When we plan events and workshops, it comes with several unexpected challenges. At the time we held a lecture on Nakamura Tempu on Saturday, December 9th, 2006, the late Mr. Ryohei Kamiwatari called the day before his scheduled arrival in Hawaii, saying “My passport has expired. I applied for an express renewal, but with the Honolulu Marathon filling all flights, I can’t get a flight before Dec 9th.”
When my friend and co-founder of Honolulu Foundation, Yoko, relayed this message, I was so shocked that I literally dropped the phone. I called him, too, but Mr. Kamiwatari sounded discouraged, saying, “It’s impossible now.” With the lecture just five days away and his schedule packed, including talks at the Rotary Club and the Thursday Luncheon Meeting—we scrambled to rearrange events, assigning other speakers for all but Saturday.
However, Saturday’s lecture, “Finding your Inner Power: Lessons from Tempu Nakamura,” needed Mr. Kamiwatari. He suggested Tsutomu Shimabukuro, who was planning to participate in the Honolulu marathon, as a substitute speaker, but we urged him to come if at all possible. As a last resort, we also requested a video lecture should he be unable to attend in person.
However, it is in moments like these that fate seems to lend a hand. We booked his flight using United Airlines mileage, and by chance, a United representative, who had known Mr. Kamiwatari for a long time, happened to drop by Mr. Kamiwatari’s home, assuming he was already in Hawaii. When Mr. Kamiwatari explained the situation, the representative offered to find a solution. Thanks to their efforts, Mr. Kamiwatari was able to arrive safely just one day before the lecture.
Those three days were nerve-wracking, and I endured quite a bit of stomach pain from the stress. So many unexpected things can happen! Since this incident, I always make sure to remind visitors from Japan to check their passport expiration dates in advance.
In the end, everything fell into place, and on December 9, the lecture was successfully held at the East-West Center’s Imin Conference Hall at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The event was a great success, followed by a luncheon where attendees enjoyed a warm and friendly gathering.
Below is a passage from The Echoes of Truth, a book by Nakamura Tempu, which was featured in the lecture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3AQRVfXXBU