Aloha!  
What a blessing it is to have the opportunity to make new friendships through our friend, Mr. Song Il Kook.  We can be and are proud to be recognized as a sanctioned, official club, Gentle Song Il Kook Hawaii.  We welcome all who wish to be a part of this special club to be an active participant at any and all of our events.  We appreciate your ideas and volunteerism spirit.  Yes, we want to entertain him here in Hawai’i!  Let’s continue this synergy we have to positively reach our goal of bringing our Song and his entourage here.  It will take a lot of planning and helping hands, so we look forward to your continued support and kokua.  Kamsahamnida…ever so much…

At this time, I would like to thank certain individuals for making this club a reality:  Korea – Mr. Song Il Kook and his management and organizational team; Hawai’i – CJ, Joanne, and Marge (who introduced me to Joanne via phone).  A special mahalo to CJ of CJ Gima Tours for initiating the contact with our Korean friends and allowing us to use her locale for our organizational meetings.

Once we were granted the pleasure of having a Fan Club meeting with Song Il Kook in Korea on Saturday, April 1, 2006, our club began rolling. Our first meeting in January 2006 was a small group which was easily accommodated at CJ’s office.  We then began increasing the fan base, meeting, organizing, planning our special invitational meeting with fans from Korea and Japan.  Intentional, interactive meetings – and just having fun while doing all this just was so thrilling for we knew that day was to be a reality and we were going to be a part of a historic day!

That special day has come and gone and now we continue to keep in touch, building a lasting relationship with our friends from Korea and even amongst ourselves here in Hawai’i.  Mahalo for pitching-in when we needed help at our meetings, especially the last one, with the distribution of the Munchies fundraiser orders.  Thanks to all of you, everything ran smoothly – from the signing-in – to the purchase of goods and raffle - to the formal meeting – to the singing – to the picking-up of orders.  Our kimchee making class with CJ was a tasteful success.  If you weren’t able to attend the class but bought some kimchee weren’t we fortunate to have some?   Yes, so fresh and enjoyed by all.  Our club is still in the infancy stage, but we’re growing and learning together.  Many have volunteered to be on committees and we appreciate it.

Once again, kamsahamnida for your enthusiastic support!  Let us together achieve the realization of our goal.  Got suggestions, comments?  Please contact us. See you at the next Gentle Song Il Kook Hawaii meeting, and/or at one of the fundraisers and  I really hope to see you in Korea, too!

Take care and may peace be with you.

Co-founder, Gentle Song Il Kook Hawaii