June 2022

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald

For many people, summer is a time for fun and play, going to the beach and hanging out with family and friends, but it is also a time for renewal. We mostly associate reflection and renewal with New Year, but for students, teachers, and families, summer is also an opportunity to begin again. And with the first month of summer over, July is really a time where we should all reflect on who we were before June, and who we want to be when August comes around. Especially with how fast our world is changing, our values and morals may be challenged more than ever. So, it will be important that we have that conviction to stay true to ourselves. And as Kiwanians and Educators who are dedicated to supporting the children of the world, our role has become that much more important; that there are people who care and there is still hope.

~ Aladdin Roque-Dangaran

President of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor

May 2022

I wanted to thank the Kiwanis Club of Honolulu for inviting us to their 75th anniversary. And to congratulate them on 75 years of serving their community. I learned a lot that night. I should have known, but I did not know that the Kiwanis Club of Honolulu was the first Kiwanis club in Hawaii! This made me think back to when I was a member of the Circle K at Washington State University as the very first CKI club was founded there. And knowing this gave our members a sense of pride and motivation to really put forth our best efforts in serving our community. Attending the dinner that night, I could see and feel that sense of pride and determination from the members of the Honolulu Club. Especially hearing about their diaper backpacks for the Kapiolani Health Foundation, and learning about the reasons why they chose that project, it was inspiring. Attending that night did reignite that fire a little; and I hope others felt the same. So, again, Congratulations to the Kiwanis Club of Honolulu and looking forward to many years and projects to come!

~ Aladdin Roque-Dangaran

President of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor

March 2022

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”

– Socrates

As COVID restrictions start to relax, I think it is important to take this time to self-reflect on these past two years and to begin to appreciate the things that we took for granted pre-COVID. As a service and social club, the pandemic and quarantine left us feeling empty. Sure, there were ways for us to connect and do service virtually, but there’s something about having physical human connection that makes service truly extraordinary. I remember last year, when we had our first in-person meeting, one of our members said that they walked into our meeting room and started tearing up because it had been months since we had seen each other outside of the computer. And when we started inviting our Key Clubs back to our Missouri Project, there was an extra sense of excitement and belonging there. You really don’t know how much something means to you until it’s gone.

~ Aladdin Roque-Dangaran

President of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor

February 2022

I would like to say a few words and thank Susie Wong for her years of service as a Kiwanian, advisor and friend to all of us. I remember one of the first events I went to when I joined Pearl Harbor was volunteering to chaperone the night shift at HCON. And Susie and I helped patrol the halls and tape the key clubbers’ doors. I just remember that though it was late into the night, Susie still had a lot of energy. And that’s what I will always

remember about her.

She would always come into our meetings and projects with a smile and always had a positive attitude about everything. And I also want to thank her for always being encouraging towards me when I first joined the club and during my first term as club President. Susie had a big heart not just for fellow Kiwanians, but also for our students. And for that, thank you and we will miss you.

~ Aladdin Roque-Dangaran

President of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor

January 2022

On behalf of the Pearl Harbor Kiwanis, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year, and a Happy Lunar New Year. This is the year of the Tiger. The Tiger is most commonly associated with bravery, courage, and strength. This is very fitting given our current situation. Many of us had lost many loved ones and had many hardships due to COVID. But this year symbolizes the hopeful recovery from our many losses. And what better way to overcome this than with each other.

Thinking back to 2021, the times that I felt the best about myself and the times that I felt I had accomplished them most was when I was with other people. Whether it was a gathering with friends and family or at a service project, it was these things that helped me overcome all of the negativity around me. Bravery and courage doesn’t mean that you have to do things alone. In my experience, the most impactful events occur when people work together.

So, Happy New Year, from the Pearl Harbor Kiwanis!

~ Aladdin Roque-Dangaran

President of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor