[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14512]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING LYNNE YOSHIKO NAKASONE

  (Ms. HANABUSA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lynne Yoshiko 
Nakasone of Honolulu, Hawaii.
  The National Endowment for the Arts has named Sensei Nakasone a 2012 
National Heritage Fellow for her contributions to the folk and 
traditional arts. This prestigious lifetime achievement award honors 
Sensei Nakasone's lifetime commitment to Okinawan classical dance--
which is also referred to as Ryukyu dance--and embodies her 
accomplishments by identifying her as one of our country's living 
treasures.
  It was at the young age of 6 that Sensei Nakasone began to master 
this technique of dance. Sensei Nakasone is originally from Naha, 
Okinawa, but has resided in Hawaii since her marriage to her loving 
husband, Clarence, in 1955. In 1956, Sensei Nakasone founded the Hoge 
Ryu Hana Nizi no Kai Nakasone Dance Academy in Honolulu, and for over 
five decades has been teaching, performing, and choreographing creative 
dances. Her performing skills are legendary, but it is her aloha spirit 
that endures the test of time and her passion, knowledge, and kindness 
that have touched countless individuals over the years.
  There is no doubt in my mind that Sensei Nakasone is deserving of 
this award, for she has dedicated her life towards preserving the 
Okinawan culture while positively impacting others and contributing to 
the diversity and uniqueness of our culture in the United States of 
America.

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