After nearly a four-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce's Chopsticks & Wine event finally made it's full-scale return on Thursday, April 13th, 2023. Nearly 1,100 HJCC Members, friends, and foodies attended the event at the Hawaii Convention Center as we celebrated the 19th anniversary of our signature fundraising event. 

A delicious, cool and refreshing welcome cocktail was served in the foyer to the foyer to the sponsor table guests. The "Lihue Tanken"  was a signature cocktail with Koloa Spiced Rum, Re'al Coconut Cream, Japanese Matcha, Australian Chocolate Bitters, Fresh Lemon, and Choya Yuzu Soda prepared by RNDC. The 71st Cherry Blossom Festival Court helped sell lucky drawing tickets for prizes including a wine & restaurant gift card set, an HP Laptop, and travel packages to Las Vegas and Kauai. 

A total of 12 restaurants and 3 grazing stations prepared delicious samplings of Hawaii's hottest cuisine and the food was complemented with wine and spirits from 4 beverage distributors. The Premium Wine Tasting Area allowed wine enthusiasts to sample six highly allocated wines in special Reidel wine glasses. 

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS

100 Sails Restaurant & Bar
3660 on the Rise
Azure Restaurant
Bali Oceanfront
Beachhouse at the Moana
BeerLab HI
Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant
Hawaii Convention Center
Kai Market at the Sheraton Waikiki
Nami Kaze Hawai'i
Napoleon's Bakery
Noi Thai Cuisine
Sam's Kitchen
Superb Sushi

BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTORS

Island Beverage LLC
Fujioka's Wine Times
Hawaii Volcanic Water
Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC)
Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, there were over 100+ fabulous items to bid on in the Silent Auction. Attendees were able to bid on restaurant and shopping gift certificates, hotel stays, rare house plants, and unique experience packages offered by HJCC Board of Directors. 

A special thank you to Event Chair Marc Nakamoto and the Chopsticks & Wine Steering Committee for planning another spectacular event for our members and friends to enjoy! The Chamber also extends a big mahalo to the volunteers and donors who made this event possible, and to the Hawaii Convention Center Staff. The entire net proceeds derived from this fundraiser are directed to support the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce's activities. Purchases from and contributions or gifts to the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce (HJCC) are not deductible as charitable contributions.

Mahalo and we hope to see you at the 2024 Chopsticks & Wine!

Head over to the HJCC Facebook page to check out all the event photos!

Chopsticks & Wine Steering Committee

Marc Nakamoto [Event Chair and Ways & Means Committee Chair]
Richard Park III [Ways & Means Vice Chair]
Dean Yoneshige [Ways & Means Vice Chair]
Myles Shibata [HJCC Chair of the Board]
Chris Anjo
Ina Chang
Benson Choo
Sidney Hamada
Craig Hirasaki
Arnold Hirotsu
Kristi Inkinen Yanagihara
Jason Ito
Gordon Kagawa
Dean Kawamura
Laron Miyashiro
Gordon Nihei
Joanna Oshiro
Lyle Takeuchi
Kristine Wada
Wesley Wakamura
Taryn Wells