The Hawaii State Conference

Arriving in Honolulu late on a Tuesday evening, it was reassuring to be greeted by Pauline Wagnon with a lei for both Bill and me.  She escorted us to the Hale Koa hotel, a beautiful place on Waikiki beach set aside for military families, both active duty and retirees.  Seeing young men and women enjoying this paradise for rest and recuperation was significant.  Following the conference and before we went to the airport, Pauline drove us to the western point of the island to see the less developed, more natural parts of this lush island. Mahalo, Hawaii Daughters for a wonderful visit.

-President General Ann Dillon

President General Ann Dillon and husband Bill arrived in Honolulu for some rest and relaxation before the Hawaii State Conference. In addition they were able to tour several patriotic historic sites on the island of Oahu.

The tour started out at the Arizona Memorial where the group boarded a boat to the site of the wreck of the USS Arizona. Mrs. Dillon had the honor of placing a lei in remembrance. The next stop was a driving tour through Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam where they viewed the nuclear submarines that were docked on the Submarine Base and the airman barracks that were damaged on December 7. Then the group continued on with a traditional Hawaiian lunch overlooking Hickam beach. After lunch they headed to a DV tour of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, DPAA, where they are still recovering bodies and parts of bodies from World War II the Vietnam War and the Korean War.  The tour was the highlight of their day. After the DPAA tour, they traveled to the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl where they learned an abbreviated US history of the battles of the Pacific islands during World War II. The last stop of the tour was at the Aloha Chapter house and library where we were met by Aloha Regent Lynda Hylander and volunteer librarian Kathy Hudson.

On Saturday, March 11, 2017, the Hawaii State Conference began at the Honolulu Country Club. That day the sun was shining brightly and it was a beautiful day in Hawaii Nei.  The Conference began promptly at 9:00 am with myself presiding.  A memorial Service was held for three departed Daughters.  The JAC Thatcher Award was given to Judy Kinser, JAC Committee Chairman for many years and former organizing regent of the Haleakala Chapter on Maui. We're hoping to start a new chapter on the island of Kauai.  The organizing regent, Nancy McMahon was present at the conference.

The Conference was a success and the Hawaii NSDAR membership as well as the SAR and guests were treated to an “ono” (meaning delicious) lunch.  Mrs. Dillon was the guest speaker at the luncheon and had some very thought provoking comments and opinions. There were several DAR awards presented and the SAR honored an Eagle Scout, Christopher Unruh with a $500.00 scholarship for his historical essay.  The Hawaii State Organization honored Travis Armstrong as the Teacher of the Year for Hawaii. Travis teaches 8th grade American History in Pearl City, HI and was nominated for his unique "historical thinking" teaching method.

The day ended with drawings for door prizes and much picture taking.  Hawaii was honored to have had the Dillon's with us for a few days.

Some of Hawaii DAR’s highlights for 2016 include:

• 13,045 Service hours from serving in churches, mowing neighbors yards to recycling not only cans, glass and bottles but 147 pounds of lids from the bottles.  Many other types of service projects were also recorded.
• National Winners for the American Heritage Nonfictional Narrative “Where Love Comes Alive:  An American Tradition” by Diane Hom of the Aloha Chapter and Rosetta Hiranaga from the Haleakala Chapter won First place for her entry in the Craft Category-Altered Handmade Book- “Feather Quest”  and also first in Literature and Drama, Non-fiction Short Story “Feather Quest” about the Cherokee Indians.
• National Winner in the Junior American Citizens Contest First place: First Grade Banner Hana Elementary School.
• National Winner:  Women's Issues Essay: Career, First place went to Laura Ingenluyff of the Aloha Chapter.  Laura's essay was titled “To Serve Is Also To Heal.”
• Outstanding Service of a Chapter Literacy Promotion Haleakala Chapter
• Outstanding Service of a DAR Member Literacy Promotion:  Patricia Mood and Marcia Brinkley Hawaii Loa Chapter.

Hawaii DAR is very active and we enjoy serving the National Society!