With Help from Our Friends
SSFM’s Cheryl Soon has published her second book, Statues, Monuments and Memorials on Hawaii, Kauai, And Molokai. Cheryl received valuable input in identifying her subjects from many sources, not the least of which came from her SSFM colleagues.
Sonya Koki and Jo-Anna Herkes became living examples that the words in the book’s title, Remembering History, was not just about statues. It also reflects their own stories.
Kannon-sama, Kauai – Sonya Koki
Sonya Koki, SSFM’s Human Resource Manager, has close ties to the World Peace Kannon-sama statue on Kauai. Sonya explained, “I got married in the temple and pretty much grew upat Zenshuji Soto Mission along with Rev. Kouchi Miyoshi, his wife and children. “The idea for the Kannon-sama statue came to Rev. Kouchi Miyoshi after reading an article in a local Hawaii newspaper about a disagreement between Japanese tourists and mainland tourists at the Pearl Harbor Memorial. The statue represents the belief that regardless of where people are from, we are all part of the same human race and should be kind to one another. Rev. Miyoshi emphasized this point by using the analogy of flowers, stating that like flowers of different colors, every person is beautiful.
Filipino Worker Monument Kea’au, Hawaii -Jo-Anna Herkes
Immigrants from the Philippines were a crucial asset to the Islands at the turn of the century and beyond. Sakadas, as they were known, is a term of Spanish origin meaning lower-paid workers recruited from out of the area. In Hawaii, the word is synonymous with the Filipino pioneers who first arrived in Hawaii in 1906 to work on sugar plantations. The Sakada Statue has particular significance to Jo-Anna Herkes, SSFM’s Business Development Leader – Hawaii Island. Her family history is steeped in the legacy of the Sakadas. Her grandparents immigrated to Hawaii Island in the late 1800’s. Her father and his siblings all worked the sugar fields. Jo-Anna says, helping Cheryl connect with knowledgeable sources about the Sakada story in Hawaiian history was an inspiring and rewarding opportunity.”
WITH HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS
SSFM’S CHERYL SOON HAS PUBLISHED HER SECOND BOOK, STATUES, MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS ON HAWAII, KAUAI, AND MOLOKAI. CHERYL RECEIVED VALUABLE INPUT IN IDENTIFYING HER SUBJECTS FROM MANY SOURCES, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH CAME FROM HER SSFM COLLEAGUES.
Sonya Koki and Jo-Anna Herkes became living examples that the words in the book’s title, Remembering History, was not just about statues. It also reflects their own stories.
Kannon-sama, Kauai – Sonya Koki
Sonya Koki, SSFM’s Human Resource Manager, has close ties to the World Peace Kannon-sama statue on Kauai. Sonya explained, “I got married in the temple and pretty much grew upat Zenshuji Soto Mission along with Rev. Kouchi Miyoshi, his wife and children. “The idea for the Kannon-sama statue came to Rev. Kouchi Miyoshi after reading an article in a local Hawaii newspaper about a disagreement between Japanese tourists and mainland tourists at the Pearl Harbor Memorial. The statue represents the belief that regardless of where people are from, we are all part of the same human race and should be kind to one another. Rev. Miyoshi emphasized this point by using the analogy of flowers, stating that like flowers of different colors, every person is beautiful.
Filipino Worker Monument Kea’au, Hawaii -Jo-Anna Herkes
Immigrants from the Philippines were a crucial asset to the Islands at the turn of the century and beyond. Sakadas, as they were known, is a term of Spanish origin meaning lower-paid workers recruited from out of the area. In Hawaii, the word is synonymous with the Filipino pioneers who first arrived in Hawaii in 1906 to work on sugar plantations. The Sakada Statue has particular significance to Jo-Anna Herkes, SSFM’s Business Development Leader – Hawaii Island. Her family history is steeped in the legacy of the Sakadas. Her grandparents immigrated to Hawaii Island in the late 1800’s. Her father and his siblings all worked the sugar fields. Jo-Anna says, helping Cheryl connect with knowledgeable sources about the Sakada story in Hawaiian history was an inspiring and rewarding opportunity.”