(from left) Leo Gozar, Amelia Cabatu, Cecilia Villafuerte; Ramon and Lourdes Delos Santos, Parents of the Year 2013; Dr. Belinda Aquino; Joyce Agsalda, Parent of the Year 2012; Maggie Domingo and (back) Mufi Hannemann. Photo from Samuel Domingo Jr.

Filipino community leader Maggie Domingo has spent her entire career recognizing outstanding high school students, promoting education, raising scholarship funds and perpetuating the Filipino culture. She is affectionately known as “Aunty Maggie,” and those who are close to her believe that her “mothering and mentoring skills” have been felt by hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, whom she has influenced through the years. Seems ironic that the very person worthy of a lifetime achievement award is constantly paying tribute to exemplary individuals.

“I am committed to the values that perpetuate the culture and arts of our people so we can instill the importance of striving for a better future for our children, and inspire them to be devoted to strong family values,” states Domingo.

I was recently with Aunty Maggie at the 45th anniversary of the Philippine Cultural Foundation of Hawaii’s (PCFH) 2013 Annual Recognition Banquet, an organization with which she has been involved since 1970, two years after the late Soledad Alconcel established it. Soledad was the wife of then-Philippine Consul General Trinidad Alconcel. Domingo has served as president of PCFH since 2000, and the banquet is just one of numerous projects that she has undertaken over the years to promote the spirit of competition and showcase excellence, with the help of other foundation stalwarts, such as Cecilia Villafuerte. What I like about the “Parents of the Year” part of the banquet is the focus it places on a mom and dad’s influence on the education of their children. For many of these parents, their lack of formal schooling is the motivation that fuels their efforts to provide for their offspring.

On Aug. 23, the foundation awarded 11 valedictorians of Filipino ancestry with scholarships, and honored its “2013 Parents of the Year,” Ramon and Lourdes Delos Santos. This inspiring couple has raised three highly achievement-oriented children. Their eldest daughter, Dr. Rowena Delos Santos, specializes in kidney transplants at the Barnes Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo., and was the class valedictorian at St. Francis High School. Their second daughter, Dr. Grace Delos Santos, also was a valedictorian at St. Francis, and is on a five-year residency as a urologic surgeon. Their youngest child, Dan Ryan Delos Santos, was salutatorian of his Damien senior class and is an aeronautical engineer for Boeing Co. on the Mainland.

Ramon immigrated to Hawaii after being petitioned in 1946 by his brother, who was one of the original “sakadas,” or Hawaii plantation workers. He earned a living as a landscaper, and his wife Lourdes has been a clerk at First Hawaiian Bank since 1973. These valiant and diligent parents, like the eight other outstanding finalists for this prestigious parents award, are shining examples of sacrifices made to ensure that their children maximize their God-given talents for the betterment of our communities.

In addition to their children’s academic and financial accomplishments, the Delos Santos clan maintains a strong family bond from across the miles, as they dedicate their lives to promoting higher education through funds the children have raised for the “Victorino Bayudan Scholarship Foundation.” (Named after Lourdes’ father, also a sakada.) Congratulations to the Delos Santos family for being selected for this significant honor from the PCFH.

Speaking of a tight-knit ohana, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support shown by the Hawaii Filipino community and local residents on Labor Day, as they bid a final farewell to internationally renowned ophthalmologist Jorge Camara. Hundreds of people streamed through Dr. Camara’s funeral service at Star of the Sea Chapel to offer their condolences to his wife Binky and his family.

Camara was a world-renowned humanitarian and an award-winning physician for his pioneering work in the field of ophthalmology. In addition to sold-out concerts, he had a great sense of humor and made history by becoming the first surgeon to place a piano in the operating room to perform for his patients, and the first to ever produce a CD recorded live in the OR. He believed he lowered the blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates of at least 115 patients in his lifetime when he performed for them prior to undergoing their medical procedures.

Memories of our 2007 concert benefitting the Aloha Medical Mission, “Four Doctors, A Patient & The Mayor,” held at Blaisdell Concert Hall, kept flashing through my mind during his service. Binky reminded me how much he enjoyed the performance we did together as I paid my respects to her at the funeral.

He was a distinguished physician, gifted pianist, devoted philanthropist and a passionate inspiration to all whose lives he touched. He certainly will be missed.

My fondest memories as a youngster growing up on Oahu include activities that I experienced along Kalihi Street. My educational journey began by entering kindergarten at Kalihi-Kai Elementary (fortunately, I am still able to visit with my kindergarten teacher Barbara Leong), and up the street, my early interest in reading started with regular visits with my mom to Kalihi-Palama Library.

Sir Peter Buck. Photos from Bishop Museum

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 2

I got my start playing basketball and baseball through the Police Activities League at Kalakaua District Park and Kamehameha Field. My dad took the family to church at the LDS chapel across Farrington High School, where all my older siblings graduated. And I can’t begin to enumerate the ono meals I have had at Kenny’s Burger House and later Restaurant. Finally, my introduction and curiosity into the origins of my ancestral Polynesian roots and how they fit into the dynamics of the Pacific region were spurred by childhood excursions to Bishop Museum.

More than five decades later, I still find myself frequenting and spending time in this special area of Kalihi that made quite an impact on me in my youth. For example, Bishop Museum has just wrapped up a multimillion-dollar face-lift that celebrates all things Pacific. A grand unveiling of Pacific Hall, formerly known as Polynesian Hall, has undergone some major nips and tucks that are aimed at breathing new life into the recently renovated attraction, which has taken three years to overhaul and beautify.

“The $8.5-million renovation and restoration project is aimed at presenting a new perspective on the story of Pacific migration, along with ground-breaking data that revises the timeline of Pacific settlement, a result of the advancements made in the scientific techniques of archaeology, linguistics and DNA testing,” says Blair D. Collis, president and CEO of Bishop Museum. “The renovation is symbolic of the new direction the museum has undertaken to actively engage people in the exploration and preservation of Hawaii’s cultural heritage, natural history and ancestral cultures throughout the Pacific.” Collis believes visitors will be able to place Hawaii, Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian history in the context of the “greater Pacific.”

Pacific Hall will display key artifacts and objects uncovered during the archeological expeditions mounted by Bishop Museum researchers over the last century in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Marquesas, Cook Islands, and even other areas beyond Polynesia, including China and Taiwan.

The first floor explores a range of subjects from navigation to religion. A canoe overlooking the hall was refurbished by its original owner John Koon, master mariner, marine surveyor and rigger. The craft came from Fulunga Island in southern Fiji. The entire floor shows us how and when the migrations of people took place in the Pacific. Visitors learn how science has been used to verify the history of the Pacific cultures through archaeology and modern-day testing.

When you go to the second floor, pay special attention to a display dedicated to former Bishop Museum director and anthropologist Sir Peter Buck for his contributions toward a better understanding of Pacific peoples. I remember an anthropology course I took at Harvard where my professor was impressed that I had more than a cursory familiarity with Te Rangi Hiroa (Buck’s Maori name), thanks to Bishop Museum. Between 1936 and 1951, Buck was instrumental in expanding the museum’s Pacific collections, which brought much notoriety and established the landmark as a world authority on the culture and natural environment of the Pacific. Buck’s collected works include a treasured kahu kiwi (cloak of kiwi feathers), a mere pounamu (greenstone club) and a taiaha (ceremonial staff), as well as one of his many field notebooks.

Speaking of face-lifts, expressions of cultures and traditions come alive through Pacific faces presented in the form of masks. They are carved creations with anthropomorphic designs. One image is a striking koruru (carved ancestral guardian displayed in a meeting house) from New Zealand. Another draw will be the apouema, a complex dance mask associated with water spirits of New Caledonia. Materials used in the image include human hair and a cloak of large feathers. Three faces from Vanuatu are found at the stairway entrance to Pacific Hall. These and other masks in the hall represent earlier times, traditions and practices that originate from the Pacific.

Collis says “barkcloth,” the exquisite textile of Pacific living, is featured almost as singular art pieces with bold lines and strong colors that result in a unique aesthetic product. Those who admire Hawaiian kapa will be thrilled to see other cultural tapa from Tonga, Tahiti and Fiji.

Pacific Hall will be unveiled to the public Saturday (Sept. 21). The official ceremony will be held at the Gallery Lawn at 9:30 a.m. Highlights of the day include Emil Wolfgramm presenting a “Tongan Storytelling ” at 11 a.m. in the Castle Memorial Building, followed at noon by a lecture and book-signing by the author of A Shark Going Inland is My Chief with Bishop Museum alum Patrick V. Kirch from the University of California at Berkeley. Other interesting presentations led by Meleanna Meyer and Halau Paheona on “Community Muraling,” and “The Role of Women in Oceania” by Luafata Siumanu-Klutz will take place at 2 and 3 p.m. The rest of the day will feature performances by artists including Aaron Sala, Taimane Gardner and others from throughout the Pacific. The all-day celebration, which concludes at 9 p.m., is free and open the public and promises great food, fashion, films, lectures, art, music, dance, poetry and prose.

Venture onto each floor of Pacific Hall and see it come to life as it portrays various stories of Polynesian culture and history. A day of exploration at the museum will give you a taste of time travel, much like what Michael J. Fox experienced in that famous DeLorean when he went Back to the Future. Only you won’t need a flux capacitor to go back in time, just a canoe and some creative ancient navigation tools that only Bishop Museum can offer.

John W.A. ‘Doc’ Buyers '. Honolulu Star-Advertiser’ photo

Last week a wonderful tribute was paid to 50 of the best business leaders and companies in our community who have made major contributions to our state’s economy over the past half century. Obviously some of them are still very much alive and active – like my dear friend, 83-year-old John Henry Felix, one of the honorees. Others have passed on but their legacies live on, as in the case of Sen. Dan Inouye, who was honored posthumously for his exemplary work as a public official.

In the case of the top 25 businesses cited, Alexander & Baldwin was singled out for its wise stewardship and use of its land for agriculture and real estate development, and for operating Matson, Hawaii’s largest shipping company. McKinley High School alum Bobby Pfeiffer, one of the best CEOs Hawaii has ever had, was credited for developing a culture within A&B for being extremely generous and supportive of many charitable causes in the community – a tradition that stands to the present day.

Outrigger Hotels founders Roy and Estelle Kelley won the award as the outstanding business leaders. Perhaps their biggest contribution to our tourism economy is their philosophy and practice to keep room rates moderate and affordable. As a result, many a middle-class American has been able to vacation in the 808. They also have done more than their fair share to revitalize Waikiki. Remember how the makai portion of Lewers Street used to look? Beachwalk, as it is now called, would not have undergone this transformation were it not for Outrigger’s vision and investment. Doc Kelley and David Carey have followed in Roy Kelley’s footsteps as they cast their own imprimatur on the ever-expanding Outrigger hotel chain, which now oversees and manages properties throughout the Pacific Basin.

Nevertheless, whenever you go through a “best of” exercise, there always is going to be someone who maybe should have been on the list. That’s just the nature of the beast. I don’t envy the panel of judges, who most certainly faced a formidable challenge. To their credit, they did a commendable job of narrowing the list to the 50 chosen. But from this corner and from some others who opined on this matter, maybe a special recognition should have been made to the late JWA “Doc” Buyers, CEO of C. Brewer & Co., which at one time was America’s oldest company west of the Rockies. Very few understood the importance of the need for a strong relationship between business and government than Doc. One of the most chronic complaints from business is that government is always looking to gouge the private sector, and the folks in the public sector “monku” that the private guys are only motivated to make money. Doc worked assiduously to bridge this chasm. He was the most active Big 5 executive personally working the halls of Congress.

Doc’s infectious personality and charm were put to good use in helping our Hawaii delegation pass the Farm Bill time and time again. This enabled Hawaii’s sugar industry to remain alive for many years to ensure an orderly transition to diversified agriculture and other uses. He had a close working relationship with every governor and mayor of each county, and partnered with former first lady Jean Ariyoshi to launch a “Million Trees of Aloha” to stress the importance of keeping Hawaii green. By embarking on this endeavor, he raised the profile of diversified agricultural companies doing a good deed for the betterment of our Islands. As a businessman, he recognized the potential of the macadamia nut industry and marketed it big time, transforming Mauna Loa, a C. Brewer subsidiary, into a brand name nationally. He did the same with guava in the partnership he instigated with Ocean Spray and Guava Kai on Kauai.

He understood the synergistic role that business had with tourism by opening visitor centers at Mauna Loa, Guava Kai, Maui Tropical Plantation and even in Ka’u with the Punalu’u Bake Shop. He put together the largest leveraged buyout in Hawaii by purchasing C. Brewer from IU International, a Mainland company. The highly complex LBO was covered in Forbes magazine, and Doc was praised for bringing “Brewer back home to Hawaii.” To raise the money for this acquisition, he put together an impressive hui of prominent local investors coupled with some of his Princeton University connections.

He fostered mentoring by bringing some talented businessmen to Hawaii who meshed very well with the local community, such as Marvin Tilker, Allen Doane, who went on to become CEO of A&B, and James Andrasick, who later became the head of Matson Navigation. Ever the optimist, Doc was a visionary who was ahead of his time in recognizing that Hawaii possessed latent potential in developing a space industry on Hawaii Island, and although his particular initiative fell short, he helped raise the saliency of the importance of space in our community. Finally, he always championed the importance of the Neighbor Islands. He was one of the first downtown Bishop Street leaders to warn against the dangers of a Honolulu-centric mentality, and he proved it with his business activities on Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island. With respect to the latter, he moved C. Brewer’s headquarters and operations there.

It might be easy to dismiss my nomination for Doc as coming from a biased point of view because, like several thousands of people, I worked at Brewer, or that the company is no longer around and, therefore, does not deserve to be recognized.

The “proof in the poi” is that he made a huge impact for nearly 30 years, and many of the companies he led, such as Mauna Loa, Brewer Environmental Industries, HT&T Trucking, Maui Tropical Plantation and Punalu’u Bakeshop, are still around providing critical jobs in our community.

(from left) Lance Segawa, director of operations Hawaii Health Systems Corp.; Stephany Vaioleti, administrator, Kahuku Medical Center; and David Hamlin, director of nursing, KMC | Photo courtesy D.K. Morikawa

Oftentimes we hear how government is failing us from Washington, D.C., to Hawaii.

So when we see a great success story where government is making a positive contribution to health care in a small, rural community like Kahuku, we need to applaud its efforts.

Thanks to the hard work and persistence of many area legislators, both past and present, working side by side with determined community leaders, the state has made it a priority to keep Kahuku Medical Center (KMC) open by making it an affiliate of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC).

Under HHSC, KMC has increased revenues from $14 million to $17 million.

It has implemented an electronic medical record system, making it one of the first in the state to do so, which helped improve quality care and patient satisfaction to a 94 percent rate! The net result is, for the 22,000-plus residents of Hauula, Laie, Kahuku and the surrounding areas, and the thousands of visitors who traverse through this district, they now have a hospital that is no longer in bankruptcy and can service their immediate medical needs. I can’t begin to tell you the “choke” number of relatives and friends who were either born at KMC or have depended on it for its services through the years.

All of this newfound success would not have been possible without the effective “boots on the ground” leadership of administrator Stephany Nihipali Vaioleti. A social worker and lawyer by training, she has worked at KMC for nearly 15 years and has experienced “the worst of times and now the best of times.” Having been born, reared, educated and now raising her family in the area, Vaioleti brings a passion and commitment beyond KMC. For example, she and husband Doug, among other pursuits, are involved actively as coaches for youth athletic teams.

Vaioleti is nowhere satisfied and content with where KMC is today. More importantly, she totally is cognizant of some of the difficulties that lie ahead of KMC and the ongoing fiscal challenges of HHSC. But for this small, precious community on the North Shore, it is reassuring to know that Vaioleti is at the helm eager, enthusiastic and totally committed to ensuring that the best days are ahead for Kahuku Medical Center.

Family Fun Festivals, Anyone?

Hawaii has quite a reputation for having some of the best festivals for families and friends to enjoy. Two of my favorite events that were started while I was mayor of Honolulu, and which enabled the city to step up and throw its support behind them, were Hawaii Seafood and Fishing Festival, and Taste of Kalihi.

Beginning in 2005, Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) became the driving force behind the seafood festival, which was held this past weekend at Pier 38 and brought together more than 100 vendors and some of the best of Hawaii’s fishing and seafood community groups.

Besides dispensing free bamboo fishing poles to some lucky keiki, PIFG also conducted a special competition for fishermen to donate their catches to the needy and disadvantaged. It added a nice touch to their weeklong observance of the importance of our ocean resources and our fishing heritage.

Kudos to PIFG for coming through with another outstanding festival that brought much joy to all who participated!

In the case of the second celebration, the city worked with Filipino Chamber of Commerce to launch this event in 2006.

Thanks to the chamber, it has evolved into an annual “Pride of Kalihi” celebration with great ethnic foods, entertainment and activities, including the largest group dance in Hawaii under the stars. For many, the street festival in Dillingham Shopping Plaza area serves as a homecoming – four of the seven governors of our state once resided in Kalihi.

Maria Etrata, FCCH’s popular president, guarantees that this year’s event, which will be held this Saturday (Oct. 19) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., will be a fun-filled day for you and your ohana!

Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Anuenue principal Charles Naumu with students at the school’s lo‘i | Photo by Nathalie Walker

Political and linguistic repression after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy nearly brought an end to the language of its people, but deep in the lush vegetation of Palolo Valley, you hear old Hawaii flowing through the voices of Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Anuenue students. They are pupils of Anuenue School, one of a dozen Hawaiian Language Immersion Programs (HLIP) operating in our state aimed at perpetuating the Hawaiian language and culture.

Along the border of Pukele Stream are taro patches planted last spring by immersion enrollees. Kindergarteners to high schoolers learn firsthand about Hawaiian native agriculture, and speaking their native tongue – one of two official state languages. Come April, they will harvest their crops. The younger kids will learn the craft of lau lau cuisine, and high schoolers will pound taro with precision to prepare poi for their end-of-the-school-year harmony class celebration. All subjects – math, science, social studies, etc. – are taught in Hawaiian, with the exception of English class. Its Rainbows football team huddles and sports instructions are spoken in the indigenous language.

Graduates have gone on to top-notch universities. Keliipio Adams, from the graduating class of 2008, petitioned for the school’s own football team his freshman year.

“We felt like pioneers who were perpetuating Hawaiian language as well as Hawaiian culture in an American sport. It was amazing,” he says. Adams went on to play at Mt. San Antonio College in Southern California, where his team garnered the Junior College National Championship in 2009. He later graduated as a scholar athlete from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La.

It was his principal, Charles Naumu, who inspired Adams.

“I believe that Po’okumu (principal) Naumu has made a tremendous impact for the Hawaiian people. He is at the frontline of our crusade, is supportive of seeing native Hawaiians strive in today’s society and is a true role model of the term pono.”

Today, Adams works as a teacher alongside mentor Naumu at his alma mater.

Former principal Lani Kapololu pioneered the transformation of Anuenue into a Hawaiian immersion school in 1996. In 1999, Naumu took over as captain of the program and launched the first graduating class.

“The dual analogy of Anuenue School can be equated with the double-hulled Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hokule’a. One hull is representative of the Hawaiian language and education. The second hull represents the English language and education. The students are expected to learn both in this globalized world,” explains Naumu, a Kaneohe resident, who has served as principal and vice principal from Waimanalo to Maili over the past four decades. Anuenue’s student body makeup is 40 percent male and 60 percent female. Ninety percent of the students are predominantly native Hawaiian, but it is not a requirement to be of Hawaiian ancestry to enroll.

Former immersion instructor and parent Kahea Farias, originally from Niihau, enrolled her son because she wanted him to speak her native tongue.

“Keokapukoa, who is 7 years old, has progressed in his ability to speak Hawaiian and now proudly communicates with family members on Niihau. We are pleased with the teachers and administration. Principal Naumu is at all school functions and he is at the flagpole every morning to greet parents and students,” says Farias.

Anuenue recently was awarded a full six-year accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Schools.

“We are known as ‘The Aloha School’ because love abounds here,” says staff member Kaweihi Napolean.

Anuenue’s keys to success stem from native Hawaiian values that encourage the students to: 1) attend school, 2) listen to teachers, 3) do lessons and 4) speak Hawaiian.

A tremendous sense of pride has emerged. Enrollment has doubled to 400 since its inception and a preschool has been added – all done without seeking publicity and fanfare, and purely through the “coconut wireless,” thanks to a principal, Charles Naumu, who believes passionately that the preservation of an indigenous people and their native language and culture be perpetuated for generations to come.

As Washington policy-makers continue to wrangle over the budget and Obamacare, they delay having substantive discussions to advance other long-overdue important measures, such as immigration reform and economic initiatives to create jobs and stimulate the economy.

Meanwhile, other nations are proceeding post haste with initiatives that are going to position their countries to compete much more strongly in the global marketplace. Take the U.K., for instance. It recently announced that visa applications for Chinese tourists entering its country would be simplified. Under the present system, Chinese tourists can apply for a single visa to visit much of Europe, but a separate one is needed to travel to Great Britain. Obviously, the extra and cumbersome paperwork has served as a disincentive for Chinese visitors to include the U.K. in a trip to the European continent. By moving toward a mobile visa scheme, it will seek out the applicants to gather their paperwork and biometric data, and the whole process promises to take less than five minutes! Furthermore, a “super priority” 24-hour visa service will be launched in 2014.

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, in a speech at a joint Chinese-British forum announcing the visa changes, stated, “What I really want it to be about is strengthening the understanding between our two nations, deepening our friendship …”

I have been a longtime proponent of more visa waiver measures with Asian nations. Now, if the Brits can somehow figure out how to work through their security concerns and the myriad other issues that have prevented them from making these innovative changes to their Chinese travel policy earlier, why can’t the U.S. do the same? After all, hasn’t America, on several occasions, through a variety of important voices in the government, military and economic sectors, proclaimed that the U.S. is a “Pacific nation” and that this is the “Age of the Pacific Century”?

Let’s take a page from the U.K., sooner rather than later.

“Quarterback” Tsutsui – The Key To State Sports Initiative

There were several less than enthusiastic reactions to the Sports Development Initiative announced recently by Gov. Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. Tsutsui. Some in the sporting community panned it as much ado about nothing. One local sportswriter characterized the governor’s press conference as providing “no real answers” and only raised “questions about every sports-money-political issue that has come up over the past 20 years.” Another media editorial pooh-poohed it by asserting that it offered “no specifics at all” and that “it would have been nice” if they had a “world class event” to announce as “proof that the state had been looking at these opportunities all along.”

The central figure in all of this is our Maui-bred lieutenant governor, who is very active in the youth sports activities of his children. Tsutsui has a reputation of working well with others and is not prone to pushing only his ideas.

To “quarterback” this initiative, he needs to assemble a team (a blue-ribbon committee of local sports experts would be helpful), develop a realistic game plan and complete a few “short passes” to build some confidence and public support. That said, he’s probably “the new face and the breath of fresh air” that the NFL would welcome from the state’s team to kick-start the dialogue to keep the Pro Bowl link with Hawaii strong, as well as develop other areas of opportunities for both sides.

Secondly, the LG would be wise to call upon the Hawaii Council of Mayors in promoting his sports agenda. For instance, if hosting the America’s Cup is going to be a major goal, having the Maui and Honolulu mayors on the team working with him to persuade Lanai owner Larry Ellison to help lure the Cup to the 50th State could prove to be very effective.

Finally, prep football has come under fire lately regarding lopsided victories, forfeits and the like. The LG perhaps could be the catalyst for change by providing encouragement and state support, working with a team of school athletic directors and the HHSAA to develop a better and fairer format for all the leagues in Hawaii.

I believe Tsutsui is up to the challenge. He got high marks for his leadership skills as a Senate president. It won’t be easy, but he’ll be off to a good start and, if anything, erase some of the initial skepticism by transferring those proven skills to the athletic playing fields.

Despite the sugar industry folding many years ago, the Ewa plain continues to be an area in transition as it undergoes a series of rapid changes and developments.

Through the years, new housing units have sprung up at Ewa by Gentry and West Loch. Of late, developments at Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei are now part of what is known as Oahu’s new suburban growth center. Luxury homes, major retail commercial centers, trendy restaurants, modern golf courses and schools are now very much a part of the Ewa landscape.

Although these changes are said to be for the better, accompanying them are almost always myriad challenges and issues in moving toward a better quality of life.

The one constant factor in the midst of all this growth has been the growing sense of appreciation and gratitude for the quality of education provided by the state’s largest public high school in the area.

Once known for primarily educating disadvantaged youths, James Campbell High School (named after the real estate tycoon credited with introducing sugar to Ewa) has evolved and matured into one of the best high schools in the state.

Says Kurt Favella, lifelong Ewa resident and 1986 Campbell graduate, “Many of us who are die-hard Sabers are so proud and pleased with the progress our alma mater has made to keep up with the times to educate our teens.”

The latest academic honor for this 51-year-old school is that Campbell High was recognized as one of 11 “bronze medal schools” in Hawaii cited in the 2013 U.S. News & World Report‘s Best High Schools rankings – usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/hawaii.

“We strive to enable all of our students to be college- and career-ready and prepare them for life after high school as we focus on closing the achievement gap,” says principal Naomi Takamori.

Takamori succeeded former principal Gail Awakuni, Hawaii’s first recipient of the coveted National Principal of the Year Award in 2005 and who was instrumental in laying an excellent foundation for her successors to build upon.

“Morale has increased, gangs have nearly dissipated and community support is rising,” says Takamori. Campbell is one of a handful of institutions in the United States selected as a model school in AVID, a program that encourages students to attend college. Campbell is raising the bar to create a global learning atmosphere.

“Thanks to our affiliations with leading international organizations, some students are traveling the globe from China to South America to gain cultural experiences and broaden their outlook on the world around them,”Takamori says.

In 2007, the school became the first public school in Hawaii to gain the status of International Baccalaureate.

The school specializes in a variety of academies that include television media production, engineering and industrial technology, marine biology and more that incorporate cutting-edge technology. Take molecular gastronomy mixed with culinary arts, for example.

“Our student chefs will create a dish in which they change one or more items into gelatin, foam or spheres that burst in your mouth. We invite award-winning chefs to judge our students as the kids showcase their delectable dishes each May,” says chemistry teacher Carolyn Young, who combines her projects with culinary arts instructor Julie Morihara-Itagaki.

Campbell also is enjoying unparalleled success in athletics. This year, the cross-country track team took second in the OIA Varsity Championships. Last year, both softball and baseball (JV and Varsity) teams won the OIA. This season, the Sabers football program headed by English teacher and head coach Amosa Amosa, Campbell ’84 and former UH football star, is one of the top four varsity teams in the highly competitive OIA Red division, and the JV program has been to the OIA championship game three times in the last five years.

“In addition to producing scholar-athletes, our sports program is now extremely competitive across the board,” says athletic director Sam Delos Reyes.

Campbell’s top-notch academic programs, combined with the staff’s innovative ways of learning, are constantly creating excitement on campus.

It’s no wonder Principal Takamori and her team are enjoying the kind of success that has her school ranked in the top five of the “Strive HI” statewide initiative, thereby proving once again that there is no substitute for hard work, dedication and commitment to achieve.

Last week I traveled to the Valley Isle for Maui Police Department’s 78th recruit class graduation at Maui Beach Hotel. I was invited by MPD to be keynote speaker and, given my aloha and respect for the family of first responders, accepting was a no-brainer.

As mayor, I always believed that one of the most important responsibilities of the head of a county is the health and safety of residents and visitors. Our men and women in blue put themselves in harm’s way to save and protect us. Government’s role is to ensure that the officers and their families are always appreciated and supported immensely.

New Maui Police Dept. Officer Paul Feagai (back, second from left) with some of his fellow classmates

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 2

It was refreshing to hear Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa echo similar sentiments to the recruit class and their loved ones, describing them as an extended ohana that he was proud to be associated with. What also was very commendable (having attended and spoken at numerous ceremonies through the years) was the presence of the Council chair and majority of the Council, and every member of Maui Police Commission, who stayed to the conclusion.

The major highlight of the event was witnessing the graduation of my nephew Paul Feagai, son of my sister Nua and the first member of our clan to become a police officer. Our Hannemann-Feagai ohana was 30 strong, comprised of family members who traveled from Kalihi, Kaneohe, Palolo, Aiea, Kapolei, Ewa Beach and as far away as New York to witness this special moment.

I have never seen Paul so focused on accomplishing a goal since his football-playing days at Farrington High School. In his youth, he faced several uphill challenges that would have made it easy for him to give up on the rigors of the police training requirements. But he was determined to do well so he could serve his community and also embark on a promising career to support his wife, Kehau, and 4-month-old son Liam. So it was a pleasant surprise to all of us when he won two awards: Best Notebook and second for Arrest Defense Tactics. It’s a tribute to Police Chief Gary Yabuta and his recruit training staff for motivating Paul and his nine peers to stay the course and complete the requirements. Congratulations to the newest corps of police officers of Maui County and their ohana: They make us proud!

Liliha Bakery – The Best Is Yet to Come

Every Liliha Bakery aficionado must be ecstatic that owner Peter Kim will be opening a second, larger location at the old Sam Choy’s restaurant building on Nimitz Highway. Tales of waiting in line or leaving because there were no available seats at the 23-customer counter in Liliha made for many a disappointing experience. But relief is on the way, with plans calling for 40 counter seats and space for 120 at the dining tables, with ample parking to accommodate the crowd.

This local establishment has been an island favorite since the 1940s. Credit foodie entrepreneur Kim with taking it up a few notches with a host of improvements and changes he put into place since taking over in 2008. From installing new equipment to implementing a computer system, which entailed teaching a new set of skills to his employees, to adding new items to the popular bakery, as well as new dishes to the dining side all have enabled the onetime Alabama Crimson Tide field-goal kicker to increase revenues by 35 percent while maintaining the simplicity and aura of a “good eats and good fun local gathering place.”

So what’s in the works at the new location besides the good eats and expanded seating?

According to Kim, ” I’m going to give it a face lift by redoing the floor, have better lighting and hang nostalgic pictures of Liliha Bakery.”

As for menu items, Kim plans to add some “surprise bakery products” and introduce “prime rib and new steak dishes,” perhaps some borrowed from his The Signature restaurant atop Ala Moana Hotel.

I asked Kim whether he was growing too quickly, with an opening set for his new bakery less than a year after The Signature opened. While he may have preferred a little more time focusing on the 25 eateries he presently owns and operates, Kim believes, “The location on Nimitz was too good an opportunity to pass up, and if I declined, I may have to wait another 20 years for something better to turn up.”

As a disciple of the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant, Kim is quick to reiterate one of the biggest lessons he learned from his football coach: “As long as you believe in yourself and never give up, you are a winner.”

With that said, you somehow get the feeling that despite the challenging and ambitious schedule, this latest project will be the 26th successful restaurant in Peter Kim’s Yummy Restaurant Group.

For young adults who oftentimes find themselves in a hole to the point of no return, a nonprofit group called Kupu is changing lives for the better and helping them appreciate Hawaii’s natural resources. Many bounce back on their feet and land jobs in environmental industries, while others pursue higher education. Kaulana was just 19 and homeless when he participated in one of Kupu’s community programs that taught him about survival skills and sustainability. He believes his life was miraculously transformed.

John Leong and son Mataora at a servce day at Kako‘o ‘Oiwi lo‘i in Heeia. Photo from Kupu

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 2

“Kupu helped me get out of a gang and kept me from getting into trouble. It feels like taking a sip of cold water on a hot, clear day … my soul is … refreshed,” says Kaulana.

The green jobs sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the state, increasing at a rate of about 26 percent. Founders John Leong and his wife Julianna started Kupu in 2007 and they are dedicated to giving its members opportunities to grow and sprout, which is what “kupu” means in Hawaiian.

“The kupukupu fern is one of the first plants to bring life back to the land after a lava flow. Our goal is for Kupu and its programs to restore life to the land, ocean, communities, and to the individuals we serve,” says John Leong, who also serves as executive director. I first heard about the mission of Kupu when I met John as a member of the 2006-2007 Pacific Century Fellows class. The more he shared his dreams for Kupu, the more I knew he was onto something special and I am elated at the progress and the difference that he, Julianna and his dedicated staff have made in our community.

Kupu provided nearly $8.8 million in community economic benefits last year, which include the value of volunteer work hours, internship wages/living allowances, educational awards distributed and direct energy savings. That is about a 300 percent impact for each dollar the organization has spent, resulting in improving thousands of acres of important and precious ecosystems.

“This is significant, yet it’s only scratching the surface of the potential that Kupu and its partners can make in Hawaii. Our organization is like an enzyme which helps to catalyze change. We work to bring together a multitude of partners in the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors to make a difference for a global cause,” says Julianna Leong.

Kupu works with an impressive list of partners, including Kamehameha Schools, AmeriCorps, Castle Foundation, DLNR, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to name a few.

Environmental, sustainable agriculture (including lo’i and fishponds), and other related industries are benefiting Kupu alumni who are filling these jobs as they open up.

“We see an average of 60 percent or more of our members landing jobs,” says John. The Leongs believe participants are “well prepared to build up sustainable careers in Hawaii and will develop into stronger leaders in the future.”

Kupu has influenced the lives of more than 2,000 alumni, including Christopher Wong, who is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental horticulture at the University of Washington. His mentor was Christian Giardina of the USDA Forest Service in Hilo.

“My internship there steered me toward the field of conservation, and Kupu made me appreciate the uniqueness of the Hawaiian ecosystem. Everyone at the Forest Service had a master’s, and I made it a goal of mine to pursue higher education,” says Wong.

Kupu’s impact is felt in a variety of organizations, nonprofits and federal agencies. Each year, Kupu serves 300 to 400 youths who work with some 12,000 volunteers statewide.

“Hawaii is the endangered species capital of the world, and we provide a tremendous amount of kokua to help our partners excel in preserving our resources. We are developing leaders for the growing sustainability sectors,” says John. “Last year, Kupu’s RISE program had an intern whose work assisted TheBus in reducing diesel consumption by 100,000 gallons per year. We also have an intern helping Howard Hughes Corp. with the LEED certification process for the multi-million Kakaako development.”

The stage is also set in Kakaako, where Kupu will be renovating its existing facility to create a green job and community center in the near future .

Founders John and Julianne are highly optimistic that more success stories will continue to flow from Kupu. After all, their vision is all about the alumni of their cherished environmental program emerging as passionate and knowledgeable leaders in the Pacific, preaching and teaching the importance of wise stewardships of our natural resources for generations to come. For more information on Kupu or if you wish to help the Leongs promote and advance their noble cause, contact them at (808) 735-1221 or email john.leong@kupuhawaii.org.

As a keiki o ka aina, I pride myself on being familiar with every beautiful part of our state. Being Honolulu’s mayor gave me unusual access to all aspects of the City and County. I thought I knew where every place of interest was ensconced.

Some of the chicken- skin memorabilia on display at the Home of the Brave Museum

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 2

Imagine my surprise when I was introduced to a hidden treasure that I never knew existed – Home of the Brave. It is tucked away in the old warehouse district of Kakaako at 909 Waimanu St. and showcases one of Hawaii’s most extensive collections of World War II memorabilia. I was literally blown away after I did my initial tour of the museum and was very impressed with the collection that has been amassed through the years, including some items from World War I.

Home of the Brave is the evolving merger of two of Glen Tomlinson’s driving passions: military collectibles and brewing beer. It is truly a family-owned and operated business, run by East Honolulu resident Glen, wife Janet, daughter Brittany and sons Duke and Baron. With decades of experience in the hotel, bar, restaurant and hospitality business in Hawaii, California and Europe, Janet and Glen created the Tomlinson Corporation. This extraordinary business endeavor includes Home of the Brave Tours, Home of the Brave Beverage Company, Top Gun Tours, Koa Surf Classics and also the most unique private 1940s museum in the Pacific.

The museum pas homage to wartime Hawaii, and war veterans from the Islands have contributed many of its most prized displays. From Japanese pilot’s flight suits (once loaned out for the filming of Tora, Tora, Tora) to a vintage Army-issued Harley Davidson motorcycle (used in the Disney movie Pearl Harbor), there are surprises at every turn. Have your picture taken in an authentic Willys Jeep. Pose at a re-creation of Medal of Honor winner John Finn’s 50 Cal machine gun position, where he defended Kaneohe Marine Corps airstrip Dec. 7, 1941.

Each new display room is filled with the music and sounds of the ’40s, and the sense of traveling back in time is overwhelming. A scale model military transport train rumbles around its ceiling-mounted track past one of the largest collections of Nazi artifacts in the Pacific.

There is almost too much to see.

The walls are covered with photos of veterans who have visited the museum, and many of their collections of personal wartime mementos have found there way to Kakaako. Glen Tomlinson points out: “Our collection is invaluable because it represents the lives and accomplishments of America’s ‘Greatest Generation’ and, sadly, as the years go by there are fewer and fewer of the veterans left from the greatest generation our nation has known.”

Turn the corner and there is a complete World War II era bar called the Wiki Waki Woo, where you can sample microbrews such as Pilot Pale Ale or drink an ice-cold Coca Cola. Yet another door reveals a rooftop retreat complete with outdoor seating. Home of the Brave combines the authenticity of its displays with the ambiance of ’40s military airman’s club – a truly unique blend.

The Tomlinsons’ latest project calls for a soon-to-open addition to the Home of the Brave Brewseum, a larger facility being readied next door that will house more museum-quality artifacts and a microbrewery plus some local kine grinds on its menu. And it also will have its own scale model elevated military train circling the premises. The plan also calls for the cleverly named Brewseum to accommodate larger groups and be available for private parties. An evening tour of Chinatown highlighting the places and locations that made this historic downtown district rock in the ’40s will be included in this new package.

“Our museum is unique for Hawaii because one cannot help but rediscover and literally be touched by this important part of our history,” states Glen Tomlinson, whose passion and commitment to making Home of the Brave a must-see attraction is quite obvious when you converse with him. He realizes that, with the growing popularity of his museum, he has to figure out a way for more of the general public to visit and undergo this awesome experience in Kakaako.

Could a special kamaaina tour and rate on weekends or weeknights be in the offing?

Stay tuned.

In the meantime, Home of the Brave’s all-day battlefield tour is offered from Monday to Friday with discounts for retired and active duty military. The guided tours travel across Oahu and feature the Arizona Memorial, Wheeler Air Field, Schofield Army Barracks, Fort Shafter, Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, and most importantly, a visit to the Home of the Brave Museum. You may explore this creative presentation of military history online at homeofthebravetours.com and homeofthebravebrewing.com.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to bid a Happy Thanksgiving to the readers of this column and MidWeek. Thank you for making us part of your weekly activity – ’tis a wonderful time of year to exercise what I term the “mahalo principle” to your family, loved ones and the men and women who keep us safe and free, and to look to extend a helping hand and a warm heart to those in need.

mufi@mufihannemann.com

Ken and Jane Turner with Wilson Senior Living staffers (from left) Primerose Pasay, Mary Bowman and Heather O’Connor | Photo from Sandy Hoen

In sickness or in health, the love of a Kailua couple prevails as home health care living options remain in high demand within Hawaii’s burgeoning elderly population. Ken and Jane Turner have given up their privacy of the finer things in life, including a home near Portlock in Hawaii Kai and most recently, their retirement condo in Kailua. For 25 years, Jane tended to her paralyzed son until his death in 2004. “She cared for our two sons and me, and now it’s my turn to take care of her,” says Ken.

Today, Parkinson’s disease has taken a toll on Jane’s vocal chords and failing health, and Ken’s weak heart forced the handsome couple to live together as husband and wife in a care home facility.

“There’s a lot of stuff that we left behind. That’s what hurts, but everything is fine here. We are fed three times a day and get anything we want at our beck and call,” says Jane.

It can be tough to acclimatize to a new environment during the final stage of life, but the Turners, who are both in their mid 80s, found a home away from home at the new Wilson Senior Living in Kailua. It’s a 22-bed facility on a 16,000-square foot lot that “offers a loving and nurturing experience, plus, the 24/7 care Jane needs,” according to Shelly Wilson, founder and president.

“The people here are compassionate and understanding. They look after Jane so much better than I could have with the five independent care givers I hired in our condo,” says Ken. He sleeps better at night now, knowing that in his absence Jane will be cared for.

“I don’t even want to think about him going first. I just enjoy the present, being together with Ken here and enjoying each other’s company, hand in hand,” explains Jane.

Ken, who worked 30 years in the heavy equipment industry primarily in sales, still showers Jane with roses and takes her out on sweet dates. Their hearts still go “pitter-patter” as these elderly lovebirds occasionally venture to their old stomping ground in Hawaii Kai, eating at Assaggio’s restaurant. The highlight of their week is watching Dancing with the Stars. Ken will occasionally enjoy his favorite gritty World War II action movie, Twelve O’Clock High starring Gregory Peck on DVD at the care home.

“Ken and Jane are the very reasons I developed our senior living facility,” says Wilson. “It provides the foundation and services that help families fulfill the clinical needs and emotional well-being of their loved ones, giving them peace of mind in knowing that their kupuna and relatives are well-cared for, utilizing the hospitality industry’s concept of service, right down to the mint on the pillow when they retire to bed at night.”

Wilson’s facility is one of a host of state-licensed retirement communities in Hawaii that are starting to pop up to cater to an overwhelming need for residential senior home care. The latest statistics and census show that, since 2000, Hawaii has the fastest-growing aging population in the nation. Between 1990 and 2012, the number of the elderly ages 75 and older rose by 47 percent nationally compared to a 116 percent increase in Hawaii. The 65 and over population is expected to grow in Hawaii by 81 per cent by 2030. While residents in the 50th State have the greatest longevity in the U.S., we only have half as many nursing home beds available per capita as the national average. Hawaii’s occupancy rate in 2010 was the highest in the country.

“As baby boomers age and Hawaii’s senior population rises, it is tough to meet and keep up with the increasing demand, and our elderly community will ultimately be underserved,” said Tricia Medeiros, regional director of The Plaza Assisted Living in Hawaii which has three locations on Oahu at Punchbowl, Mililani and Moanalua, with a fourth slated to open inPearl City next October. The Plaza is an apartment-style rental community for seniors that provides services, including meals, housekeeping, activities, linen services and scheduled transportation. It is not a care home, but like Wilson Senior Living has a nursing team on staff to provide bathing, dressing, incontinence management and assistance with medication.

The average cost for homecare or assisted living throughout the state per person ranges from $3,500 to $8,000 per month, depending on disability and/or the type of 24-hour care needed. Unfortunately, there are those elderly who are disabled or who are without the resources to afford the luxuries of a nursing home or assisted care. Ken and Jane Turner feel blessed that Ken was given financial opportunities in his career to save a nest egg that has gotten them to where they are today. The Turners look forward to enjoying their ripe old age through the last chapter of a storybook life, aging gracefully together in their golden years.

mufi@mufihannemann.com

Jan Harada wraps up Christmas gifts for the Adopt A Family program. Photo courtesy Helping Hands Hawaii

Growing up in the Hannemann household, Christmas was filled with laughter, music and magical moments. My sweet mother shopped for bargains year-round to make sure we had precious gifts during the holidays. They may not have been always the most expensive ones, but her philosophy was “the best gift to give a loved one is what they need, and as long as it is given from the heart.”

I had a new pair of shoes, pants or a jacket at the right times – although looking back, my poor mom was challenged with keeping up with the growth spurts of a son whose height was increasing 2-3 inches every year during his hanabata days. The warmth and love of my parents during Christmas never escape me as I further reflect on the sacrifice my father made to make ends meet in order to provide for us. We never felt deprived or inadequate because we were richly blessed with Dad and Mom’s mantra that there should always be “love at home” and that service to others was healthy and good for the soul.

Unfortunately, hundreds of families in our state will go “without” this month – even without food and the basic necessities of life.

“When you are struggling with poverty, loneliness or depression, the holiday season is not so much a time of joy as it is a time that magnifies those challenges and makes them seem even worse than they are,” says Jan Harada, president and CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii.

Her organization produces holiday angels who help fulfill family wish lists and give hope to those who are financially strapped, stricken with illnesses or are in dire circumstances through its Adopt A Family (AFF) Program. Helping Hands Hawaii’s mission is aimed at connecting individuals, families and organizations with essential human and material resources.

Through Adopt A Family, Harada’s nonprofit makes it possible for those with a generous heart, like Rick Humphreys, to involve their families in the spirit of giving.

“It was a very powerful and personal way to teach compassion to my kids, as they got to read about families very similar to ours, yet struggling through difficult times … It had such a profound impact on us,” says Humphreys.

Now, as vice president of Monarch Insurance Services Inc., he has engaged his colleagues at work to adopt the tradition.

“With the help of some matching donations, we were able to raise enough to support five families in 2012,” he says. “We are definitely participating again this year, and hope to recruit more friends and family to this wonderful program.”

Being on the receiving end is humbling for one homeless family forced to live on the beach. Their three boys struggled in school because of being harassed and teased, and with the help of some community organizations, particularly Catholic Charities and Maili Land Housing, the boys’ parents pulled their lives together in 2012 – both working full time, with mother working two jobs and adequately providing for the family – until the unthinkable happened. She passed away at age 30.

Her husband recalls last Christmas: “It was the holiday season, and I could not do this on my own. I couldn’t bring back their mom, but I could ask for a hand during Christmas, so they could have something to open.”

His children sold everything of value they owned to try to help with the household expenses and never asked for pity, just some Christmas blessings. The boys’ wish list consisted of basic items such as hygiene supplies, underwear, clothes and shoes.

“They were adopted in 2012 by a holiday angel, and their spirits were lifted and it gave them hope for the new year. They have since found permanent stable housing and are back on the road to recovery,” says Harada.

Another Christmas miracle involves a mother who escaped an abusive relationship with her ex-husband on the Mainland. She was forced to return to Hawaii with her children to gain better family support, only to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Her family was adopted and it helped them through a particularly tough holiday season during grueling breast cancer treatments, severe depression that stemmed from her rocky relationship, the loss of her parents and economic struggles because of unemployment. Harada is pleased to say: “That mother has since stabilized and is doing better in her health and her finances, thanks to donors who helped spread the holiday cheer. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, ‘Through all of my struggles and hardships, I always put on a smile, am there for my family, and won’t let the past ruin me.’”

Adds Harada: “With the help of our 60-plus partner agencies, we look for families who are most in need and vulnerable during the holidays.”

“Only families with verifiable holiday emergency needs are eligible to participate in the Adopt A Family Program,” says Amy Hennesey, a volunteer Helping Hands Hawaii board member. The most common items needed are pots and pans, bedsheets/linens, educational toys for elementary-age children, household cleaning supplies – and this year there is a demand for a simple Japanese toy called “kendama.”

The general public, including businesses, employee teams, social clubs, families and individuals, are invited to participate in the Adopt A Family program. You will be assigned to an ohana with specific needs to address during the holidays and provided with details of their predicament and/or difficult circumstances. To be a donor, call 440-3800, or for more information, email hhh@help-inghandshawaii.org.

The bottom line is this: Whether it’s Helping Hands Hawaii or some other notable organization anxiously engaged in a charitable cause during Christmastime, please contribute and offer your services so that the less fortunate and needy in our community can indeed enjoy a happy holiday season!

mufi@ mufihannemann.com

“Keiki in the park, the sun is setting. Mama’s in the kitchen, beef stew’s a cooking. Papa’s busy making room for all the presents ‘cuz everybody knows that Santa’s coming soon …”

The lyrics of Christmas Time Again, Aloha, written by my brother Nephi and his best bud, entertainer Iva Kinimaka, come to life just about this time every year. For one thing, it accelerates my journey down my Christmas lane of memories. I certainly recall my Mama’s down-home holiday cooking, which included her broke-da-mouth Samoan puligi (steamed spiced cake topped with a stellar custard sauce). I cherish thoughts of listening to Elvis and Nat “King” Cole’s The Christmas Song, Mom and Dad leading us in singing uplifting hymns, literally rocking with relatives around the Christmas tree, and always closing with a family prayer to conclude the evening in our cozy living room. On the athletic front, it meant that I was fully engaged in my favorite sport, either through playing or watching basketball. We went to great lengths to send out special Christmas messages and gifts to friends and loved ones. No question, we were definitely raised to believe that ’tis better to give than to receive.

Point is, so many people today get caught up in fancy feasts, high-end gift giving and shopping beyond their means, in line or online. Oftentimes, holiday cheer is dominated by the holiday blues. I lost my beloved sister Titi this year; she took great delight in making Christmas special for our ohana. Dealing with the parting of a loved one helps me come to the realization that when the very people you care about are no longer around, the best present in life is truly “the present” – as in “today.” The best gifts are time given and heart-to-heart moments spent – things you can’t really put a price tag on.

Speaking of things you can’t really place a value on, because of the joy that it brings to thousands of island residents and visitors, the Honolulu City Lights festivities come to mind. I know the five mayors who have had the honor of presiding over this fun-filled family event regard this holiday experience as one of their treasured memories in office. I will always point to the couple of occasions that I shared with Mayor Frank Fasi and Joyce lighting up the Norfolk tree with my wife, Gail, as one of those classic moments because he was the founder of this 29-year tradition which enabled me to lead the packed audience in saying, “Thank you, Mr. Mayor.”

And each mayor – with the strong support of dedicated city employees, the Friends of Honolulu City Lights, corporate sponsors and countless volunteers – has been able to place his own imprimatur on this magnificent tradition. Mayor Jeremy Harris, for instance, started Kapolei City Lights, and I expanded upon the highly popular Honolulu Public Workers Electric Lights Parade at Kapolei, started the Christmas Prayer Service at Kawaihao Church and launched a City Lights celebration on the Windward side.

This is certainly an activity you don’t have to put a hole in your pocketbook to get into the spirit of Christmas. Take the time to view and smell the decorated wreaths, evergreens and Christmas trees sponsored by various county agencies at Honolulu Hale, and venture onto the lawn to appreciate the bigger-than-life displays, including Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele. Hours of operation are from 7:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. between now and the first week of January. If you live in West Oahu and are in need of a little Christmas cheer, trek on down to Kapolei Hale and enjoy a similar display.

Other free activities to brighten your holidays on the weekend before Christmas:

EWA BEACH CHRISTMAS PARADE, Saturday, Dec. 21 – Sponsored by the Ewa Beach Lions Club, the parade will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. It begins at Ilima Intermediate School and travels along Fort Weaver Road.

MANOA COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS PARADE, Saturday, Dec. 21 – East Manoa Lions Club holds its parade also on the same day as Ewa Beach, from 5 to 7 p.m. It starts at Noelani School, to Woodlawn Drive, through Kolowalu Street, along East Manoa Road, Lowrey Avenue, then to Manoa Road and ends up at Manoa Park.

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, Friday, Dec. 20, Saturday, Dec. 21- If you feel patriotic, embark on the Holiday Festival of Lights tour, which is a cruise around Pearl Harbor to see ships and submarines illuminated. Sponsored by the National Park Service and the Navy, tours are available in half-hour segments from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21. Tickets are released on a first-come first-served basis free of charge beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center. You are encouraged, in the spirit of Christmas, to bring canned goods for local charities to be collected on site.

HONOLULU TABERNACLE 2013 CHRISTMAS CONCERT, Saturday, Dec. 21, and Sunday, Dec. 22 – It’s not the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but the voices of the Concert Adult Choir and Youth and Children’s Choir are always angelic. You can enjoy this free concert, now in its 24th year, at the Honolulu Tabernacle at 1560 S. Beretania St., which is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Concert starts at 7 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, and there is no charge for parking between Banyan Tree Plaza and the Tabernacle. The concert also will feature a symphony orchestra conducted by Craig Young, with special musical performances by the award-winning Drill Team Hawaii directed by his wife, Penny Young.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC ON KKOL RADIO HONOLULU, Saturday, Dec. 21 – Finally, if you want to take a break from shopping and do your best karaoke imitation, tune in to 107.9 Hawaii’s Kool Gold from noon to 1 p.m., where I will be sharing with you my favorite top 12 Christmas songs of all time. I can guarantee you that there will be a few in there that you haven’t heard in a long time, and one or two that you have never heard before!

mufi@mufihannemann.com

The loyalty of a friend is irreplaceable, especially if it has four legs, a wet nose and makes it a habit of sniffing its two-legged buddies.

It’s true, dogs are faithful – some to the very end and beyond. I ran across a story online of a faithful German shepherd in Argentina named Captain that refused to leave his best friend’s graveside. Captain ran away from his new owner’s home one week after his master died in 2006 and found his way to the cemetery. For six years, he remained faithful and did not let death part them.

Volunteers bandage a homeless dog that had suffered a stomach wound. Photos from K9 Kokua

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 2

Here at home, the bond between a dog and human being is just as strong, and some of the stories are heart-wrenching. One case in particular involves a battered wife who chose to live in her car because homeless shelters did not allow her Doberman Pinscher to be taken in. This woman’s story has a happy ending because relatives on Hawaii Island eventually housed her. But there are many homeless cases out there with not-so-happy endings. Many of them would rather live on the streets than give their pets up.

K9 Kokua is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help dogs in need. Executive director and senior volunteer Kale Lyman is very familiar with the ties that are solidified between dogs and human beings.

“We strive to keep good ohana together. The human and dog bond is powerful, and many of those who are homeless had their dogs before they lost their homes … their jobs, and even before they ended up on the streets and beaches,” says Lyman.

Kathy DoSantos Tam, an active supporter of K9 Kokua and owner of two German shepherds, says, “For some homeless people, their only source of warmth, companionship and protection is their dog. K9 volunteers spend the time teaching their owners to care properly for their animals and getting their pets microchipped, spayed or neutered.”

A program that K9 Kokua offers is ‘Ilio Hale. It specifically helps dogs that have been affected by domestic violence and was created to allow victims to leave their abusive situation with their dog.

“As long as the individual enters a proper domestic violence shelter, then we will provide foster homes for their dogs while they are receiving help and rehabilitation,” says Lyman.

Some of the canines have been beaten with brooms and other objects.

“In foster homes,” says Lyman, “K9 Kokua helps them build confidence and trust again, at the same time, their dog owners are undergoing medical assistance and similar rehabilitation at their shelters.”

The ultimate goal is reuniting master and best friend in a safe environment.

Lyman says her group is unique in that it is the only organization in Hawaii that goes “to homeless camps, on the streets, on the beaches, under bridges and in remote areas” to treat dogs of the homeless population on Oahu and Maui. “We supplement food, bring vets out to these camps, where they conduct wellness exams to prevent the possibility of diseases spreading,” she says. “In many of the areas we cover, there are no groups or authorities who know that these dogs we treat even exist.”

Unfortunately, K9 Kokua volunteers often witness many of the animals dying and enduring pain and suffering because their owners have no resources to call for help. The grim reality, according to Lyman, is that there are drivers out there who “literally veer to specifically hit the dogs of homeless people who are on roadways. Also cruel kids who take joy at whacking the animals with sticks, and many more who are cruel to the canines because of the way they judge homeless people.”

Another program K9 Kokua offers assists home-bound seniors who are too weak or financially strapped to care for their dogs any longer.

“We go to their homes to educate them and offer supportive assistance, such as nail trimming, supplemental food and wellness exams for their dogs,” explains Lyman.

The nonprofit relies solely on volunteers. The public is invited to log on to its web-site, k9kokua.org, for more information or mail donations (tax-deductible) to: K9 Kokua PO Box 2471 Waianae, HI 96792. To stay updated on current events, “like” K9 Kokua on Face-book, and for more information, call 853-7267.

Fundraisers are held regularly, such as the K9 Lokahi Tree, which continues until New Year’s Eve. The organization is visible at the Hawaii Pet Expo and educational events throughout the year. K-9 also has specialty products that are donated, including a jewelry collection line and T-shirts, in order to help raise sorely needed funds. The all-volunteer group says that 100 percent of its donations go directly to help Oahu and Maui dogs – proof positive that giving to K9 Kokua will make your holiday season a “pawsitively great experience” to help our at-risk community and their loyal friends and companions!

mufi@mufihannemann.com

New owners hope to restore Kauai’s Coco Palms Resort to its glory days — such as when Elvis Presley sang ‘The Hawaiian Wedding Song’ to actress Joan Blackman in the film ‘Blue Hawaii’ | Honolulu Star-Advertiser photo

‘Tis the season for two landmark buildings and one Waikiki hotel chain to celebrate rebuilding efforts and acquisitions.

Coco Palms Resort on the Garden Isle, the old Naniloa Volcanoes Resort in Hilo and Aston Hotels and Resorts in Waikiki all have one thing in common: They topped economic news from a hotel and lodging standpoint in Hawaii this month, with renewed hope and a brighter financial outlook in 2014.

Let’s start with Kauai’s Coco Palms – the once world-famous resort has been in disarray since it was shut down abruptly by Hurricane Iniki 21 years ago. An approval by Kauai County Council this month has given the establishment a chance under a county ordinance that allows developers to restore hurricane-damaged structures to their pre-Iniki condition without the requirements of adhering to current stricter health and safety standards. Coco Palms Hui LLC has been given a 24-month window by the county to refurbish the resort to its former glory, and to transform it into a premier destination and cultural icon. Tentative plans are to renovate three guest-room buildings along Kuhio Highway and repair five hotel structures, including Seashell Restaurant, Queen’s Audience Hall and Chapel Palms.

According to The Garden Island newspaper, Coco Palms Hui developers are working with Hawaiian Land Trust and state Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine whether four acres of an adjacent 20-acre site can be set aside for a cultural center or pavilion per the hui’s tentative plans. The remaining 16 acres will be designated preservation and conservation.

Coco Palms made its mark in the film industry during the final scenes of Blue Hawaii. My sisters and their friends drooled over Elvis Presley when they saw him crooning The Hawaiian Wedding Song to actress Joan Blackman. That scene remains vivid in my memory as the King and his bride-tobe stood stationary on a double-hulled canoe that was flooded with fresh island flowers, as they flowed through the lagoon to the Wedding Chapel. Perhaps future weddings at Coco Palms Resort will be popular someday following rebuilding efforts.

Seven years after Blue Hawaii, Elvis would return to Coco Palms with his real-life wife Priscilla. Ellen Garcia of Lihue met Presley during his 1968 vacation, along with Priscilla and the Presleys’ newborn Lisa Marie. Garcia tells me she looks forward to the new and improved resort, but says, “It won’t be the same without Elvis,” who sang Kuuipo to her when they met briefly in April 1968 in the grove of some 2,000 coconut trees at Coco Palms.

Another historic charm, Naniloa Volcanoes Resort (rumored to be renamed Wyland Hilo) has new owners. Real estate developer Ed Bushor finalized the acquisition of the oceanfront hotel through a bankruptcy auction this month, with partners who include marine artist Wyland and Hawaii Island philanthropist and landowner Ed Olson. They picked up the property for $7 million. Previous owner Hawaii Outdoor Tours Inc. defaulted on the $10 million loan it originally borrowed to purchase the property back in 2005, when the company took over a 65-year lease. Hawaii Outdoor Tours Inc. couldn’t make its annual payments, forcing the lender to foreclose last year.

In a conversation over dinner with Olson, who has contributed in a variety of meaningful ways to his adopted home, he related that we also can expect to see Wyland’s humpback whale collection pleasantly plastered all over the marine art-themed vacation property. He also shared plans for the new resort to “attract the meetings and convention business” because of the revitalization efforts of reportedly about $20 million that would breathe new life into the establishment.

I recall Naniloa being one of the more beautiful hotels in the Islands. In its heyday, the Hilo landmark featured its best assets – the ever-popular showroom called the “Crown Room,” where major entertainers from across the state performed and raved about the quality of that room, which many confessed was comparable to Waikiki. It is reassuring to know that the spectacular panoramic views of Hilo Bay will remain, where on a bright, clear Hawaiian winter day, patrons can take in the breathtaking scenery of snow-capped Mauna Kea.

So far, no one is blowing their top over the new owners’ plans. In fact, the only top-blowing that will occur will be between the lobby and the beach, where at the top of the hour a bronze baby humpback sculpture will spurt water out of its blowhole. In fact, given these latest developments from a tourism perspective – both mayors Billy Kenoi of Hawaii’s biggest county and Bernard Carvalho of the Garden Island have reason to smile and break happily into a song and celebration.

Finally, great news also was announced recently on Oahu regarding the Aston and Aqua hotel and resort properties. The two power-houses – once major competitors – joined forces to create a win-win combination. Vacation Holdings Hawaii, a subsidiary of Miami-based Interval Leisure Group and owner of Aston Hotels and Resorts, has acquired Aqua Hospitality/Aqua Hotels & Resorts to create the largest hotel chain in the state.

Some 50 properties will be managed by Aston and Aqua collectively, according to Kelvin Bloom, president and CEO of Aston, and president of Vacation Holdings Hawaii, who spent countless hours engineering the transaction while racking up many miles traveling to and from the Mainland. Incidentally, Bloom somehow remarkably still found time to serve as an active member of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association and Hawaii Tourism Authority boards.

“As Aston celebrates its 65th year in business, we are poised to continue to be a major contributor to Hawaii’s economy for decades to come through our expanded statewide network of properties. Hawaii is a brand name in tourism, and we are committed to providing the highest level of service infused with the spirit of aloha to our visitors, guests and owners, as this is an exciting opportunity for our employees,” says Bloom.

Indeed the best is yet to come for Hawaii’s visitor industry!

mufi@mufihannemann.com

Holiday cheer and gift-giving come easily with great enthusiasm during November and December, but once January starts kicking in, so do the New Year’s blues. For a few of us, the sudden return to our normal routines may be a “chore or a bore,” but what if we could harness all that holiday joy, elation and generosity and spread them throughout the year?

I’m in no way, shape or form a New Year’s resolutions expert, but permit me to offer a set of three principles that may serve as a guide while you pen your 2014 goals. The three principles are: 1) Emphasize the Mahalo Principle; Thank Someone Every Day, 2) Care For and Nurture Someone in Need and 3) Look For Ways to Give of Your Heart, Hands And Time.

When I was mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, I was blessed with a cabinet and senior staff that was very talented, gifted and selfless. When I assembled them, I did not do it on the basis of political affiliation or ideology, or whether I enjoyed a longtime personal relationship with them. A first-time meeting for some of them was when they walked through the door for an interview.

In fact, the net result was a collection of individuals who were Democrats, Republicans and Independents, and included more women to ever serve in that capacity at City Hall. We shared some goals in common: 1) to make a collective contribution to our community, 2) to leave the place better than we found it and 3) to buy in to a certain core philosophy that would guide our actions.

A fundamental leadership maxim that perhaps served as an overarching principle was to emphasize and prioritize the Mahalo Principle. Toddlers learn that a simple “thank you” can go a long way. Each time a child is given a Popsicle, those words usually result in additional treats or a pat on the back. Later in life we realize that saying “thank you” can help facilitate respectful discussions, garner mutual respect from friend or foe and melt the hearts of those who need to hear those golden words the most.

Throughout life, we sometimes overlook or take for granted the very people who look out for us or truly care about our well-being. Expressing mahalo simply helps to underscore two very powerful words in the English language: gratitude and appreciation. I recall when I was a White House fellow to then-Vice President George H. W. Bush, he was the most meticulous public official I ever witnessed when it came to saying “thank you.” His trademark was handwriting a personal note immediately to someone he wanted to acknowledge for a good deed. Needless to say, these brief and succinct mahalo messages written on a 4-by-6 card became treasured mementoes to everyone who received such a personalized note.

So try saying or writing “thank you” daily, especially to someone who least expects it. The results may surprise you.

Engaging in charitable projects, particularly during the holidays, is not a difficult thing to do during Christmastime when the spirit of selfless acts envelops us. How about extending our caring and nurturing nature 365 days a year? Are there family members, loved ones, associates or individuals you hardly know battling life-threatening diseases? When was the last time you gave them a call, visited them at their bedside or flew across the miles to offer comfort and aid?

Through the years, I have experienced my fair share of these visiting moments. I am grateful for the values my parents instilled in me that we should never be too busy to care for someone in need. Time constraints and personal projects may prevent us from penciling in precious visits with those who have cheered us up when were down, and who are now themselves experiencing rough spots in their lives – be it financially, spiritually, or perhaps through health challenges. Life is filled with peaks and valleys, struggles and dreams, trials and blessings, but do we ever think and ponder that perhaps a side benefit to those who endure hardships is so that the people around them can be strengthened and blessed? Think about it.

A living example of the first two principles in action are Cheryl-Lee Kekumu and Danny Goya. Once homeless, Kekumu had no choice but to live on the beach with her family. A chance encounter with Goya in 2007 was the key in turning around her life. Goya is the program manager of the Partners in Development Program Foundation (PIDF), a nonprofit organization that addresses the needs of at-risk communities, particularly Native Hawaiians. He found Kekumu on a beach in Maili and took the time to reach out to her, care for and nurture someone in need.

“We brought her food, and some toys and books for her children. Later she and her family transitioned into the Onelau’ena Shelter operated by the Waianae Community Outreach,” says Goya.

Years later, when PIDF transitioned from a parent-engagement preschool to include an intensive adult education program, Goya hired Kekumu, who is now on track to graduate with a B.A. in early childhood education.

“The parenting component she learned from Ka Pa’alana Traveling Preschool and Homeless Family Education Program has helped her children to prepare for formal education,” explains Goya.

Kekumu agrees: “I feel very blessed and loved that God has put people like Danny Goya in my circle of friends. He has made a major impact in the lives of our homeless population. Such an honor to be teaching in the very program that rescued me, and I take the time to regularly say mahalo to the leader who made the difference in my life.”

Finally, another way to extend our heartfelt contributions every day of the year is to proactively and creatively look for opportunities to give of ourselves in the service of others.

A few years ago, I found myself being very impressed with NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, who hung up his cleats and took a job at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash., to teach math and coach football. From all accounts, the 14-year NFL veteran has been performing both tasks very well.

Fast forward to the present, we find that the 41-year-old Kitna came out of retirement recently to be a backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in their most important game of the year against the Philadelphia Eagles. What was even more impressive is that Kitna was willing to donate his entire $53,000 paycheck to Lincoln. He is proof positive that the “Spirit of Christmas” can be more than one day a year.

We can’t all be philanthropists on the magnitude of Kitna, but we can enter the new year with the attitude that it is always better to give of our heart, hands and time.

Here’s wishing you and your family a great year in 2014!

mufi@mufihannemann.com

It’s 1964. In Hong Kong a song called A Little Bit of Soap is No. 1 for 32 weeks on the charts and 35 weeks in Singapore – landing a little-known band a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Singapore. During the end of a news conference hailing The Beatles’ arrival in Hong Kong, a British reporter spurts out, “Did you know I Want To Hold Your Hand is NOT the No. 1 record on the Hit Parade in Hong Kong? It’s No. 2!” A surprised John Lennon asks, “Who has the No. 1 record?” The reporter replies, “A group called the Fabulous Echoes!” A baffled George Harrison utters, “Never heard of them. Who are they?”

“The Beatles’ Hong Kong promoter was really upset, so he rushed them out of that press conference,” says Fabulous Echoes/SOS longtime confidante and manager Frances Kirk. Kirk first had been approached to promote the Fab Four’s Hong Kong concert, but she turned them down. “At the fee they were asking, the lowest ticket would’ve had to be priced at $75, which was half a month’s salary for most people in Hong Kong then.”

Turned out The Beatles concert ticket sales were a promoter’s nightmare. With only a third of the arena sold, the rest had to be filled with complimentary seats.

You can read about Kirk’s journey with SOS, one of Hawaii’s most popular musical groups, in her just-released book, The Society of Seven: Last of the Great Show Bands. The Fabulous Echoes was Society Of Seven’s original name, and the highly talented and entertaining group would headline in concert halls across the globe, wowing audiences everywhere and performing with showbiz legends such as Louis Armstrong, Patti Page, Sammy Davis Jr., Wayne Newton and Kenny Rogers, to name a few.

In her book, Kirk recounts the exciting tales of a revolving cast of world-class entertainers and covers a span of more than four decades profiling the world-famed band that overcame “dramatic turnover and personal tragedy to build a unique legacy in the rough-and-tumble world of showbiz.”

The enormously popular Ed Sullivan Show put the band on the entertainment map.

“Fabulous Echoes was on TV for two shows … unheard of in those days. We had seven to nine minutes on each program,” says Kirk. The band’s most memorable Ed Sullivan moment occurred 30 seconds before airtime, when the floor manager said, “Good luck, boys. Don’t be nervous. Only 45 million people are watching you,” recalls Tony Ruivivar, SOS leader, who along with Bert Sagum are the two remaining members of the original group.

The musical love affair was initially sparked at age 7, when Kirk and SOS pianist Terry Lucido were classmates in Hong Kong. Lucido taught Kirk and her friends how to cha cha. He later introduced her to Ruivivar and Sagum, when the teen band first was formed. With limited space, they improvised.

“They sang on their Kowloon apartment’s rooftop. After we all grew up, we connected again when I was a record producer/concert promoter for Diamond Music, my father’s company,” says Kirk.

“Our most memorable moment with Fran was when we performed at the Thunderbird Lounge in Las Vegas and Ella Fitzgerald dropped by,” says Ruivivar. “Ella and Fran were socializing till the wee hours of the morning, and Ella got up on stage to jam with us for one hour. What a thrill! Imagine, the best female vocal artist in the world singing with us.”

Society of Seven got its first big break in Hawaii, when Kimo McVay asked the band to substitute for Don Ho at the fabled Duke’s while he toured the Mainland. Following the move from Hong Kong and shows in Las Vegas, Reno, New York City, etc., the band made Hawaii its permanent home base as it landed a contract to headline at the Outrigger Main Showroom in 1970. “SOS fever” soon became contagious, with hits includingWalk Away and This Is My Life, which drew “choke” folks of all ages into Waikiki. SOS quickly became a fixture at the Main Showroom for decades – thanks to the belief and strong support of the Outrigger management team led by its head, Dr. Richard Kelley.

“Frannie Kirk is one of our dearest friends and is family … Her business acumen along with our creative abilities made magic,” says Ruivivar.

“Tony fully supported and encouraged my output. I had rules, the boys had their own rules. They lived by their motto that no matter what happens in life, once they get into the dressing room they leave the world behind, and it is only the group that exists,” says Kirk.

SOS’s dedication to and passion for performing for their fans were the glue that held the partnership together. Ruivivar also attributed the group’s success to “the hard work the band put into their routines and impersonations, creating variety shows that were current, incorporating popular Broadway musical numbers and introducing fabulous new talent throughout the years.”

This “brotherhood of born showmen” still performs in Las Vegas. I remain their “biggest fan,” as I know all their hit tunes and play them quite regularly on my Saturday noon radio show, including my all-time SOS favorite 99.8, which Kirk co-wrote with Grammy Award-winning arranger Ernie Freeman.

mufi@mufihannemann.com

The author with supporters and friends of the Pawaa In-Ha Park (from left): Leah Song, Ann Kobayashi, Sunhee Kim, Sosuk Ko, Hwaja Park, Minnie Ko, Taeja Choi, Heejin Chang, Hyosuk Lee and Meehee Lee | Photo from Mufi Hannemann

My participation recently at Pawaa In-Ha Park, commemorating the 111th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States, made me reflect on the myriad contributions Koreans have made to our Islands. Historical records show that 16 Korean nationals came individually to Hawaii in 1902, but the first real wave of Koreans arriving in our state came the following year via the SS Gaelic as it docked in Honolulu with 102 immigrants.

Having visited cities and led trade missions to South Korea, particularly Seoul, Incheon City, Busan and Jejudo, it reminds me of the richness of its heritage and culture. Although its local population is at 40,000, the contributions the Hawaii Korean community has made to the fabric of society, political system, economy, education, arts, food and entertainment are immeasurable.

Speaking of entertainment, I have become a huge fan of Korean drama in the 808. All 79 inches of me often is glued to my iPad, especially when I’m on the road, and on the DramaFever app. And guess what? I am not alone among the male populace of diehards in our community. For years, two of my former cabinet members, Tim Steinberger and Eric Takamura, often could be found talking up what they were following on KBFD-TV with the popular soaps’ female audience at City Hall. More recently, much to my surprise and delight, business executives including Walter Dods and Robin Campaniano, along with attorneys Bert Kobayashi Jr. and Rodney Veary and hundreds of others of the male gender, count themselves as devotees of K-dramas.

Dods and wife Diane easily could be dubbed “the first couple of Korean soaps” for the amount of time they spend watching their favorite series.

“I have a huge affinity for the historical ones, such as the tale of naval military leader Adm. Yi Soon-Shin, known for his courage and strategic brilliance in thwarting the enemy through his famous Turtle Ship,” explains Dods. He lists IRIS, an espionage series, as one of his all-time favorites. “I find the costumes and history of Korea so fascinating that if you see me on a flight riveted to my iPad, you know that I am busy watching you-know-what.”

Dods says he relies on Kobayashi and also on Jeff Chung, general manager of KBFD, a pioneer and expert on Korean drama, for hot tips on what he should view next.

Chung attributes the continuing popularity of Korean dramas to stories being “largely devoid of sex, drugs and violence, and core family values are a recurring theme.”

When asked why men are so late to the game in embracing these shows, especially a series with a romantic theme, Chung says, “Men don’t like to readily admit that they have a soft side because we are bound to cry a little bit at times.”

As one who shed a tear or two at The Sound of Music and at the ending of Splendor In The Grass, my favorite tearjerker is Stairway To Heaven, which is a classic that also was a big hit in Japan and the Philippines. If the title reminds you of an American song – yep, it’s the Led Zeppelin tune. In fact, the music is what I find extremely appealing. My favorite ballad is from Stairway - Bo Go Ship Da (I Miss You), which has me yearning to sing it in Korean – wishful thinking. My other favorite TV series is All In, shot in Korea and Las Vegas, starring Lee Byung-hun, whom I met through Chung at the 2005 Hawaii International Film Festival. Little did I realize then that Lee Byung-hun would break through on the American scene making a crossover to U.S. films.

So if K-dramas have started to pique your interest, make sure you set aside some quality time to watch them either at home or when you are traveling.

More importantly, be prepared to get hooked big time!

At the Pawaa In-Ha Park event, I also was pleased to connect again with Korean community leader Sosuk Ko. She headed the inaugural committee, which eventually adopted the park under my watch as Honolulu mayor.

Says Ko, “The Korean people of Hawaii did not have anything here that symbolized their hard work and perseverance. I wanted a special place to pay homage to our ancestors who came to this beautiful land and gave hope to our future generations. It only made sense to start with the park where the first centennial sculpture from Incheon, a sister city of Honolulu, was gifted.”

Second generation Korean-American and Ko’s daughter Minnie said it best in lauding her mother’s and other community leaders efforts:

“Our ancestors and parents worked hard and never gave up. They gave everything that they have to their children and respect their elders with every bone in their body. They have made Hawaii a better place to live!”

mufi@mufihannemann.com

Former Radford High School and University of Hawaii quarterback Kenneth Va’a Niumatalolo has reason to beam with pride this week, having been inducted into the first class of the Polynesian Hall of Fame – the brainchild of Super Bowl players Jesse Sapolu and Ma’a Tanuvasa.

Unlike the other superstar inductees – Herman Wedemeyer, Jack Thompson, Junior Seau, Kevin Mawae, Olin Kreutz and Kurt Gouveia – Niumatalolo wasn’t selected for his achievements as a player, but for excelling as a coach. There are stories galore of the exploits of Polynesian athletes through the years, yet hardly a tale of what Polynesians have accomplished as coaches at the collegiate or professional level because, all too sadly, there have been so few of them.

Enter at the helm “Coach Niumat,” as he affectionately is known at the U.S. Naval Academy, where in six short seasons he has run one of the NCAA’s most successful football programs. In fact, in the fall of 2009, it was that itching curiosity that led Hawaii businessman Marc Tilker and me to Annapolis to see for ourselves the country’s first Polynesian college head football coach in action. What we witnessed gave us chickenskin.

The Niumatalolo family in front of Laie LDS Temple (front, from left) Ken Niumatalolo, James Niumatalolo, Steve Niumatalolo, (back) Molly Niumatalolo-Simmons, Sonja Fitisemanu, Lamala, Simi and Raelene Niumatalolo, and Janice Manoa | Photo courtesy Janice Manoa

Marc and I were so impressed because Niumatalolo and his staff taught the young men more than just the basic X’s and O’s of football. The coach and his management team also were in charge of student-athletes whose primary responsibility is being a stout member of our armed services to protect and defend our country.

This unique aspect of Kenny’s job hit home with me when he invited me to address his team at midfield during a practice break. As I gazed into their eyes and felt their aloha and respect for their Samoan-born coach, I could not help but hearten back to Kenny’s father, Simi, a retired Coast Guard officer and an employee of Polynesian Cultural Center, and his mother, Lamala, who for many years would take daily commutes on TheBus from Laie to downtown Honolulu, where she worked at Bank of Hawaii. All those sacrifices they made for their seven children reflected in their son Kenny being held in the highest regard by students and alumni naval officers at one of the nation’s most prestigious service academies.

Lamala died last fall after a long illness, a monumental loss for Simi, Kenny and siblings James, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army, Molly Niumatalolo-Simmons, Sonja Fitesemanu, Janice Manoa, Raelene and Steve. She was the heart and soul of this close-knit family. Judging by the hundreds who made the trek to Laie to pay homage to a loving matriarch at the funeral service, she was an inspiration to all. Her influence was felt in so many ways, even down to Kenny professing in his tribute that he had “one of the tidiest offices of any football coach in America” because of his mom’s “insistence on cleanliness.”

When I queried Kenny on what has been the key to his success as a coach, he quickly responded: “My family and my faith. I am not the smartest guy in the world, but I hold to certain values and principles taught to me by my parents that have stayed with me throughout my life. They have guided me in mentoring some of our country’s finest young men.”

Kenny had taken two years off during his college years to fulfill an LDS Spanish-speaking mission in California.

Regarding his latest honor, he says, “In many ways, I am so humbled to be singled out, and I don’t feel worthy of such an award. I have looked up to my fellow inductees for their trailblazing accomplishments both on and off the field.”

Finally, when asked to point to the biggest highlight so far of his coaching career, the 48-year-old skipper looked to his first recruit to the academy, Alex Murray, from Seattle, when he was assisting then-head coach Paul Johnson in 1995 (like Kenny, Johnson was formerly on UH coach Bob Wagner’s staff).

“When Murray came back to visit me on campus, having graduated from Annapolis as a football player, completed his tour of duty and now embarking on a meaningful private sector career as a vice president with JP Morgan, I was overcome with emotion. His success story meant more to me than winning the Commander-In-Chief’s Cup (which he has won four times for having the best record among the Army, Navy and Air Force teams competing against each other) or beating Wake Forest (Navy’s first over a nationally ranked team in 23 years in 2008) or beating archrival Notre Dame twice.”

That in and of itself speaks volumes of the character and integrity of Kenny Niumat-alolo. For him, it’s not only about winning on the gridiron, but winning in the game of life. I know I speak for many when I say when he and wife Barbara (a native of Guam, whom he met in Laie while she was a student at BYU-Hawaii) and their children are ready to return home to Laie, we’ll welcome them back with open arms. But given all the great things he is doing presently, that may be a long time coming.

A growing movement across the country hitting our shores soon will spotlight young Filipino-American leaders who are making great strides in politics, culture, entrepreneurship, education and civic engagement.

It’s no secret that Fil-Ams make up the second largest Asian-American population in the United States, many of whom reside in California and Hawaii. In fact, the 2010 census shows that Filipinos are now Hawaii’s largest ethnic group. And the 50th state also has earned a reputation of being a showcase for Fil-ipino achievement in the nation – the first governor, Supreme Court justices and mayors of Filipino ancestry all hail from Hawaii.

Bruno Mars accepts the award for best pop vocal album for 'Unorthodox Jukebox' Jan. 26 at the 56th annual Grammy Awards Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 2

So it is fitting that Hon-olulu will play host to the first ever Fil-Am Young Leaders Summit May 3 at the Filipino Community Center, where youthful Filipino leaders will dominate the event. It will coincide with FilCom’s Flores De Mayo (Flowers of May) Festival.

The summit is chaired by Kit Zulueta of Maui and Oahu’s Randy Cortez. The talented duo was asked by the Philippine ambassador to the United States, the Hon-orable Jose Cuisia Jr., and Philippine Consul General to Hawaii Julius Torres to spearhead the activity. Both are active members of the Fil-Am Young Leaders Program, a prestigious group chosen among hundreds of applicants throughout the U.S. A highlight of the program is an all-expense-paid trip to the Philippines, where they saw for themselves the enormous opportunities for both countries to work together for their mutual benefit.

“We are not just leaders of tomorrow, but we aspire to be leaders of today. Our goal is to assist Filipino-Americans reach their potential of being one of the most influential ethnic groups in the nation,” says Zulueta, director of communications for the County Council of Maui. The May summit will cover topics including immigration, jobs, education and voter registration. Companies and individuals interested in either participating or sponsoring can call 291-9407 or log on to fylsummit.com.

Speaking of Filipino superstars, all eyes were on the two-time Grammy Award winner Bruno Mars when he performed in the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show. The Honolulu-born song writer, producer and singer is proud of his Filipino ancestry and Hawaii roots. His mother, Bernie Hernandez, who died last year, immigrated to Hawaii from the Philippines as a child and performed here as a hula dancer. Peter Hernandez, his percussionist father from New York, is of Puerto Ri-can/Jewish descent.

It seemed like it was only yesterday when Bruno was performing as a child with his father’s group, the Love Notes, specializing as an Elvis impersonator. Because of the impressive entertainment awards he has garnered and the numerous chart-busting songs he’s sold, Mars made Time magazine’s 100 most influential list in 2011, and this year was rated No. 1 on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Not bad for the Roosevelt High School product, who’s racked up all these accomplishments by the tender age of 28. His Hawaii fans can’t wait to sing and dance to his hit tunes, including Treasure, Just The Way You Are, Marry You and Locked Out Of Heaven, when he returns to the 808 in April to perform at Blaisdell Arena. It promises to be a couple of evenings that we will long remember!

Another rising star in our midst is 2009 Punahou grad uate Ashley Moser, who is now the co-anchor for KITV’s weekend morning show and weekday general assignment reporter. Several news directors around the country had contacted her, but when opportunities came regarding Hawaii news, “KITV was the most persistent and presented me with an amazing job position,” says Moser. After being away from her family and friends for so long, she adds, “The offer helped me realize my home state is truly paradise, and that I didn’t want to be away from this place any longer.”

Moser graduated last April with a degree in communications from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where her college career entailed a number of extensive media assignments. While anchoring for Eleven News, she won the Society of Pro fessional Journalists 2012 national award for “Best All-Around Television Newscast.” She also logged time in the Big Apple for New York One, Time Warner’s 24-hour cable news channel.

Moser most recently worked as a weekday morning co-anchor and morning live reporter for the NBC affiliate WNWO in Toledo, Ohio. “I went to work at 3 a.m. every weekday and there was never a dull moment,” she says. She was quickly thrown into the fire, covering blazes, a car chase that crossed state lines, deadly shootings, a standoff and other breaking stories that kept her on her toes. Her first-week assignments at KITV included fatal incidents in Waipahu and Kailua. In week two, she covered the lockdown at Roosevelt high, where a police officer was stabbed. She no doubt was well-prepared to take on her new challenging assignments.

Her idol in TV news is CNN’s Erin Burnett. “Erin is graceful, fluent and has a presence about her that shows people they can trust her,” says Moser. “At the same time, she is down to earth. That is the kind of trust I am striving for as a journalist.”

At the rate that she is advancing and progressing, it won’t be long too long before Moser will develop a legion of aspiring media types who will strive to be just like her.