Instructors - Cherry Blossom Festival

Cultural and Professional Instructors

The Queen Contestants are awarded various cultural classes in which they learn about their Japanese heritage and gain a better understanding of the values and customs associated with these traditions. Additionally, professional development classes are provided to prepare the Queen Contestants for public speaking, stage presence, interviewing and leadership opportunities. This year, the Festival has provided more cultural and personal development classes than ever before, giving the Queen Contestants more opportunity to learn and grow. These classes take place during the six months of training before Festival Ball in March. We thank every instructor for their time, dedication to Japanese culture, and their willingness to share their knowledge.

Aikido		Randolph Scoville Title: Principal at Ahuimanu Elementary School; Chief Instructor, 7th Dan of Hawaii Aikido Federation CBF Instructor: 1 year Goal for Contestants: "We hope the Contestants gain an understanding of the Japanese martial art of aikido, which is a pathway to inner peace and harmony on Earth; an understanding that when mind and body are of equal strength, we begin to strength our ki for the purpose of helping others. Also, we'd like Contestants to learn some basic self-defense techniques."
Calligraphy		Hiromi Peterson Title: Japanese Language Teacher at Punahou School; Calligraphy Instructor of TOKASHODO calligraphy group at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii CBF Instructor: 9 years Goal for Contestants: "Calligraphy is a very traditional Japanese art form. I would like all of the Contestants to experience writing the words that Japanese have valued through history using a brush and sumi on washi papers, and I hope they will carry these values with them in life."
Ikebana		Roy Otaguro Title: Member of MOA Hawaii Board of Directors; Art and Culture Manager at MOA; Kohrinka Instructor at MOA CBF Instructor: More than 25 years Goal for Contestants: "Contestants are able to learn basic knowledge of ikebana through a hands on experience. They are also able to learn the kokoro behind the art of ikebana, the life force of the flowers, the beauty of the flowers and tap into the beauty themselves."
Japanese History		Dennis Ogawa, Ph.D. Title: Professor of American Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa; President of Nippon Golden Network CBF Instructor: 5 years Goal for Contestants: "To gain an understanding of the history, culture and ethnic identity of Japanese Americans in Hawaii."
Taiko		Kenny Endo Title: Musician, Composer and Taiko Center of the Pacific Artistic Director CBF Affiliation: Composed and directed the Queen Contestants opening taiko number, Sakura Daiko, since 1999 CBF Instructor: 17 years Goal for Contestants: "We hope to expose the Contestants to both traditional and contemporary Japanese drumming through a ten-week intensive course learning a composition, Sakura Daiko, and performing it at the Festival Ball. In the process, the Contestants learn basic kata (form), technique, energy, spirit, and music sense as well as teamwork, stage presence, and confidence. Hopefully the Contestants, by participating in a specific art, will gain an appreciation and respect of all cultural art forms."
Public Appearance Training		Pamela Futa Campbell Title: Senior Director of Gala and Special Events at the American Heart Association CBF Affiliation: 29th Cherry Blossom Festival First Princess CBF Instructor: 20 years Goal for Contestants: "My goal for each Contestant is that they gain poise and confidence through learning skills taught in visual presentation and communication."
Public Speaking Training		Nelson Nakagawa Title: Assistant Vice President at First Hawaiian Bank; Toastmaster member, 30 years. Patti Nakagawa Title: Senior Vice President at Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties; Toastmaster member, 2 years. CBF Instructors: 3 years Goal for Contestants: "The objective of speech training is provide the Contestants with information on how to select the best topic for their speech presentation, insight on how to organize and present their speeches for the most impact, basic public speech tools to have the confidence to speak in front of an audience, and techniques and opportunities for responding to impromptu questions and interviews."