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L<\/span>egacy in Hawai\u2018i is not inherited; it is practiced. It is built over years by individuals who show up \u2014 for people, for culture, for society \u2014 often without expectation of acknowledgment.<\/p>\n The Living Treasures of Hawai\u2018i program recognizes those whose dedication continues to shape Hawai\u2018i in ways both visible and profound. Each year, they are formally recognized at a community luncheon (this year on Feb. 21) that brings together recipients, their families and supporters to celebrate the honorees\u2019 lives of service and impact.<\/span><\/p>\n Established in 1976 within the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai\u2018i, the program was inspired by Japan\u2019s Living National Treasures, or Ningen Kokuh\u014d. It was Bishop Yoshiaki Fujitani who brought the idea forward, inspired by a suggestion from community leader Paul Yamanaka. From the beginning, the vision was rooted in gratitude and cultural stewardship. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt began with a simple but sincere purpose \u2014 to honor those who were preserving Hawai\u2018i\u2019s cultural and artistic heritage,\u201d says Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai\u2018i. \u201cOver time, it has grown to recognize individuals in many fields whose lives of dedication, integrity and service continue to enrich our islands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n That evolution mirrors Hawai\u2018i itself. While the very first Living Treasure, Charles Kenn, was honored for his work as a historian of Hawaiian culture, the program has since expanded to recognize educators, scientists, healers, cultural practitioners and local advocates. What unites these remarkable individuals is not prestige or prominence, but a commitment to serving others.<\/span><\/p>\n Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai\u2018i is uniquely suited to steward this honor. Grounded in Buddhist teachings, the mission emphasizes compassion, gratitude and interconnectedness \u2014 values that shape the Living Treasures program.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c(It) reflects our belief that every life has value when it is guided by wisdom, kindness and a commitment to the greater good of the community,\u201d Umitani says.<\/span><\/p>\n Those principles are reflected in the program\u2019s criteria, which emphasize not only excellence, but also lifelong learning and the willingness to share one\u2019s gifts for the benefit of others, ideals that resonate deeply within Hawai\u2018i\u2019s cultural fabric of aloha, respect and interconnectedness. <\/span><\/p>\n One of the program\u2019s defining features is its accessibility. Anyone may submit a nomination and the community is encouraged to look for those whose contributions may not have made headlines. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat truly stands out is not wealth, position or fame, but a lifetime of meaningful contribution, integrity and service, individuals who do their work out of a deep sense of duty and purpose, quietly enriching the lives of others,\u201d Umitani says.<\/span><\/p>\n This community-driven process also helps ensure diversity among honorees. The selection committee thoughtfully considers nominations across disciplines, cultures and lived experiences, striving for balance that reflects Hawai\u2018i\u2019s rich and multifaceted identity.<\/span><\/p>\n For those who are honored, the recognition often becomes a continuation rather than a conclusion. Past Living Treasures frequently deepen their work through teaching, mentoring and service, using the visibility of the program to uplift others and strengthen the islands\u2019 social fabric.<\/span><\/p>\n As the Living Treasures of Hawai\u2018i program enters its 51st year, its message feels especially resonant. In a time marked by rapid change and growing complexity, the program affirms that tradition and progress are not opposing forces. Rather, they move forward together.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe values that shape Hawai\u2018i \u2014 respect, compassion, responsibility and service \u2014 are timeless,\u201d Umitani reflects. \u201cWhat changes is the way each generation expresses them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n This year\u2019s honorees are Dr. Billy Bergin, Dr. Bruce Ka\u2018imiloa Chrisman, M\u0101puana de Silva, James and Victoria Kennedy, and Sheree Tamura. (See sidebar on this page.) They embody that balance between deep cultural roots and innovative approaches to service. <\/span><\/p>\n Their work demonstrates that honoring heritage does not mean standing still, but rather carrying core values forward in ways that meet the needs of the present.<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond recognition, Living Treasures of Hawai\u2018i also serves as a quiet guidepost for the next generation. By lifting up role models who lead with humility and heart, it offers young people examples of what meaningful, service-centered leadership can look like.<\/span><\/p>\n This year, that commitment to the future takes a new form. At the Feb. 21 luncheon, the program will present its very first Shining Spirit Youth Award, a new recognition created to honor emerging leaders who embody compassion and generosity through service.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn today\u2019s world \u2026 we face many complex challenges,\u201d Umitani says. \u201cThese challenges remind us that our lives are deeply interconnected, and that our actions, thoughts and words inevitably affect one another.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Through this lens, the program has grown to become more than an annual ceremony.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEach life shines in its own way, and every person has something precious to offer,\u201d Umitani says.<\/span><\/p>\n As Hawai\u2018i gathers to celebrate its Living Treasures once again, the message is clear: Legacy is not about recognition alone, but about responsibility. It is about choosing, day after day, to live with compassion, purpose and aloha, and in doing so, shaping a future worthy of those who will inherit it.<\/span><\/p>\n The 51st annual Living Treasures of Hawai\u2018i Recognition Program and Luncheon takes place Saturday, Feb. 21, at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waik\u012bk\u012b Beach Resort\u2019s Coral Ballroom. Visit hongwanjihawaii.com\/living-treasures for more information.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Legacy in Hawai\u2018i is not inherited; it is practiced. It is built over years by individuals who show up \u2014..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":2666,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-story"],"yoast_head":"\n