December 2022

"If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed."

--Admiral William McRaven

On behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! As most of us traditionally do, we all probably already made our New Year’s Resolutions. I’m sure that when we were all younger, we made large and ambitious resolutions. But I can honestly say, I don’t remember fulfilling those resolutions. Throughout 2022, the recurring theme in both my professional, personal, and Kiwanis life has been goal setting. From attending professional development training as a teacher, to Kiwanis Education Academy, and also just talking with family and friends, this topic has always come up. And if there’s any take away from these lessons, it’s to start small. Even completing the smallest of tasks can give you the motivation you need to energize you throughout your day. It can be something as simple as keeping your work desk clean and organized, or to quote Michael Scott: “I made a resolution to floss, and I did it. 12:01, January first, BAM! Blood everywhere.” And for the teachers: not to have any unread emails by the end of the day.

As we start off this year, yes we should start strong, but we also need to stay strong throughout the entire year. And the best way to do this is to continue moving forward little by little, step by step, all while keeping in mind our purpose.

Happy New Year from the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor.

~ Aladdin Roque-Dangaran

President of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor

October 2022

... I went on a family trip to North Carolina for my cousin’s wedding. And while it was a very short trip (only 4 days), it was one of the best experiences I have had. Not just being on the east coast, but to be with my cousin and family who don't live in Hawaii. Our "Dangaran Cousin's" were always a close knit group. A lot of us grew up in the same house and were practically siblings. A couple of the cousins lived on an outer island or on the mainland, but when they came to visit it was like they were always there. When our grandma passed away last year, this bond seemed to strengthen even more. It was like we all made an internal vow to always be there for each other. And even though my cousins knew we were coming to their wedding, you could see them light up when they saw us there.

This is what it’s like to be a part of the K-Family. We have this internal vow and drive to be there when help is needed. And especially here in Hawaii, the Kiwanians really do take care of each other, no matter what club they are from.

Again, thank you for coming (to our installation)! Looking forward to a great year! And especially to our Key Clubbers! We always enjoy having you at our events. We really wouldn’t be a club without you.

~ Aladdin Roque-Dangaran

President of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor

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