NEWS RELEASE – for immediate release
January 27, 2025
Contact: Derrick Inouye 808-522-9200, dinouye@honpahi.org
Living Treasures of Hawai‘i™ Selects 2025 Honorees
Honolulu, Hawai‘i – The Living Treasures of Hawai‘i™ is honored to announce the distinguished recipients of its 50th annual awards, celebrating five extraordinary individuals whose remarkable contributions have profoundly shaped their respective fields and enhanced the legacy of Hawai‘i’s rich cultural heritage.
This year’s honorees—Dennis Agena, William “Bill” Char, Neil Hannahs, Victoria Holt Takamine, and Dr. George Tanabe, Jr.—are being celebrated for their significant contributions to our local communities and the broader cultural landscape.
The Living Treasures of Hawai‘i™ is a prestigious recognition program celebrating individuals whose exceptional achievements, profound social and cultural contributions, and professional dedication embody the cherished values of our rich and diverse island community.
The Recognition Program and Gala Luncheon are scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11 a.m. in the Coral Ballroom at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. More information about the Recognition Program and Gala Luncheon are available at https://hongwanjihawaii.com/living-treasures. [Ticket sales ended as of Jan. 28; a waitlist may be available.]
The following individuals have been chosen as this year’s Living Treasures of Hawai‘i™:
Dennis Agena
For over five decades, Dennis Agena, fondly known as Coach Agena, has shaped the lives of thousands of young athletes through his Kalākaua Basketball Clinic in Kalihi. More than a coach, he has been a mentor, a second father, and a guiding light, instilling in his players not only the fundamentals of basketball but also the values of discipline, teamwork, and humility. His philosophy of earning players’ respect through honesty and fairness fostered a culture where every keiki felt valued as an individual and as part of a team. Under his care, basketball became a conduit for life lessons, inspiring young minds to aim for excellence both on and off the court.
The Kalākaua Basketball Clinic thrived for 59 years, a testament to Coach Agena’s unyielding passion and dedication. His program wasn’t just about developing skilled athletes; it motivated countless youths to pursue higher education and become contributing members of society. Parents often marveled at his ability to run the clinic with precision, accommodating hundreds of eager players while fostering a sense of community. Yet, despite his incredible achievements, Dennis remained humble, avoiding the limelight and deflecting credit to the many volunteers and families who supported his mission.
Dennis’s impact extended beyond Hawaiʻi. Visiting teams and families from the mainland experienced his unique blend of goodwill and aloha spirit, leaving with sincere admiration for his approach to the game and life. Through basketball, he created lifelong friendships and transformed relationships into family bonds. His commitment to teaching values like humility, perseverance, and sportsmanship has inspired generations of athletes and coaches.
For his lifetime of selfless service to Hawaiʻi’s youth and his enduring legacy of shaping lives through basketball and aloha, Dennis Agena is most deserving of being honored as a Living Treasure of Hawaiʻi™.
William “Bill” Char
William “Bill” Char is a revered master lei-maker whose artistry, dedication, and cultural contributions have elevated the practice of lei-making into a celebrated art form across Hawaiʻi. With over five decades of expertise, he has become a pillar of the Hawaiian cultural renaissance, creating exquisite lei for hula performances, special occasions, and community events while preserving the traditions and techniques handed down by his elders.
Emerging during the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s, Char honed his craft by learning from family elders and distinguished kumu hula. His artistry gained recognition at prestigious events like the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the Festival of Pacific Arts. Encouraged by Kumu Hula Paleka Mattos, Char transitioned from offering his lei-making services free of charge to establishing himself as one of Hawaiʻi’s premier lei-makers. Since then, he has crafted thousands of lei of unparalleled quality, each telling a story rooted in Hawaiian culture.
Char’s contributions extend beyond his artistry. A dedicated teacher, he has mentored countless students, passing on ancestral knowledge while innovating new techniques. His partnerships with educational institutions like Punahou School and Kamehameha Schools have inspired generations to embrace the deeper cultural significance of lei-making and lei-giving. Through these collaborations, Char has advanced efforts to propagate native plants, highlighting the intersection of cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.
Guided by the Hawaiian value of haʻahaʻa (humility), Char remains a lifelong learner and a devoted servant of his community. His work with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and public education initiatives further exemplifies his commitment to uplifting Native Hawaiian culture. For his tireless dedication to preserving and promoting the art of lei-making, his profound influence as a teacher, and his enduring contributions to Hawaiian culture, William “Bill” Char is celebrated as a Living Treasure of Hawaiʻi™.
Neil Jacob Kahoʻokele Hannahs
Neil Jacob Kahoʻokele Hannahs is a visionary leader whose profound contributions to land stewardship, cultural preservation, and community well-being have left an enduring impact on Hawaiʻi and beyond.
Neil’s career has been marked by transformative leadership. He directed the Land Assets Division at Kamehameha Schools that managed 358,000 acres of agricultural and conservation lands and redefined land stewardship by shifting the focus from solely maximizing economic profit to a holistic approach that also generated cultural, environmental, and educational benefits. These strategies engaged communities to mālama ʻāina, foster deep connections and restore sustainable practices.
A champion of leadership development, Neil founded the First Nations Futures Program, an international alliance nurturing ʻōiwi leaders grounded in cultural values. The program’s innovative approach has inspired a generation of leaders who are driving system change in education, natural resource management, cultural integration and regenerative business. Similarly, Neil’s leadership in launching the Hawaiʻi Investment Ready (HIR) program has bolstered social enterprises, creating jobs that foster sustainability and align economic growth with Hawaiian values.
Neil’s influence encompasses past and current community service including as Board Chair of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, PBS-Hawaiʻi and Awaiaulu, Trustee of Queen’s Health System, Board member of Bishop Museum, MAʻO Farms, Hawaiʻi Land Trust and Aloha Kuamoʻo ʻĀina, and Founder of Hoʻokele Strategies. He is also a past member of the Commission on Water Resource Management and currently serves on the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.
Guided by the ʻōlelo noʻeau, “I Hawaiʻi nō nā Hawaiʻi i ka ʻāina”—Hawaiians are defined by their connection to the land—Neil has ensured that future generations will inherit a legacy of sustainability, cultural abundance, and visionary leadership. For these achievements, he is celebrated as a Living Treasure of Hawaiʻi™.
Victoria Holt Takamine
Victoria Holt Takamine is a revered kumu hula, cultural advocate, and visionary leader whose contributions have profoundly impacted Native Hawaiian culture, social justice, and the arts. As the founder of Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima, a distinguished hālau hula in Honolulu, she has preserved and perpetuated the sacred traditions of hula for over four decades. Since her ʻūniki (graduation) under the legendary kumu hula Maiki Aiu Lake in 1977, Takamine has guided generations of students, inspiring them to embrace the values of aloha, lokahi (unity), and pilina (relationships). Her hālau has graced esteemed venues like ʻIolani Palace, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, and the Merrie Monarch Festival, showcasing the artistry and cultural richness of Hawaiian hula on a global stage.
Beyond hula, Takamine’s leadership extends into activism and community building. In 1997, she spearheaded efforts to protect traditional Hawaiian gathering rights, co-founding the grassroots organization ʻIlioʻulaokalani and KĀHEA: The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance. Through these initiatives, she has championed the preservation of Hawaiʻi’s cultural and natural heritage. In 2001, she established PAʻI Foundation to support Hawaiian cultural practices and promote the arts. Under her stewardship, PAʻI has launched transformative projects, including Ola Ka ʻIlima, a pioneering affordable housing and workspace initiative for low-income artists, and the annual MAMo Wearable Arts Show, which celebrates emerging Native Hawaiian designers.
Takamine’s influence transcends cultural preservation. As a collaborator and coalition-builder, she has fostered partnerships like the Intercultural Leadership Institute, which cultivates future arts and cultural leaders. Her efforts are imbued with integrity, courage, and a commitment to service, embodying the legacy of her family’s long history of leadership in Hawaiʻi.
For her lifelong dedication to the Hawaiian people, her visionary contributions to the arts, and her unwavering commitment to community, Victoria Holt Takamine is celebrated as a Living Treasure of Hawaiʻi™.
Dr. George Tanabe, Jr.
Dr. George Tanabe, Jr., an esteemed academic, author, and community leader, has dedicated nearly five decades to fostering understanding, harmony, and a more humane world. Born in Waialua, Hawaiʻi, his journey from local roots to global impact is a testament to his vision, intellect, and compassion.
Dr. Tanabe earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University and later served as the Department Head of Religion at the University of Hawaiʻi, where his leadership and scholarship inspired countless students. Since his retirement in 2006, he has continued his work as President of BDK Hawaiʻi and Chairperson of BDK America. Through these roles, he champions the dissemination of Buddhist teachings worldwide, including the global distribution of The Teaching of the Buddha and the translation of the Buddhist Tripitaka into English.
Dr. Tanabe’s prolific contributions include numerous articles, book chapters, and co-authoring with his wife, Willa, the seminal Japanese Buddhist Temples in Hawaiʻi: An Illustrated Guide. This work preserves the cultural and historical legacy of Hawaiʻi’s Buddhist temples, ensuring future generations appreciate their profound influence on Hawaiʻi’s heritage.
Beyond academia, Dr. Tanabe exemplifies compassionate leadership. His efforts during the Ehime Maru incident, promoting peace and mutual respect between Japan and the U.S., highlight his dedication to resolving conflicts with integrity and understanding. He actively conducts temple tours, organizes interfaith seminars, and advocates for community cohesion, bridging religious and cultural divides with unwavering sincerity.
Dr. Tanabe embodies the Buddhist principle that a nation’s true treasure lies in its people’s spiritual and moral integrity. For his transformative contributions to academia, culture, and humanity, Dr. George Tanabe, Jr. is rightfully honored as a Living Treasure of Hawaiʻi™.
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ABOUT LIVING TREASURES OF HAWAI‘I™
The Living Treasures of Hawai‘i™ program was created by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai‘i in 1976, inspired by the Living National Treasures of Japan. The late Bishop Yoshiaki Fujitani started the program at the suggestion of Paul Yamanaka, a local insurance executive, who wanted to honor those unique to the islands who demonstrate excellent and high standards of achievement in their particular fields and continue to make a significant contribution towards enriching our society. For more information on Living Treasures of Hawai‘i™, please visit https://hongwanjihawaii.com/living-treasures.