Issue 9 Excellence Happens

Featured Issue

celebrating african americans in hawaii

Black History Month Wrap-up

ISSUE 9

20 12

Black History Month

Table of Contents

Black History Month 2012 Issue

9

3 B lack History Month Wrap-up

A small recap of my Fun Tweet Facts

7 P arty Pix

Hawaii Actors Network February Mixer

13 Faves

Godiva da Lovely

Creator

JEANNE WYNNE HERRING

Editor

JEANNE WYNNE HERRING

Photographer

JEANNE WYNNE HERRING

Writer

JEANNE WYNNE HERRING

Logo Design Chad Burch

Photography Assistant Jared D. Erich Steinwandt

Black History Month Wrap-up

Recap of my past month’s fun facts on Twitter This Black History Month, I decided to Tweet “fun facts” about the accomplishments of African Americans in Hawaii. I was amazed by the many contributions made by blacks in Hawaii from the 1700s clear up to today.

Betsy Stockton founded the Lahainaluna School on Maui. Alice Augusta Ball discovered a chemical, while researching at the University of Hawaii, that was used to reduce the symptoms that caused leprosy.

Earnest Morgan founded the Dance Hawaii troupe.

Darrick Branch helped the University of Hawaii win its first Western Athletic Conference. The Wells Brothers started the Hawaii Actors Network. Chef Cassie brought Caribbean cuisine to the islands. The list goes on and on.

As illustrated the book, “Images of America, African Americans in Hawaii,” written by D. Molentia Huffman and Ernest Golden, African Americans have played significant roles in the Hawaiian community for decades.

In the early 1900s, Dr. William Lineas Maples helped make a Maui hospital one of the most modern medical facilities in Hawaii; Lorraine Henderson helped Kailua Middle School become a Blue Ribbon school; and Reverend Rubin Creel started Trinity Missionary Baptist,

the first African American church on Oahu.

African Americans have had a strong presence here in Hawaii; though many of us do not realize. Not too long ago, a woman said to me “it’s too bad there are so few African Americans in Hawaii.” My response was that there’s plenty. No, it isn’t a huge population; but, with Oahu being such a melting pot, there are quite a number of African Americans on the islands who are successful and happy.

Deloris Molentha Guttman is a successful author who started the African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii which showcases the accomplishments and contributions of the African Americans on the islands. Each year, The Actors Group (TAG) performs an African American play; successfully finding and casting black actors in the black roles. Leon Williams is a brilliant opera singer, known all over the world, and is featured in several of Hawaii Opera Theatre’s productions.

Wendy Pearson is a beautiful actress who has delighted theatre and television audiences in Honolulu, and Bryan Clay has become the

world’s greatest athlete by winning the Decathlon at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Let’s not forget our President of the United States!

Need I say more?

My studying the achievements of the local African Americans has given me deeper appreciation and encouragement.

I thank all those who have come before me and created a way for me. I also thank those of today who inspire and offer hope for a joyous today and a happier tomorrow.

Follow me on Twitter to read future fun facts about the Excellence that Happens in Hawaii: twitter.com\EHeZine Jeanne Wynne Herring

FEBRUARY 2012 HAWAII ACTORS NETWORK MIXER AT

SNAPPERS

F A V E S

Gdao Lovely diva Model: Robert Pete (aka Godiva) Location: Tantalus

2012 Jeanne Wynne Herring Photography ~ jeannewynne.com