Q&A THE NEW STORYTELLERS THE TIES THAT BIND Pūlama Lāna‘i’s Charlie Palumbo Great story. New tech. Why the Lau ‘ohana just on finding aloha in places— How next-gen storytellers reach might be Hawai‘i’s First historic and new—on Lāna‘i. out to weave a tale. Family of Sports. PG.8 PG.12 PG.20

FALL 2019 UH Magazine Contents FALL 2019 Cheryl Oncea UH Alumni and Supporters, PUBLISHER [email protected]

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Patty Vigueras • Discounts for being claims- SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE [email protected] free, a homeowner and 808-534-7164 multi-policyholder • Tedric Abe Save even more with our ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Paperless, Full Pay, and Early [email protected] Shopper discounts 808-534-7165 • Local claims servicing and Cyd Shizuru ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 24/7 claims assistance [email protected] Patriarch Leonard • Sales and Service locations 808-534-7164 Lau heads an all-star on Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and family of successes in Michelle Okada sports and life Hawaii Island ADVERTISING PROJECT MANAGER • Flexible payment plans [email protected] 808-534-7560 20 • Online and Mobile App IN THIS ISSUE policy servicing • 24-Hour Emergency 4 NEWSMAKERS 12 THE NEW STORYTELLERS Roadside Service for $7.50** Kapi‘olani’s apprenticeship A fresh generation is program wows the nation’s transforming contemporary mayors, Hilo’s humpback as well as traditional stories whale research on PBS, through innovative artistry Sumida farm partners with and modern technology Mānoa on water research Call 877-244-3495 Margot Schrire 20 SPORTS SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6 UPDATE From football and volleyball or visit us at OF COMMUNICATIONS UH’s latest achievements to soccer and surfing, the Lau in students growing plants family spans our love of sports for space travel, funding farmershawaii.com for Send feedback to: to increase Native Hawai- [email protected] 22 MILESTONES a free quote today! ian STEM students, 10 Cultural practitioners: Waiwai years of college success for Collective’s Mahina Paishon- Keycode: 6M4MAG Wai‘ale‘ale Project Duarte and Keao NeSmith ON THE COVER farmershawaii.com | follow us on “UH MAGAZINE is published by PacificBasin Communications in partnership with the UH Foundation. All contents copyright 8 Q&A 26 WHAT’S MY JOB? Podcasters ©2019 by PacificBasin Communications, 1088 Bishop Street, Pūlāma Lāna‘i Project Meet Avi Soifer, dean of the Jocelyn Ng and Suite LL2, Honolulu, HI 96813. Printed in Hawai‘i. All informa- Manager and Architect Anjoli Roy of tion contained herein is based on information currently avail- William S. Richardson able and is subject to change at any time without notice. No Charlie Palumbo School of Law It’s Lit. Photo by

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WATERCRESS AND RESEARCHERS MĀNOA

N THE SHADOW OF PEARL- analyzed 25-year harvest trends and RIDGE CENTER and visible compared those to climate data, pests WOWING from busy Kamehameha High- and groundwater pumping,” says UH I way, Sumida Farm, one of the researcher Jennifer Engels. few remaining economically viable The farm “is sort of a ‘canary in the THE MAYORS KAPI‘OLANI small farms in the state, provides 70 mine’ for problems faced by small farm- percent of watercress in Hawai‘i. Re- ers throughout the state, and particu- ETTING 22 NEW FEDERAL- cently UH researchers have been wad- larly in the Pearl Harbor aquifer. What LY FUNDED APPRENTICE- ing through its plants to assess water sets the Sumidas apart is their resilience SHIPS APPROVED by the sustainability on the three-generation in the face of change,” says Engels, a G state in record time is no farm whose crops are fed naturally and UH research affiliate who leads AS- small feat. That’s why Kapi‘olani was entirely by Kalauao Spring. Forty years PIRE (Active Societal Participation in the only higher education campus in- ago, its flow poured out 20 million gal- Research and Education). “Their farm vited to present a Best Practices session Ethnic lons of fresh water daily, which is now has important economic and local food at the 87th U.S. Conference of Mayors down to as little as 5 million. production value, particularly in the held in Honolulu and attended by 220 differences Why has the farm survived for more context of Hawai‘i’s sustainability goals mayors from cities nationwide in June. than 90 years? Researchers from diverse around doubling local food production The 22 apprenticeships were part of remain disciplines sought answers in a year- by 2020.” a $4.4 million U.S. Department of Labor long study that examined disease patho- State Expansion grant added nation- when gens, water quality and even translations FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www. wide to states to expand the registered of historic Hawaiian language newspa- hawaii.edu/news/2019/04/30/sumida- apprenticeship (RA) training model. As taking into per stories, among other sources. “We farm-researchers/ an experienced partner with local com- panies on successful apprenticeships, account Kapi‘olani was charged with working with the state to bring in the expanded known risk RA model for high demand Hawai‘i industries of healthcare and culinary factors of HILO arts. RA provides an employer with an Department of Labor and Industrial about the staffing benefits they gained “earn while you learn” employee who Relations by providing administrative after adopting the RA model. With pancreatic also receives classroom training eligible support around registering, monitoring many cities facing massive workforce for the grant funding. and tracking apprentices. These tasks shortages, “happy employers make for cancer.” According to Sally Pestana, are onerous. Our work has been a game happy mayors!” says Pestana. GOTCHA! Professor Kapi‘olani’s health apprenticeship di- changer for many employers.” Adam Pack videotapes a humpback whale’s behavior rector, the mayors were impressed by Two of Kapi‘olani’s partners, FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR TO LOIC LE MARCHAND, UH and “fluke print” to later how the college “has been the bridge Queen’s Health System and Duke’s PARTICIPATE: Sally Pestana (pestana@ Cancer Center epidemiologist between employers and the Hawai‘i Waikiki, really engaged the mayors hawaii.edu) and co-author of the 25-year match against his lab’s study, the first to highlight eth- 43-year historical archive nicity and involving 180,000+ of over 23,000 fluke (tail) participants, published in images to discover the Cancer Medicine. It found that whale’s life history. Pack’s Native Hawaiians face a 60 ground-breaking work, percent and Japanese Ameri- based on whale sightings cans, 33 percent, greater risk in the Hawaiian Islands, of pancreatic cancer than Eu- will be featured in “Mystery SIZE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS projected by 2030 (from 500 million in 2009) in Asia, ropean Americans. of the Humpback Whale home to 60 percent of the world’s population. In fall 2019, a new master’s degree Song,” an episode of in Asian international affairs begins for working professionals and organizations Changing Seas, a PBS se- involved with Asia, emphasizing “contemporary issues and international connec- [“Pancreatic cancer risks are greater ries available in November tions…within Asia and beyond,” says Mānoa School of Pacific and Asian Studies for Hawaiians, Japanese Americans,” to public television stations Dean R. Anderson Sutton. Honolulu Star-Advertiser 6/4/19; “Na- tive Hawaiians, Japanese Americans nationwide. The episode is have higher risk of pancreatic cancer,” also available on YouTube 3 BILLION [“New advanced degree prepares for global affairs in Asia,” UH News 6/10/19] PACK OF ADAM COURTESY PHOTO: UH news 6/6/19] and the PBS website.

4 FALL 2019 ILLUSTRATION BY KIMBERLIE CLINTHORNE-WONG UH MAGAZINE 5 Update

10 Milestone number of VALUE OF A NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUN- years Kaua‘i Community Col- DATION GRANT to UH West O‘ahu to lege’s Wai‘ale‘ale Project has expand STEM capabilities, including enabled 786 non-college- increasing number of Native Hawaiian Your bound Kaua‘i residents, ages students enrolled; development of a 18 to 66, to successfully five-year plan to enhance STEM degrees, complete their first year of concentrations and certificates offered; college. Almost 300 have and strengthening summer bridge pro- earned a degree (BA, AA or grams for high school students. [“$2.5M certificate) through scholar- to UH West O‘ahu for Native Hawaiian and STEM,” Future ships, academic support, UH news release 5/17/19] peer mentors and a sup- portive learning environment. $2.5M [“UH Wai‘ale‘ale Project celebrates 10 years of success,” KHON2 News 7/21/19; UH press release 7/21/19] PABLO DE LEÓN, Is Our “I think this is the future” director of the Univer- sity of North Dakota’s NASA-funded Inflatable “I really Lunar-Mars Habitat, of didn’t Box Farm, a prototype Focus automated hydroponic want that” growing system that was successfully tested KHRYSTYNA KANAHELE, at the Lunar-Mars 18, Leeward Community Habitat. Designed and College student and intern developed by a team of at MA‘O Organic Farm’s Mānoa engineering stu- farm-to-college program, on dents, it is “an example her reaction, after learning (of)…collaboration be- last December that she was tween robotic systems among the 60 percent of and human systems for the 80 Wai‘anae intern vol- the future exploration unteers found to be pre-dia- of space,” says de León. betic through the UH Mauli [“UH students test award- Ola Study. By April, after diet winning growing system changes, she was back in at NASA habitat,” UH news release 6/2/19; “UH the healthy range. [“Changing students successfully test Habits Yields Health Benefits at Box Farm,” Honolulu Star- CENTERED MA‘O Farms in Waianae,” Civil Advertiser 6/3/19] Beat 7/15/19]

90 Record number of UH Hilo student-athletes (out of “Look for a yearlong celebration...and perhaps a few 189) who have earned Pacif- surprises along the way!” ic West Conference Scholar Athlete honors (earning ERAN GANOT, UH Rainbow basketball head coach, on the upcoming 100th season a 3.0+ cumulative grade this fall. “It’s been no secret that honoring the history of this great program has been a YOUR CAREER PATH MAY NOT BE A STRAIGHT LINE point). This year’s Academic priority for us from Day 1. Our 2019-‘20 season is the culmination of these efforts as it All-PacWest team honored signifies our 100th season...Look for a yearlong celebration honoring players, coaches, At the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Outreach College, we offer 1,555 student-athletes and special moments in our program’s history as well as interactive events with our fans, across 15 sports nationwide. unveiling of a special 100th logo, some retro looks, and perhaps a few surprises along the year-round learning opportunities that keep your future in focus. [“Academic All-PacWest recognizes way!” [Via email, 8/14/19] Using the world-class resources available at the Mānoa campus 1,555 Honorees,” PacWest Confer- ence press release online 7/9/19; UH and through strategic partnerships, Outreach College provides high- Hilo press release 7/12/19] quality professional and continuing education programs, workshops, 2” and public events to organizations, students, and lifelong learners.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BOX FARM OF BOX COURTESY PHOTO: 3.5”

6 FALL 2019 outreach.hawaii.edu

HB_UH FOUNDATION MAGAZINE_11_19ADv1.indd 1 9/19/19 8:20 PM

3.5” 2” Charlie Palumbo at Hale Keaka, Lāna‘i City theater

Q + A In 2013, Charlie Palumbo began working for Pūlama Lāna‘i, the company created in 2012 by Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison, who owns 97 percent of Lāna‘i, to manage the island’s land, assets and operations. Palumbo is the head architect and project manager for the company. He says the position was not only a dream job—and he’s worked on the East Coast and in Tokyo—it was a coming home. The 59-year-old spent much of his childhood on Lāna‘i, playing near pineapple fields. Today, the UH Mānoa School of Architecture alumnus is responsible for renovating existing businesses and homes and thoughtfully creating spaces for new ones.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP ON LĀNA‘I? IN THE PAST SIX YEARS WITH in wheelchairs, elderly kūpuna could We actually grew up in the middle of PŪLAMA LĀNA‘I YOU’VE DONE A better access that building to enjoy a pineapple field with no electricity. We LOT: COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL parties and other events. had a battery-operated TV and kerosene RENOVATIONS, MORE THAN hot water heater, propane refrigerator 200 HOME RENOVATIONS, IN WHAT WAYS IS THE COMPANY MAKING from the ’50s or early ’60s and a propane PLUS BUILDING NEW HOMES. LĀNA‘I A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK? stove. It was a very interesting life. We IS THERE A PROJECT THAT’S There’s a real love for the island. would watch “The Waltons” on our bat- BEEN MOST REWARDING? Pūlama means “to cherish,” and that is tery-operated black-and-white TV. We We did Hale Keaka, part of our mission, vision and values, to were actually like the Waltons watching which is the Lāna‘i City really care for the island and the people the Waltons on TV. That’s how we lived. theater. It was built in the that live here. We’ve tried to prepare for 1920s, underwent a renova- the future to sensitively scale projects to WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO JOIN PŪLAMA tion in the 1930s and again be beneficial to both the people that live LĀNA‘I IN 2013 AND GO BACK TO LĀNA‘I? in the 1980s or ’90s. Back in here and to guests. From almost immediately after the ’70s, when I was in high leaving Lāna‘i to start my continuing school, we used to see all WHAT FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED education, I’ve always tried to figure the Bruce Lee movies there, FROM RESIDENTS? out a way I can get back to live here. all the surf movies, all the I receive constant feedback 24/7, It’s just such an awesome environment. Mel Brooks comedy movies. because of my involvement in the com- We have wonderful weather, people I was given the opportunity munity. I’m an active member at the are super friendly; it’s a great way of to actually bring back and church. I’ve mentored kids in architec- life … Pūlama Lāna‘i was really the ve- try to retain the exterior of ture and aquaponics for the past five hicle to allow me to get back here and this building. Using photo- summers over here. I am really tied into use my talents as an architect. With all graphs and experiences that the goings on here and people are con- the places that I’ve lived, when people others in the community stantly discussing with me their feelings would ask me, where are you from? shared, we actually brought on this project or asking me, ‘What’s the And my answer would always be, I’m the exterior back to what next step here?’ from Lāna‘i, a small island in Hawai‘i. it was looking like in the 1930s … Another commer- WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU MOST EXCITED THE ISLAND HAS A VIBRANT, TIGHT-KNIT cial building project was ABOUT NOW? COMMUNITY. AS AN ARCHITECT, HOW Richard’s Market. That’s One of the things that I’m excited for ARE YOU ENSURING THE CHARACTER OF another good example the community is that we are planning LĀNA‘I IS PERPETUATED? where we’ve kept the exte- a substantial increase in homes. There A lot of what I do is restoring com- rior as original as possible is a real housing crunch here and in mercial buildings in town, repairing older and the interior is fully order for us to relieve some of the pres- houses and infilling vacant lots and put- modernized with new re- sure—the current experience of multi- ting in new homes for people to live. It’s frigeration, freezing, shelv- generational families living in the same been my desire from day one here to re- ing, display, lighting, all of house—and giving younger folks the ally perpetuate the continuity of the feel the accoutrements to make opportunity for home ownership. To me of Lāna‘i City, the fabric of Lāna‘i City, to it just a nice healthy Whole that’s super exciting. One of the great continue to try and provide, basically, the Foods type of experience. I things about it is the style of the home, invisible mark from where we started in also renovated the Filipino the layout of the new blocks is going to Charlie 2013 through to the future. So that what Clubhouse a few years ago. blend in very nicely. The new develop- we’ve done, what we’ve built, blends in as In addition to sprucing up ment, the old development is just going perfectly as possible with what was origi- the exterior and interior, we to be a continuum of where we’ve come Palumbo nally built here starting in the 1920s. made it accessible so people from and where we’re going. Interview by TIFFANY HILL 8 FALL 2019 PHOTO BY AARON YOSHINO This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. UH MAGAZINE 9 19-ARC-0370-UHM-Fall.indd19-ARC-0370-UHM-Fall.indd 9/13/19 9/13/19 8:36 8:36 AM AM - - 1 1 - - (Cyan)(Magen(Yello(BlacK (Cyan)(Magen(Yello(BlacKw)w)))ta)ta)

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UH MAGAZINE 11

MatsumotoMatsumoto && ClappertonClapperton AdvertisingAdvertising Date:Date: 9/13/199/13/19 Client:Client: ArcadiaArcadia atat HomeHome REVISEDREVISED Job#Job# 19-ARC-037019-ARC-0370 Pub:Pub: UHUH MagazineMagazine RunRun date:date: FallFall 20192019 Size:Size: 22 PagePage SprdSprd (16.75”(16.75” xx 11.375”11.375” bleed)bleed) 4/color4/color Mtls: Mtls: PDF-X/1aPDF-X/1a Tell Me BY NICOLE DUARTE PHOTOGRAPHYA BY AARON YOSHINO Story The cast of Honolulu Theatre for Youth's production The Ballad of Mu Lan

Whether gathered together in a crowd for live theater or tuned in alone on a Smartphone for a podcast, we love to hear a good story. And science today can confirm: That eye-popping scare we all feel from a spine-tingling ghost story told around a campfire is truly a “mind-meld” of our brain waves in sync.

The power of storytelling is nothing as a writer, that’s the most rewarding, that bring classic, beloved stories to the pressing rewind,” to un-do the violence new; humans have known it for as long that’s real, that’s in the moment.” stage but tells them in innovative ways as a contemporary statement against ALVIN CHAN Chan has been working with HTY that resonate with young audiences. He bullying, he says. as we’ve been telling stories. In Hawai‘i, ACTOR/PLAYWRIGHT/DIRECTOR since 2012, when artistic director credits Johnson and the independence For The Ballad of Mu Lan, Chan Eric Johnson first approached the UH of HTY with giving him the freedom to wanted to offer an alternative to the storytellers are harnessing that power HEN THE KEIKI AUDIENCE Mānoa theater graduate. To date, Chan experiment and take risks. well-known Disney version of the he- at Honolulu Theatre for has written eight plays, each drawing In his HTY production of Anime roic Chinese woman warrior. “I wanted to re-energize the art form and to tell W Youth (HTY) are engrossed upon his upbringing in Hawai‘i, back- Momotaro, actors dressed in black (con- to present it in a way that was more in a story, their engagement is audible. ground as an actor, and studies of jīngjù sidered invisible in traditional Japanese culturally viable, which is why I wanted stories in new ways. Here are three new- “Kids are the most honest audience,” (Beijing Opera) in China and kyōgen theater) held up emoji signs next to the to root Mu Lan in Beijing Opera.” The generation storytellers, using traditional says Chan, an actor/playwright/direc- (comedic Noh theater) in Japan. main characters to punctuate the story, entire play is set to percussion; how- tor with HTY. “If they’re bored, they’ll “A lot of my work is a sort of cultural which is based on the traditional Japa- ever, instead of the traditional strained W shout ‘boring!’ But when they’re in it, fusion, using traditional techniques that nese children’s story of Peach Boy. Chan falsetto, the singing is contemporary. forms as well as modern technology, to they’ll try to warn the characters on I’ve learned and pairing them with con- also staged a pivotal fight scene in the Originally presented at HTY in

capture your imagination. stage, like ‘no, don’t do it!’ Hearing that, CHAN OF ALVIN COURTESY GODA, BRAD PHOTO: temporary ideas,” says Chan of his plays play. He then reversed the fight, “as if 2017, The Ballad of Mu Lan was picked

14 FALL 2019 UH MAGAZINE 15 Kamaka Pili of Aloha Authentic tioners and community organizations. The series ended on ‘Ōlelo Channel in November 2018, when Pili started as a weather anchor on KHON2. This October, a reboot of Aloha Au- thentic will premiere on KHON2. With the new show comes a new format that features multiple segments, including demonstrations and a behind-the- scenes look at the guests’ work. Im- portant to Pili is keeping the talk story aspect of the show. “When we’re sitting down talking story, it’s as if we’re in the backyard Hi- bachi-ng and drinking beer,” Pili says. “That’s the whole feel and the kind of conversation I want on the show. I don’t want it to seem like a polished, robotic interview. I think the rawness of talk story is what connects with viewers.” Pili hopes that viewers will walk away more informed about what Ha- waiian culture really looks like, as op- posed to what the visitor/tourism in- Alvin Chan in dustry has marketed as being Hawai‘i. Anime Momotaro “When I was growing up, Hawai‘i was spoken about by people who were not Hawaiian,” says Pili. “I think we’re now coming into an era, in which Na- tive Hawaiians can be their own sto- up by Imagination Stage in Washing- rytellers. I’d like Aloha Authentic to be ton DC in summer 2019. Initially, the a means for the world to comfortably, play’s traditional Chinese percussion KAMAKA PILI and without intimidation, learn about was met with some resistance, but VIDEO STORYTELLER Hawai‘i from Hawaiian people.” Chan says that Mainland theaters are Whether it’s correctly pronouncing interested in presenting more diversity NATURAL STORYTELLER, Honolulu (not “hah-nolulu”) or under- on stage. Pili says his gift of gab is what standing the story and, thus, meaning “I think in Hawai‘i, we’ve been A got him on television. Discov- behind street names in Hawai‘i, Pili ahead of the diversity game, which is ered talking story at a craft fair, he was says he would like to share his consci- only now catching up on the Mainland. approached by ‘Ōlelo Community Me- entious brand of “educating with aloha” People here are a lot more culturally dia, along with the Hawaii Culture and with a wide audience. He identifies his open, so if I say I’m going to do a K-Pop Retail Association, to develop and host viewers as Native Hawaiian, Hawai‘i- Cinderella, people are just like GASP, Aloha Authentic, a TV show that high- born, transplant residents and visitors. that’s amazing!” says Chan. lights local artisans and allows them to “The last two [audience] groups “When you go to the theater, share their stories. are the most uncomfortable for me,” you’re learning cultures and new “As the show progressed,” Pili says, Pili admits. “I still have that kū‘ē, that things, so why not push the envelope? “my passion started to influence the anger, hurt, pain from our history that And with kids, it’s easy: I can say, this direction, so we brought in more cul- drives me to do what I do. The chal- is how this world works on the stage tural practitioners and organizations in lenge for me is taking that and becom- and they accept it. They’re like, ‘Okay, the community that had something to ing a bridge that connects people to tell me a story.’” do with showcasing the lifestyle here in our history and to an understanding of Hawai‘i, our art or our culture.” where we come from.” [Alvin Chan’s A Korean Cinderella was re-staged Starting in 2014, Pili (BA 2010 po- by HTY in fall 2019. He is currently working on litical science, UH Hilo) videotaped [See new episodes of Aloha Authentic with Ka- his MFA in directing at Northwestern University. 38 episodes of Aloha Authentic, which maka Pili on KHON2 and KHII one Sunday every He plans to return home to Hawai‘i to teach the- featured one-on-one talks with artists, month. Check local listings. Also check out ar-

ater to the next generation.] musicians, performers, cultural practi- chived episodes online at alohaauthentic.org.] CHAN OF ALVIN COURTESY GODA, BRAD PHOTO:

16 FALL 2019 A HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE PRODUCT

about our show is, with the combina- performances of works by Bryan Ka- tion of music and literature, you get maoli Kuwada, Serena Michel, Kathy A N J O L I R O Y this breathing space after someone Jetñil-Kijiner, and Julia Katz. The ac- PODCASTER performs a piece.” companying music, often selected by Originally from Los Angeles, Roy the authors, provides the ideal back- HEADY MIX of music, poetry, (PhD English/creative writing 2017, UH drop for listeners to decompress, absorb literature, conversation and Mānoa) worked in publishing in New and reflect upon the poetry or reading A reflection, It’s Lit “celebrates York before attending UH. “Coming to they just heard, says Roy. the shine” of often-underrepresented Hawai‘i, I was stunned by how incred- Featured guests set the tone, which authors of Hawai‘i and the Pacific. ible the writers are and their connectiv- can run the gamut of fun and playful Originally aired live on KTUH radio, ity to ancestors and performance. Like to serious and somber. With more than the show migrated to a podcast format when I saw No‘u Revilla (featured in 100 episodes to date, the show offers a in August 2018, allowing for flexibility episodes 1, 25, 100) perform at a mu- wide variety of voices, but Roy is per- in programming. seum event, her embodiment of her sonally drawn to work that is grounded “The podcast’s roots in radio are work was this whole other dimension in ethnic and cultural identity, indige- the reason why we have this format of — it wasn’t quite theater, but it felt like neity and sexuality. And the format is music and literature,” explains host theater. She was amazing!” loose, which is how Roy picked up co- Anjoli Roy (aka PhDJ). “What’s cool It’s Lit episodes have featured audio host Jocelyn Ng along the way. “Anjoli had invited me to feature on Episode 19,” says poet and artist Ng, “and then I just kept showing up.” The two are good friends, and their chem- Anjoli Roy, istry creates a friendly and safe space PhDJ in which authors can share their work. The podcast’s most popular show to date, episode 101, featured the words of three kia‘i (guardians) of Mauna Kea: Emalani Case, Joy Le- huanani Enomoto, and Jamaica Heo- limeleikalani Osorio. “It seems that listeners are hungry to hear directly from folks who have put their bodies on the line,” Roy says. “Poetry and creative nonfiction are not window dressing — they’re central to movements and central to the ways that activists, who are also artists, make sense of what’s going on around them. And that’s a very powerful tool to mobi- lize other people.” Roy, an English literature teacher at Punahou School, points out that litera- ture — like all storytelling — is not only about written words, but also about the personal reflections and queries the reader brings to the exchange. The online platform for Leverage the power of Hawaii Business “The story isn’t just made on the Magazine’s online presence and get discovered! 75% page, it’s made between the reader and local professionals to Highlight your advancements and latest OFF YOUR whatever artifact is on this page — it’s connect and celebrate achievements in your professional arena. MOVERS some place in the middle. You have to moving onward and & MAKERS ask, ‘Who are you coming to this text?’ Connect with local thought-leaders, industry PROFILE! Literature is only powerful insofar that upward in their profession. disruptors and other professionals in your fi eld. it transforms you ... or how you let it PROMO CODE*: transform you.” MM2019 [Listen to It’s Lit with Anjoli Roy and Jocelyn Ng VISIT WWW.HAWAIIBUSINESS.COM TO CREATE YOUR PROFILE TODAY! online at mixcloud.com/anjoli-roy.]

*Hawaii Business Magazine promo codes apply only to full-priced purchases at hawaiibusiness.com. Offer may not be combined with any other offers, discounts or coupons. Offer does not apply to returns or previously placed orders. Discounts do not apply to international orders. Other 18 FALL 2019 exclusions may apply. SPORTS

member of one of Coach Dave Shoji’s most talented Rainbow Wahine volley- For the Lau ‘ohana, sports ball teams. And daughter Sarah was a has provided a hard-earned four-year standout for the UH Wahine path to life successes. soccer team. Clockwise, from top left: Each of them carries a special Ezekiel, Daina, Leonard, memory of their time in competitive Jordan, Dalen and Sarah. college sports at Mānoa. For Leonard, it was being a part of Hawai‘i’s historic The Ties 56-14 win in 1989 over archrival, the BYU Cougars. “It was the first time [since 1973] ball coach/offensive coordinator for the that we beat them,” recalls Leonard, Punahou Buffanblu, was challenged to that who graduated in 1990 with a bach- be independent and to make football elor’s degree in psychology. “After the practice. “I had to learn to be disci- game, we ran around the stadium with plined enough to go to class, complete Bind the UH flag, celebrating with the fans. my assignments and meet deadlines. I It was one of the best feelings I ever developed skills that helped me become had as an athlete.” successful later on.” FROM FOOTBALL AND For Daina, playing for coaching leg- For daughter Sarah, lessons learned end Shoji in 1989 was a reward in itself. from Dad were reinforced by college VOLLEYBALL TO SOCCER “He was an amazing coach,” says sports. “If you don’t take care of your Daina, a 1991 graduate with a degree in responsibilities, for example, it’s not AND SURFING, THE LAU business administration. “His knowl- just you who will suffer; you’ll let your edge of volleyball was at such a high teammates and coaches down. You ‘OHANA MAY BE HAWAI‘I’S level, and so was his ability to recruit. can’t just think about yourself.” CURRENT FIRST FAMILY We had so many talented players then: There are two more athletes in Teee Williams, Karrie Trieschman, the family. Daughters Jordan, 16, and OF SPORTS. Cheri Boyer, Jaime Paet…” Dalen, 14, are aspiring soccer players And then there’s Sarah, who gradu- at Punahou. ated this past May with a degree in “Now that I’ve graduated, I get to By LANCE TOMINAGA communications. For the budding mod- be more involved with their athletic el and aspiring sports broadcaster, the endeavors,” says Sarah. “I tried to set last five conference games of 2018, her a good example for them, and as their senior year, hold a collective memory older sister, it’s going to be fun and re- FOOTBALL PLAYER, volleyball she will always cherish. warding to see them grow.” player and soccer player are Together with fellow senior co-cap- Is there a common trait that every gathered around the TV. So tain Raisa Strom-Okimoto, “We really member of the family share? what sport are they watching? got the whole team on the same page, “I think we all share a high level Surfing, of course. and we felt unstoppable. We trusted of persistence and work ethic,” says “If Zeke went to UH, he prob- each other and weren’t second-guess- Daina, a realtor associate with Cold- ably would have ended up playing ing ourselves. It was a great feeling.” well Banker. “We like to compete. And football,” says the football play- The Rainbow Wahine fell one goal because we’re always trying to play at er, pointing to the 25-year-old short of making their first Big West Con- the highest level we can, it’s hard for us wave rider on the screen. ference Tournament in program history. to play just for fun. You should see our “Zeke” is professional “That was the saddest part,” Sarah card games. Oh my God, it gets bad!” surferA Ezekiel Lau, the Vans World Cup recalls. “We were peaking and had this Leonard sums it up nicely: “We sup- of Surfing defending champion. As ac- crazy momentum, then suddenly it just port each other in everything we do. complished as he is, however, Zeke is ended. I felt like we could have accom- Daina and I see sports as an opportuni- just one member of a remarkable sports- plished so much more.” ty to make our kids better, to give them loving family that includes three former The Laus say their experiences at a better future. It gives them a founda- University of Hawai‘i student-athletes. UH were beneficial not just in athletics, tion to build on, and then they can take The family patriarch, Leonard Lau, but in life. it as far as they want. If I had my way, was a Rainbow Warrior wide receiver Leonard, now a teacher at Dole all our kids would go to the University in the late 1980s. Mom Daina was a Middle School and associate head foot- of Hawai‘i.”

20 FALL 2019 PHOTO BY MARIE ERIEL HOBRO UH MAGAZINE 21 Milestones

LIVING THE CULTURE

SELECTED MAHINA PAISHON-DUARTE: 2018- ‘19 OMIDYAR FELLOWS

OING HOLO-HOLO as a child with grandfather to pick seaweed at O‘ahu’s beaches,” “G says Mahina Paishon-Duarte, set the foundation for her becoming the founding executive direc- tor of Paepae O He‘eia, established in 2001 to care for historic He‘eia Fishpond. The Kamehameha School graduate also helped crew, at age 21, the voyaging ca- noe Makali‘i from Hawai‘i to Majuro; taught for more than four years at Hawai- ian language immersion charter schools; tion of a year-long process to a challenge growing gig economy. By design, “we and has danced with hula for 20 years to posed to Paishon-Duarte and her two gather around shared, collective values gain skills as a Hawaiian cultural practi- co-founders, Keoni Lee and Jamie Maka- for all people who want to steward and tioner and social entrepreneur. sobe. At a First Nations (Native Ameri- take care of Hawai‘i,” says Paishon-Du- “The skills I have in management, can) fellowship event, they were asked: arte. Included are some familiar ones: strategizing, public relations, leadership Given seed funding, what urgent Native zero tolerance for single-use plastics come from these cultural practices,” says Hawaiian issue would you tackle? and an intentional food system using Paishon-Duarte (BA ’01 Hawaiian Stud- “Research showed many issues, educa- locally-sourced food. A co-working ies, Mānoa; teaching certificate ’02, Hilo). tion, health, etc. What we didn’t see was hub for members from 8am to 5pm, its Today she is managing partner and the effort to bring people together, face-to- 5 to 8pm seminar/meeting time has one of three co-founders of Waiwai face, on the economy,” says Paishon-Du- attracted Bank of Hawaii, HMSA and Collective (Ka Waiwai), a unique con- arte, noting the dearth of Native Hawai- the East-West Center, among others. temporary Hawaiian co-working space ian-owned businesses worth $10+ million After 8pm near the weekend, come and established in 2017 and located on Uni- and employing more than 100 people. take off your shoes to enjoy local music versity Avenue. Ka Waiwai (meaning “the Ka Waiwai’s diverse members in- with ‘awa and local pūpū treats from its wealth”), based on “values-aligned rela- clude small businesses, nonprofits and small café. For more information: http:// tionships around aloha,” is the culmina- freelancers representative of Hawai‘i’s waiwaicollective.com—Gail Miyasaki

AWARDED Japanese poetry, Japa- of State for East Asian and sophical Core, by GLENN ROBERT HUEY, Mānoa nese culture in the Ryukyu Pacific Affairs. A retired Air K. MIYATAKI (BS ’64 Japanese literature pro- Kingdom and Okinawan Force Brigadier General and mathematics, BA College fessor, the Order of the studies, Huey was also East-West Center grantee of Arts & Sciences ’65, Guided and led by physicians, UHA Rising Sun, one of the director of Mānoa’s Center in the 1980s, he later Mānoa), featuring essays highest honors bestowed for Japanese Studies. served as an Adjunct Se- by international leaders, provides access to an unparalleled for a non-Japanese nior Fellow with the Center. including former UH presi- citizen by the Japanese CONFIRMED dent Dr. Fujio Matsuda, physician network and designs plans government, for his con- DAVID R. STILWELL PUBLISHED Hawaiian cultural expert tribution to developing (MA ’88 Asian studies and The Journey from Within: Earl Kawa‘a and leaders that provide a simpler way to insure Japanese studies in the Chinese, Mānoa), by the Leaders from Around from China, Italy, Japan, Hawaii’s businesses. United States. An expert U.S. Senate, as the new the Word Reveal How the Philippines and more. in classical and medieval U.S. Assistant Secretary to Discover Your Philo- (Watermark, 2018) Ask for a rate quote.

22 FALL 2019 PHOTO BY AARON YOSHINO Better Life. uhahealth.com | (808) 532-4009 Milestones Aloha ‘Oe

Ruth D. Gates (1962-2018), world-renowned coral researcher, innovator and advocate for coral reef conservation, was director of Mānoa’s Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biol- ogy. Her recent efforts focused on “super corals” to survive climate change and other environmental threats.

Georgia Engel (1948-2019), (BA ’69, Mānoa), breathy, squeaky-voiced TV and film actress best known and twice-nominated for an Emmy as Georgette (wife of TV anchor Ted Bax- ter) on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Dick Tomey (1938-2019), beloved and inspiring UH head football coach whose outstanding tenure (1977-’86) earned UH its first na- tional ranking, first national TV appearance CONGRATS GRADS! and record home game attendance. He is one of UH’s winningest football coaches CELEBRATE WITH US IN 3 DIFFERENT WAYS! (63-46-3).

Harriet M. Aoki (1937-2019), (BBA ’59, Mānoa), pio- neer financial industry executive, became FIRST TRANSLATOR Hawai‘i’s first woman commercial bank president (First Interstate Bank of Hawaii). KEAO NESMITH: HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S She also served on boards of HMSA, Aloha STONE IN HAWAIIAN United Way and UH Rainbow Advantage Program. THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A turning point came when COOL to have a widely Wesley T. Park NeSmith translated Alice’s Adven- (1937-2019), (BEd ’59, MEd ’63, popular book, a global tures in Wonderland for the book’s Mānoa), astute organizational turnaround “I phenomenon like Harry 150th anniversary in 2015. The specialist called “the local boy’s local Potter in Hawaiian,” says Little Prince, The Hobbit, Through boy,” was dean of Mānoa’s College of UH Mānoa Tahitian language in- the Looking Glass and What Alice Continuing Education and Community structor Keao NeSmith of his trans- Found There, and The Wonderful Service (1976 –’82), VP of the East- lation of the first Harry Potter book. Wizard of Oz soon followed. His West Center, and president of Hawai‘i “I wanted to help provide Hawaiian Hawaiian versions of Chronicles of Dental Service. speakers today, especially kids, books Narnia (all seven books) are await- that they want, material from today’s ing publication and he just finished Chuck Gee (1933-2019), influential co-founder and pop culture.” translating the second of J.K. Rowl- longest serving dean of Mānoa’s School Having learned ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i ing’s books, Harry Potter and the of Travel Industry Management, was a growing up from mānaleo (native Chamber of Secrets. visionary contributor to Hawai‘i tourism speakers), his grandmother and his Working on these translations, internationally, a 2014 inductee to Pacific ™ neighbors on Kaua‘i originally from NeSmith says he “always hears my Asia Travel Association’s prestigious Gallery BOOK YOUR CORONARITA WEDNESDAY Ni‘ihau, NeSmith (BA Hawaiian grandmother’s voice in my ear. I of Legends, and one of the 100 people who GRAD PARTY TUESDAYS CLUB NIGHTS studies ’94, Hilo; MA Pacific Island hope she’s smiling.” made a difference to Hawai‘i in the 20th studies ’02, Mānoa; PhD applied He says ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i has at- century by Honolulu Star-Bulletin. linguistics ’12, University of Waikato, tained a level of “presence” today NZ) was uniquely qualified and per- but more needs to be done to engage Domingo Los Banos, Jr. (1925-2019), World War II combat vet- sonally interested. In the 1990s, he youngsters and young adults. “We eran and first Filipino principal (1956 at had translated many Hawaiian clas- need to pick up the pace so (they) Anahola Elementary, Kaua‘i), left Mānoa LOCATED AT THE WARD CENTER sics, in response to growing demand don’t lose interest…We are actu- his freshman year for the 1st Filipino Infan- from emerging Hawaiian immersion ally far behind in producing books, try Regiment in the Philippines, and later schools for books on historical he- originals and translations, for our became a prominent educator and Filipino roes such as Kamehameha the Great. emerging generations today.” community leader. VISIT dnbparty.com OR CALL (808) 589-2215

24 FALL 2019 PHOTO BY AARON YOSHINO What’s My Job?

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

Our executive degree programs equip Hawai‘i’s professionals to lead their organizations to new heights of success.

Executive MBA Distance Learning Executive MBA Distance Learning EMBA Health Care Track Master of Human Resource Management

➢Convenient schedules for working professionals ➢In-person and online options I have loved being the dean of our unique Law School and have learned ➢Team-based learning ‘GENTLEMAN AND A SCHOLAR’ much more over the past 16+ years than in any comparable period. By also continuing to teach and write about constitutional law, I have benefitted Avi Soifer immensely from discussion and en- Learn more today or sign up for gagement with people not only at the an upcoming info session: Law School, but throughout the UH community. And I am certain the Wil- shidler.hawaii.edu/executive liam S. Richardson School of Law fac- HOMETOWN Soifer announced his retirement upon a suc- ulty, staff and alumni are more com- My family moved often as I was grow- cessor being named, and plans to continue as mitted to the ongoing success of our ing up and I lived in Massachusetts, professor in constitutional law) students than at any other law school Pennsylvania, and Iowa—which no Soifer led the UH Law School through in the United States. doubt helped me get into a college on a period of major growth to become “a the East Coast through geographic nationally recognized center of excellence PROUDEST MOMENT distribution. Documentary filmmaker in legal education,” says Associate Dean It is a recurring moment: At every Marlene Booth and I got married many Denise Antolini who calls Soifer, “a gen- graduation, it is clear that our stu- decades ago, and we raised our two tleman and a scholar.” Among his tenure’s dents have learned to celebrate other children in Cambridge, Massachusetts. achievements: national recognition for cultures without forgetting their own student and faculty diversity; Ka Huli Ao backgrounds. It is striking how much EDUCATION Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian our students support one another and • BA cum laude, American Studies ’69, Law, the only one of its kind in the nation; take pride in becoming Richardson Yale College a highly-ranked part-time evening pro- lawyers and leaders. • M. Urban Studies ’72, Yale City Planning gram; an innovative January term taught • J.D. Law ’72, Yale Law School by renowned scholars and judges; and a LEARN MORE ABOUT AVI SOIFER: new clinical and trial advocacy building https://www.hawaii.edu/ WORK (September 2019) for community clinics news/2019/03/04/uh-law-school-dean- Dean, William S. Richardson School of Law, in immigration, medical/legal issues, the to-retire/; https://www.law.hawaii.edu/

UH Mānoa (2003 – present. In March 2019, Hawai‘i Innocence Project, etc. personnel/soifer/aviam UH FOUNDATION NISHI, SCOTT PHOTO:

Questions? Email [email protected] or 26 FALL 2019 call 808-956-8135 Movers & Shakers Alumni Events

PAULA AKANA (BA ’84, Mānoa), GRANT KUBOTA (BBA ’99, MBA employee-owned tour and trans- LEEWARD named executive director, ‘Iolani ’05, Mānoa), named Forbes portation company with 1,800 Palace; former TV news anchor, Magazine’s 2019 America’s employees and 900 vehicles on KITV with 36 years of broad- Best-in-State Wealth Advisors. four islands. cast experience. Minored in The Punahou School graduate NATIVE HAWAIIAN GARDENS & Hawaiian anthropology and ar- is senior VP and financial advi- DANNY SEPKOWSKI (BA ’08, chaeology at UH, she is involved sor, Morgan Stanley’s Honolulu MEd ’11, Mānoa), second-place SHADE HOUSE TOUR with MA‘O Farms and Polyne- Wealth Management office. winner, National Geographic So- sian Voyaging Society. ciety 2019 Travel Photo (nature JOE KUHIO LEWIS (AA ’10, category), for “Dreamcatcher,” PAULA AKANA DAMIEN “KAIMANA” BARCARSE HonCC, BA ’15, West O‘ahu), photo shot of a wave at Sandy (BA ’95, MA ’13, Hilo), Kame- named CEO, Council for Na- Beach, O‘ahu. hameha Schools West Hawai‘i tive Hawaiian Advancement, a MAUI director, appointed to Hawai‘i member-based nonprofit certi- JEREMY SHIGEKANE (1996- State Board of Education by Gov. fied as a Native Community De- ’97, 1998, Leeward CC), new BITTERS & BITES David Ige. Kona resident is first velopment Financial Institution owner as of March 1, Chef UH Maui College alumnus Chef in his family to complete college, (U.S. Treasury) and as a Housing Mavro restaurant founded by fluent in Hawaiian and a licensed Counseling Agency (HUD). James Beard Award-winning Jon Pasion created a special eve- and experienced captain in Pa- chef George Mavrothalassitis in ning of modern cuisine and con- cific and international voyaging, JANET MOCK (BS ’05, Mānoa), 1998, has been executive chef temporary cocktails for alumni, including the Hōkūle‘a. first black trans woman to land at Chef Mavro since 2016; for- friends and donors in April. Also a three-year, multi-million deal merly Hoku’s chef de cuisine and highlighted were exclusive col- GRANT KUBOTA PHILIP (PHIL) HANDY, new with Netflix to executive pro- executive sous-chef at the Royal lection previews by Maui alumni assistant coach, Los Angeles duce/direct upcoming Hollywood Hawaiian Hotel. fashion designers, Anna Kahale- Lakers, played for UH Mānoa series, and create new shows kulu of Ku-lua, and August Milan. Rainbow Warriors 1993-’95 and and films on historically unrepre- SAM SPANGLER (BA ’12, was a member of the Warriors’ sented communities. Mānoa), new weekend news 1994 WAC Championship team. anchor, KHON2, replacing Kathy Previously an assistant coach CAMERON NEKOTA (BA ’97, JD Muneno, pitched for Rainbow with the 2019 NBA champion ’02, Mānoa), named president, Warrior baseball 2007-’10, later Toronto Raptors, also the Cleve- First Hawaiian Bank Foundation, spent two years with the Min- land Cavaliers (2013-’18) and which donates about $4.25 million nesota Twins organization; also Lakers (2011-’13). to more than 400 nonprofits in served as KHON sports producer Hawai‘i, Guam and Saipan, focus- 2012-’18. MICAH K. HIROKAWA (BA ’11, ing on education, health and human DANNY SEPKOWSKI Mānoa), appointed po‘o kula services, culture and the arts. MARK YAMANAKA, top win- (head of school), Hakipu‘u ner, 2019 Nā Hōkū Hanohano EEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY cel- Learning Center charter school ROY PFUND (BBA ’80, MBA ’87, Awards, of four awards, including ebration treated alumni and friends to a private walking tour of in Kāne‘ohe. His 22 years of Mānoa), named president, Rob- male vocalist of the year and top Hawai‘i’s largest and most extensive native plant collection at the experience in Hawai‘i schools erts Hawaii, succeeding 40-year album (“Lei Lehua”), attended L college’s Native Hawaiian Garden and Shade House. The event in- includes the last three at company veteran Percy Higashi, UH Hilo in Hawaiian Studies, cluded a special hands-on native seedlings planting led by ‘Ōhi’a Legacy Initia- Hanahau‘oli School. to oversee Hawai‘i’s largest 1998-’99. tive President and UH alumnus, JC Watson.

SYLVIA HUSSEY (MEd ’09, EdD ’14, Mānoa), named interim CEO, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, was MĀNOA OHA’s chief operating officer, and previously served as execu- CALIFORNIA SPRING JEREMY SHIGEKANE tive director, Native Hawaiian PAU HANA EVENTS Education Council, and vice WEST O‘AHU UH alumni living in California president of administration, Ka- reconnected with their alma mehameha Schools. WELCOME TRANSFERS mater and fellow graduates at & ALUMNI RECEPTION springtime pau hana events in LAURA KAAKUA (JD ’07, Celebrating their start at UH Southern California. UH Presi- Mānoa), new president/CEO, West O‘ahu, transfer students dent David Lassner and Provost Hawaiian Islands Land Trust from UH Community Colleges Michael Bruno were on hand to (HILT), was recently Aloha ‘Āina Project Manager for the Trust for were invited by Chancellor Mae- meet, mingle and enjoy a special Public Land. HILT oversees near- At left, Danny nette Benham and UH West performance by folk pop band, ly 18,000 acres of conservation Sepkowski's award O‘ahu Alumni ‘Ohana to meet Streetlight Cadence, featuring SAM SPANGLER lands formerly held by four local winning photo and chat with alumni, fellow Mānoa alumnus, Jesse Shiroma land trusts. "Dreamcatcher" students, faculty and staff. (pictured with the accordion).

28 FALL 2019 UH MAGAZINE 29 PARTING SHOT IT ROCKET SCIENCE!

Co-captains Mia Fong (left), Honolulu Community College natural science engineering student, and Katherine (Kat) Bronson (AA liberal arts ’16, Windward; BS mathematics ’18, Mānoa) Re eatto savings are hands-on rocket experts, having led the 14-member Project Imua Mission 6 student team that won the Rookie Award as the top new team in the April 2019 NASA student launch competition You could save even more money on in Huntsville, Alabama. Composed of students from GEICO auto insurance with a special three community colleges (Honolulu, Kapi‘olani alumni discount. and Windward) and UH Mānoa, the team had to propose, design, build and test a reusable rocket with Tell GEICO you are a a payload that had to reach between 4,000 to 5,500 feet UH alumnus and see how much more and return safely. money you could save! For more information on Project Imua: http://imua.wcc. hawaii.edu geico.com | 1-800-368-2734

Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. GEICO contracts with various membership entities and other organizations, but these entities do not underwrite the offered insurance products. Discount amount varies in some states. One group discount applicable per policy. Coverage is individual. In New York a premium reduction may be available. GEICO may not be involved in a formal relationship with each organization; however, 30 FALL 2019 PHOTO BY DAVID CROXFORD you still may qualify for a special discount based on your membership, employment or affi liation with those organizations. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko Image © 1999-2019 © 2019 GEICO Help us level the playing field. Then watch a UH student's dreams soar!

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