Dr. Livingston M.F. Wong, Dr. Jack H. Scaff Jr., Josephine Kaukali Fergerstrom, Dr. Claire Ku’uleilani Hughes and Masaru Oshiro are being honored by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii as this year’s Living Treasures of Hawaii.

They have been named in the 36th annual award program as five individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their fields and made lifelong, significant contributions toward creating a more humane society, often without public recognition:

» Wong is credited for groundbreaking work in kidney and bone-marrow transplants in the Hawaii Organ Transplant Program and the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii. He has provided leadership to the Organ Donor Center and the Transplant Institute of Hawaii at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, according to a Hongwanji announcement.

Wong also was instrumental in forming Hawaii’s Statewide Emergency Management System, particularly its communication infrastructure.

» Scaff is a cardiologist who helped start the Honolulu Marathon. He has provided thousands of Hawaii residents and international visitors with support and training through running clinics and outreach sessions.

» Fergerstrom is a kumu lauhala artist and teacher who has helped preserve the Hawaiian weaving tradition. She has contributed largely to churches, community festivals, the Kona Life Care Center, Hulihee Palace and the Holualoa Foundation for Arts and Culture. Fergerstrom is also the founder of a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect key hala trees on the Big Island.

» Hughes has led groundbreaking dietary and health programs for the native Hawaiian community as chief of the state Department of Health nutrition branch. She has served as chairwoman of the American Cancer Society’s Native Hawaiian Cancer Committee, and of the Health Committee of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

» Oshiro is a social worker with military and case worker experience, including intensive work with Korean War veterans. He developed groundbreaking protocols for native Hawaiian healing practices.

Oshiro has served on the boards of directors for the Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center, Palama Settlement, the Domestic Violence Legal Hotline and Clearinghouse, and the American Red Cross.