Five individuals are being honored this year as "living treasures" by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission: a cleric, an ikebana expert, an "orchid ambassador," an environmental advocate and a Hawaiian music icon.

The honorees are all "people who have been recommended as being very outstanding, and significant in contributing to bringing about a more humane society," said Margaret Oda, chairwoman of the Living Treasures of Hawai'i Committee.

Those selected have also been influential in preserving Hawaiian history and the teaching of cultures in the Islands, Oda said.

"Many of these people aren't recognized because they're not public figures, but have worked in their expertise to help society," Oda said. "Those are the kinds of people we want to recognize."

This year's recipients will be honored by the Honpa Hongwanji at its 33rd annual banquet on Feb. 8. They are: Edwin Mahi'ai "Mahi" Copp Beamer; Dr. Charles Burrows; the Rev. Sam Cox; Benjamin Kodama Sr.; and Elsie T. Tanaka.

EDWIN MAHI'AI "MAHI" COPP BEAMER

Musician, composer, dancer and entertainer

Beamer, 79, doesn't like to talk about his accomplishments, which include touring Australia for the Hawai'i Visitors Bureau, being the top vocal attraction at the Queen's Surf for many years, receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Artists, and translating and recording the music of his grandmother, Helen Desha Beamer.

"I'm so overwhelmed by these honors. I don't know how or why people think I deserve them," he said.

"He's always been willing to share his talent and his time with everyone," said Beamer's cousin, Marmie Kaaihue. "He'll help anyone out with anything at any time and never asks for anything in return. He's a very giving guy."

Following in the footsteps of other musically talented members of his family, Beamer learned to play the piano at age 3, and attended The Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he was hired to sing in the Hawaiian Room of the Lexington Hotel.

In 1959, he signed with Capitol Records to record two albums that introduced the poetry and music of Helen Desha Beamer to Hawai'i and the world — an accomplishment he says he is most proud of.

In 2005, he was inducted into the Falsetto Hall of Fame, and he became part of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

"Mahi's artistry, his Hawaiian songs and hula transcends cultural barriers," said Beamer's friend and fellow performer Kaupena Wong.

DR. CHARLES P.K.M. BURROWS

Cultural resource specialist and environmental advocate

Burrows is co-founder and president of 'Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, which seeks to conserve Hawai'i's native ecosystems and educate the public about them.

At 74 years old, "he works and acts like he's about 40," said Rick "Kaimi" Scutter, 'Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi's administrator. "He's hard to keep up with. It's amazing."

Burrows has led ongoing restoration efforts at Ulupo Heiau state historic site and at the Na Pohaku o Hauwahine state park's reserve area, both on the Windward side.

The efforts at Kawai Nui Marsh have been a focal point to build relationships with other indigenous people, like Native Alaskans, Burrows said.

Burrows has won numerous awards for his work, including the Historic Hawai'i Foundation Preservation Award in 2007 and the Ka Po'okela O Kuhio Award from the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in 2001 for his service to the Hawaiian community.

"He's the inspirational leader for everybody," Scutter said. "His visions are way out ahead of most folks in terms of Hawai'i's environment."

THE REV. SAM COX

Multicultural proponent for interfaith interaction

After serving as executive director of Hale Kipa for 23 years, Cox has since turned his attention to spearheading the Open Table, an informational gathering for people interested in interfaith dialogue, which eventually grew into Hawai'i's branch of the national Interfaith Alliance.

The local Interfaith Alliance has advocated for many local issues, including the effort to keep Kukui Gardens, an affordable rental complex in Downtown Honolulu, as affordable housing.

"Sam Cox is a person who makes things happen," said Sister Joan Chatfield, who has known Cox for 40 years and worked with him on the Open Table and Interfaith Alliance.

Cox, 74, is the visitation pastor for Kailua United Methodist Church. He also founded the Hawai'i Youth Services Network and serves on the board of the Kokua Council for Senior Citizens, one of the oldest advocacy groups for elders.

He earned a lifetime achievement award from the National Network for Youth and the 1999 Hawai'i social worker of the year award.

"He's engaged in an issue because he wants to be helpful," Chatfield said. "He's not a headline grabber, so he gets along with nearly everybody."

BENJAMIN KODAMA SR.

Hawai'i's "orchid ambassador"

Kodama, who has been working with the orchid industry for about 60 years, is the only individual to have won top honors from the three largest orchid organizations in the United States.

"I was honored to be chosen as one of the five nominees," he said Thursday, speaking on the phone from the 19th World Orchid Conference in Miami, where he had been chosen as a moderator.

Kodama, 82, travels frequently to national and international orchid conferences, promoting the Orchid Society of Hawai'i and spreading the word about Hawai'i's orchids.

He developed a branding method to recognize orchids bred in Hawai'i as part of promoting the state as an orchid center.

"I did what I did because I would like to help the state of Hawai'i to become one of the top growing areas in the world," Kodama said. "That's one of my biggest aims."

Kodama was also named judge emeritus by the American Orchid Society and has shared his knowledge and experience with many young struggling orchid growers.

"He is a one of a kind, that's for sure," said Scot Mitamura, a friend who was with Kodama in Miami yesterday.

"Everybody from around the world knows who Ben Kodama is," he added.

ELSIE T. TANAKA

Master ikenobo artist and cultural ambassador of Hawai'i

Tanaka, 75, has been practicing the art of ikebana for over 40 years and has taught and shared her love of Japanese flower arrangement for 25 years.

She is president of the Honolulu Ikenobo Society and has been a teacher at Moiliili Community Center for the last 20 years, teaching eight classes a month. She was nominated for the award by two of her students.

"She's very quiet, very unassuming, just a very beautiful, serene, giving person," said Beryl Ono, who has been taking classes from Tanaka for about 10 years.

"Of course we love the art, but what keeps us going back is her."

For Tanaka, "It was very unexpected, and I was surprised that I was selected ... I feel speechless."

Tanaka has done numerous demonstrations and created floral arrangements at Honolulu Hale for the city's 100th anniversary. She holds a sokatoku, the highest rank attainable in the art of Japanese flower arranging.

She has made 12 trips to the Ikenobo School in Kyoto, Japan, birthplace of ikebana, and often takes students with her. (Ikenobo is the oldest form of ikebana, Japanese flower-arranging.)

"She has made a significant contribution to spreading appreciation for and understanding of flowers in Hawai'i," Oda said.