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UHAA & Friends–Las Vegas Chapter

The University of Hawaiʻi Alumni Association & Friends–Las Vegas Chapter was organized and officially recognized as a University of Hawaiʻi Alumni constituent group in August 1996.

The purpose of the chapter is to foster a spirit of fraternalism among the membership; to promote a strong image of UH in the Las Vegas community; and to encourage and coordinate activities of the members in support of the educational programs of the University.

The Las Vegas Chapter is charged with maintaining a scholarship fund to support scholarship awards to the University of Hawaiʻi. Our scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors in the Las Vegas area, and to members' children and/or grandchildren who will be attending the University of Hawaiʻi.

Fundraising activities to support our programs have included concerts, luaus, plant sales, publishing a Chapter cookbook, an annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, bowling tournaments, and selling spam musubi at the annual Lei Day Festival.

The Chapter has engaged in community service projects which have included a "Pacific Ethnic Program", Christmas gift-giving to needy children, "coat drive", donating to "Street Teens" and local food banks for needy families and the elderly. We have also participated within the community by performing at nursing homes, senior centers and schools throughout the Las Vegas area.

UHAAF-LVC offers its members a varied calendar of programs that ranged from a "Members in Business Happy Hour"; Karaoke Night; "End-of-Summer Picnics"; "Send-off for Students" going to UH; Chinese New Year's Mah-Jong Night; and our popular, annual Membership Stew and Rice Dinner. A host of informative speakers at dinner meetings adds to the yearly calendar.

Presently, UHAAF-LVC has a roster of approximately 115 members, the majority from Las Vegas and a few from other cities throughout mainland U.S. and Hawaii.

Chapter Mission

To instill a spirit of friendship among alumni and supporters in the Las Vegas community; to promote a strong image of the University of Hawaiʻi; to encourage and coordinate activities of our members in support of the educational programs of the University of Hawaiʻi; and to perpetuate the spirit of "Ohana" where we edify and lift up the spirits of one another.

Board of Directors

  • David Swanson, President
  • John Olim, Vice President
  • Earline Frandsen, Secretary
  • Jerry Seo, Treasurer
  • Ira Kiyomura, Director
  • Gail Wright, Director
  • Wendell Staszkow, Director
  • Merriam Olds, Director
  • Judith Kiyomura, Director
  • Jeannette Espinoza, Director
  • Paulino Espinoza, Director
  • Susan Olim, Director
  • Derek Uehara, Director
  • Thomas Fitzgerald, Jr., Past President, Ex-Officio

Committee Chairs

  • Community: Diane Smith
  • Membership: Merriam Olds
  • Newsletter: Merriam Olds
  • Scholarship: Wendell Staszkow
  • Communications: Mary Dang, Cynthia Hanson
  • Hospitality: Joanne Hanawahine
  • By-Laws: Harry Haime, Marcy Haime
  • Parliamentarian: Harry Haime
University of Hawai‘i Alumni