EWC is proud to congratulate Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Ricardo Trimillos on being honored as a Living Treasure of Hawai‘i for his profound impact as an advocate for Hawaiian music and culture, and as a mentor to countless students.

Now a University of Hawai‘i professor emeritus of ethnomusicology and Asian studies, Trimillos first came to Hawai‘i from California in 1962 as an early EWC grantee, after he chose to study at the Center rather than at Juilliard, where he had planned to pursue a career as a concert pianist. Later, as an award-winning professor with UH’s renowned ethnomusicology program, he expanded the emerging field of studying cultures through their musical expressions and served widely as a distinguished consultant on arts and public policy. He has also continued to perform as an accomplished player of the Japanese koto and many other instruments.

Ric has long been a key member of the EWC alumni community in Honolulu, including receiving the Center’s Distinguished Alumni award in 1988. As a student at the Center, he spearheaded the establishment of the now-traditional East-West Fest annual cultural celebration by EWC participants from around the Indo-Pacific, and over the years he has been a key advisor and mentor to the EWC Arts Program and dozens of Center students. You can read his EWC oral history narrative here.

At a ceremony this past weekend, he was among five recipients honored as Living Treasure of Hawai‘i by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, which has bestowed the award annually since 1976  on “individuals who have demonstrated excellence and high achievement in their particular field of endeavor, and who, through continuous growth, learning, and sharing, have made significant contributions toward enriching our society.”

Congratulations Ric on this richly deserved accolade!