The JALD Alumni Pau Hana event was held in Hawai’i on October 16, 2025, marking the launch of a renewed effort to better engage alumni of the Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program. The “Pau Hana” (a Hawaiian phrase for happy hour) setting provided a casual environment for alumni to network, reconnect, and contribute to the future direction of the delegation’s alumni community.
The goal of this initiative is to transform the JALD program from a one-time trip into a platform for sustained alumni engagement. The Hawai’i Pau Hana served as an initial brainstorming session to generate actionable ideas. Key proposals include maintaining strong relationships with local consulates who recommend delegates; hosting regular, region-based gatherings to foster local connections; creating a mentorship structure for alumni to guide new delegates and support the selection process; engaging alumni in existing USJC programs, including serving as organizers and speakers; and forming working groups where alumni contribute their professional skills to advance core USJC initiatives. JALD alumni will continue to meet as they develop programs and activities.
Photo credit: Jose Keichi Fuentes (JALD ’06)