Pictured: Surrounded by family, Dr. Satoru Izutsu shows his HUOA Legacy Award. Photo Courtesy of Greg Yamamoto/HUOA.
The HUOA Legacy Award was was established in 2003 to recognize individuals, families or businesses who have made significant contributions to the Okinawan community, global or local.
By Deborah Manog Dimaya, UH Med Now
After the tragedy of World War II left Japan’s southernmost prefecture with only six surviving physicians– a partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) and Chubu Hospital in Okinawa helped to turn around that state of health care through its MD training collaboration that has lasted for over 50 years.
Today, there are over 130 staff physicians of the 500-bed hospital, of which 70% are graduates of the UH-Chubu program.
For leading these efforts between the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) and Chubu Hospital, the Hawaiʻi United Okinawa Association (HUOA) honored Dr. Satoru Izutsu with its 2018 Legacy Award on Oct. 14, 2018 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. The HUOA Legacy Award was established in 2003 to recognize individuals, families or businesses who have made significant contributions to the Okinawan community, global or local.
Dr. Izutsu, now-retired vice dean and longtime admissions director at JABSOM, headed the UH-Chubu Postgraduate Program for the past three decades. The program is credited with greatly improving the quality and practice of medicine in Okinawa. A 2015 survey of Japan’s top 100 hospitals ranked Chubu Hospital as the 8th best in the country. (Read more about the UH-Chubu program).
A Night to Remember
Dr. Doris (Yamauchi) Ching, the Chief Academic Officer for the UH Academy for Creative Media and UH Emeritus Vice President for Student Affairs, escorted Dr. Izutsu to the stage to accept his award. HUOA President Courtney Takara presented Dr. Izutsu with a plaque inscribed with the image of the Hawaiʻi Okinawa Center and his name, along with the words, “for your generous contributions which continue to enrich our community and future generations.”
Rather than asking the honorees to speak, HUOA invites them to select a performance that can be shared with the 400+ banquet attendees. Dr. Cedric Akau honored his lei-bedecked “Uncle Satoru” — his mother’s youngest brother — by performing two songs on the ʻukulele, “Ka Uluwehi o ke Kai” and “Aloha Kaua‘i,” a tribute to Dr. Izutsu’s home island while Dr. Akau’s wife, Sabrina and daughter, Kalei, danced hula. Dr. Akau was accompanied on ʻukulele by Dr. Melvin Chang.
Gov. David Ige also presented the HUOA award winners with certificates of recognition.
Many JABSOM ʻohana turned out to celebrate Dr. Izutu, including Dean Jerris Hedges, Dr. Alan Otsuki, Dr. Tom and Mi Kosasa, Elaine Evans and retired UH President Dr. Fujio and Amy Matsuda. Dr. Izutsu’s 103-year-old sister Jane Nakabayashi also attended to cheer on her younger brother, age 90.
In addition to Dr. Izutsu, seven others were also presented with the Legacy Award, including including former Gov. John Waiheʻe and former first lady Lynne (Kobashigawa) Waiheʻe; retired state Sen. Patsy (Miyahira) Young; the late Thomas Taro Higa, a WW2 veteran who served in Okinawa; and Okinawan dance instructors Lisa Nakasone Nakandakari, Keith Oshiro and Julia Okamura. Each honoree was also presented with certificates from Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
See photos of the HUOA event
Related stories:
UH-Okinawa health care collaboration celebrates 50th Anniversary
Dr. Satoru Izutsu receives highest honor fr Japanese government that can be bestowed to a non-citizen of Japan for his aid to Okinawa
Longtime admissions director is the guest of honor at endowment establishment celebration”