60th Cherry Blossom Festival Contestant
Allison Keiko Kunichika
Parents: Jill Kunichika and the Late Randall Kunichika
High School: Moanalua High School, 2005
College: Seattle University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2009
Occupation: Registered Nurse
Ambition: To make a difference in the lives of my patients and have my own family
Interests: Judo, Traveling, Snowboarding, Reading, Shopping
Shogatsumochi making is the most valuble tradition I have in my family. Each year, family, friends and neighbors come over to our house for this special gathering. For one day, we work together to make mochi for the kamisama, ozooni, and extra to share. It is a time when we can all reflect on the past year and plan for the one ahead. Each year, another little cousin begins to learn how to shape the sticky rice into mochi and an older cousin “graduates” to a new, more skilled job. Through mochi making with my family, I have learned the importance of having traditions and passing these traditions to the next generation. It is the longest tradition I have in my family and I hope it will continue to keep us close and allow us to share this special part of our culture for years to come.