General Reception
• Maj. Claude Ishida, Business Sessions
• Maj. Norbert Luke, Awards Luncheon
• Maj. Stanley Osserman, Public Affairs
• Lt. Col. Clarence Fukumoto, Governor’s Reception
• Lt. Col. Freddie Esperanza, States Dinner and VIP Reception
• Lt. Col. Judy Fadrowsky and Mrs. Bernee Hall, Family Activities
• Maj. Spencer Mukai, Ground Transportation
• Maj. Kenneth Tenno, Sergeant-at-Arms
• Maj. Keith Tanouye, Memorial Ceremony

Hawaii National Guard Association: 1991 -92 Executive Council Officers Council Members

• President – Lt. Col. Don Arakaki
• Vice President – Lt. Col. Melvin Honda
• Corresponding Secretary – Maj. Keith
• Ex-Officio – Maj. Gen. Edward Richardson
• Past President – Lt. Col. Jerald Aoki
• Members – Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Thomas Ito, Tanouye
• Recording Secretary – Capt. Morris Miyose
• Membership Secretary – Maj. Raymond Jardine
• Lt. Col. (Ret.) Manny DeMello, Lt. Col.
• Myron Dobashi, Lt. Col. William Vogt, Maj.
• Melvin Tamaye, Capt. Benedict FranksOngoy, Capt. Jeffrey Protacio, 1st Lt.
• Treasurer – Maj. Leslie Bise James Kawano, 1st Lt. James Matsuura

Photos for the NGAUS conference were shot by Maj. Stan Osserman, Tech Sgt. Wayne Pontes, and Sgt. Frands Shen, Hawaii Air National Guard; 2nd Lt. Steve C. Lai, Sgt. 1st Class Wayne T. Iha, Staff’ Sgt. Dennis Y. Fujii, Sgt. Jennifer Horimoto, Sgt. Lance M. Kamisugi, Sgt. Wayne T. Miyata, and Spec. Jan T. Tanimoto, 117th Public Affairs Detachment, Hawaii Army National Guard; and Michelle Ai-Chang and Stephen M. Lum, State DOD Public Affairs Office.

– 1991 July – September Pūpūkahi pp. 6-7