ISSUE NO. 12 March 2013
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Through the Green DAVID S. ISHII FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO. 12 March 2013 wwww/davidsishiifoundation.org MAHALO ELTON! nyone who’s done it can tell you that the hardest part of any project is starting one Afrom scratch. An artist, for example, begins with a blank canvas; a writer stares at an empty screen; a contractor surveys a vacant lot. Such was the challenge when the David S. Ishii Foundation was established over 13 years ago. The idea of starting the Foundation was hatched in 1998, the first year that the Hilo Invitational golf tournament was played after being inactive for several years. Elton Tanaka, then the district manager of Sears in Hawaii, was one of the key movers and shakers behind the Hilo revival. It was at that tournament that Elton and others learned that David was personally underwriting both boys and girls state golf championships since the Hawaii High School Athletics Association (HHSAA) transitioned from public to private funding in 1996. Elton became part of a core group of individuals that founded the DSIF in 1999. Along with people like Allan Ikawa and Warren Haruki, this group was particularly Some rules to running a successful well suited for the task, David notes, combining business acumen with a love of golf. Individually, they played in a tournament: 1) Give out good prizes. lot of fundraising tournaments across the state and had 2) Treat the people well. 3) Keep the a good idea as to what worked and what didn’t. But who would chair the event? “Well, Elton never program short. — Elton Tanaka really had a choice,” David recalls. “Everybody just sort of looked at him and agreed he was ‘it.’” Elected by Over the years, the Foundation has stuck to the unanimous resolution, Elton rolled up his sleeves and formula for success determined by Elton and the took the bull by the horns. “He did an amazing job,” tournament committee: 1) Give out good prizes. 2) Treat David adds. Elton worked the phones hard, calling on his the people well. 3) Keep the program short. “Everyone extensive network of friends—many who owned their enjoyed playing in the tournament,” Elton notes. It quickly own businesses and were supportive of junior golf. earned the reputation for being a “classy” tournament. Another challenge was that in order to raise the kind “I guess from the first time, the people had good fun,” of funds necessary, the sponsorship fee was set at $1,000 David adds. “Right away a lot of them said, ‘Put me down per team, which was considered extremely high at the for next year!’” And, key sponsors have kept coming back time. “It took quite a bit of coaxing,” Elton admits, but and have continued to support the foundation over the after much effort by all of the board members the first years. “So far, so good,” David says. tournament held in 2000 was sold out and the DSIF was Elton announced his decision to step down from his on its way. Continued on page 2 Page 2 – Through the Green (March 2013) Mahalo Elton/continued from page 1 David S. Ishii Foundation P.O. Box 2927 Aiea, Hawaii 96701 www.davidsishiifoundation.org David S. Ishii Foundation Officers David Ishii: President Lorraine Ishii: Vice President Fay Nagata: Treasurer Board of Directors David Ishii: Chair Warren Haruki: Vice Chair Jay Hinazumi Arnold Hiura Allan Ikawa Lorraine Ishii Ann Miller Neal Okamoto Elton Tanaka Tracy Tanji Wendell Tom Allan Yamamoto David thanks Elton for his invaluable contributions at last year’s tournament banquet. Honorary Director GEN Eric K. Shinseki role as tournament chair at the 2012 tournament banquet. “Elton has children and now grandchildren on the mainland,” David explains. “He wants to spend Golf Tournament more time with them, and because the tournament is traditionally held in June, Co-chairs: Del-Marc Fujita, Jay Hina- he could not travel for half of each year. That’s how much he was dedicated zumi, David Ishii, Wendell Tom to the event. He’s looking forward to spending more time with his family and Tournament Committee having more freedom in general.” Dayton Asato, Marilyn Chinen, Elton leaves the tournament in very good shape. It’s no secret that many Misty Gier, Jay Hinazumi, Arnold golf tournaments are having a hard time finding enough players. However, Hiura, Eloise Hiura, Colan Ishii, Lorraine Ishii, Danny Lau, Chris the DSIF tournament is sold out at the sponsors level only. “There aren’t too McLachlin, Ann Miller, Fay Nagata, many tournaments that can claim so much support,” David notes. “We need Neal Okamoto, Bill Sato, Steve to keep it going, keep it strong.” Shishido, Wendell Tom, Allan After some discussion at this year’s DSIF board meeting, no clear successor Yamamoto, Guy Yamamoto, Pauline arose to fill Elton’s shoes. It is testament to Elton’s all-around hustle that, Yanagisawa, Rudy Yanagisawa, Chad Yawata this year, the tournament chair’s role is being divvied up amongst a group of capable people who will share the various hats that Elton wore. David, Jay Yasuko Asada Memorial College Hinazumi, Wendell Tom, and Del-Marc Fujita will serve as co-chairs and try to Scholarship Committee cover whatever needs to be done, including prizes. “Elton did all the prizes, too. Dayton Asato: Chair Pat Ariki Continued on page 7 Gail Tamashiro Bert Yamamoto Pauline Yanagisawa Mission of the David S. Ishii Foundation U.S. Boys Junior Amateur Travel A non-profit corporation whose primary mission is to promote and advance the Stipend Committee game of golf, and to educate the public as to its benefits to society. Guy Yamamoto: Chair William Sato A Word About Our Newsletter Clark Miyazaki Through the Green is the official newsletter of the David S. Ishii Foundation. John Ishii The USGA defines the phrase “through the green” as “the entire golf course, Steven Shishido except for tees, greens and designated hazards.” In tournament play, the Newsletter & Website phrase is used to mean that everything else is “in play.” MBFT Media, Newsletter Obun Hawaii Group, Printing Through the Green is the Foundation’s way of saying to Hawaii’s young Martha Hernandez, Website Graphics golfers: pursue your goals, play it as it lies, and strive to be the best you Upspring Media, Website Design can along the way... Through the Green (March 2013) – Page 3 Mahalo! 2012 Tournament Sponsors Kaanapali Golf Courses PLATINUM BRONZE Kauai Producers, Ltd. Aisen Shiatsu School Yoshie Yoshikawa Koga Engineering & Construction, Inc. Allstate Kahala Koa Trading Company Ameron Hawaii Orthopedic Rehabilitation BD LLC Unlimited GOLD Specialists, Inc. BEI Hawaii Fujitsu NetworkCommunications, Pacific Transfer B. Hayman Co. (Hawaii), Inc. Inc. Redondo’s LLC Big Island Candies SportsMedicine Hawaii RK Sales Inc. Commercial Sheetmetal Co. Inc Yoshie Yoshikawa Safeguard Maintenance Corporation Endodontic Associates LLC S & B Foods Hawaii, Inc. Flora Dec Sales S & M Sakamoto Warren H. Haruki SILVER Scott Shimabukuro DDS Hawaii Benefit Administrators, Inc. Castle Resorts & Hotels Gerald Y. Shintaku HHSAA ECD Hawaii, Inc. Toshiro Shudo Hawaii Marketing Associates Fetal Diagnostic Institute of the Tamura Super Market Hawaii Pizza Hut Pacific Elton T. Tanaka Hawaiian Sun Products / Bloomer First Hawaiian Bank T-Shirt Factolry Chocolate Wells Fargo Advisors Xpress Distribution Inc. Honda Windward Painters Union Local 1791 - LMCF Randal Yanagisawa, MD Tanji Family Carey & Iris Inouye Japan Shiatsu College Jayar Construction, Inc. HOLE IN ONE Haruo & Yoshie Yoshikawa 2012 Tournament Volunteers Laine Cantiberos Hiro Hosoda Mae Masuda Micah Yamamoto Celso Castinahan Ron Ikehara Ken Matsuguma Terry Yamamoto Special Thanks Ken Matsumoto Brian Yamamoto Ron Chinen Joy Inamine Art & Signs Jonah Chinen Cheryl Inouye Shayna McCarthy Zoe-Ann Dayton Asato Christopher Chow Kensey Inouye Shawn McCauley Yamamoto Ty Cuban Robb Inouye Al Medeiros Janell Yanaga Howard Dashefsky Joyce Dehay Sara Inouye Ken Mito Renee Yanagisawa Izakaya Tairyo (Jiro Nitta) & Ryan Dias Ethel Ishii Michele Morikami Keith Yawata Chefs Koshi Murakami & Avery Dunn Joey Itagaki Kyle Morishige Kyle Yawata Hiro Hosoda Adam Elaydo Anna Jang Jerry Mullen Mabel Yawata Kyosuke Hara Lyandra Elaydo Joni Kashimoto Tadao Murakami Randy Yawata Arnold and Eloise Hiura Wayne Fujieki Kylie Kashimoto Eleanor Nagata Keiri Kanbayashi Ted Ganade Susan Kau Dean Nako Trevor Kua Yvonne Ganade Alice Kim Riki Ouellette Obun Hawaii Group (Vince Carmen Padilla Kalen Gier Matthew Kim Watabu) Kiari Gier Scott Kim Mike Seki Pearl Country Club - All of Watson Gier Corey Kozuma Spencer Shishido Ray Hada Cathy Kua David Tam their terrific Glenn Hagiwara TJ Kua Keith Teranishi employees! Kyosuke Hara Bob Kubota Aaron Tom Glenn Sakaguchi Richard Hattori Jean Kuratani Jacob Torres Les Tamashiro Del Hernandez Jerry Largo Mae Tsutomi Zippy’s Restaurants/A George Higa Regan Lee Roger Williams Catered Experience Ray Higa Cody Machida Marcus Yamamoto Page 4 – Through the Green (March 2013) Mahalo! 2012 DSIF Tournament Donors Acushnet Golf (Keith Kodani) IHOP (Vince Espino) Ping (Joey Castillo) Adidas (Wendell Tom) Glenn & Lynne Inouye Poipu Bay Golf Course (Jun Fukuda & Aisen Shiatsu School (Fumihiko Indei) David Ishii Craig Sasada) Ala Moana Center (Francis Cofran) Lorraine Ishii Samuel W. Pratt Aloha Shoyu Co. (Brian Tanigawa) Island Air (Lesley Kaneshiro) Princeville Golf Courses (Steve Murphy) Anheuser Busch Ito En (Clarence Takahashi) Pukalani Country Club (Ron Huffman) Carol Arakawa Japan Shiatsu College (Kazutami Mike Reid (Champions Tour) Dayton Asato Namikoshi) Mrs. Dianne Reilly Bella Torre Academy (Tamaki Torre) Kaanapali Golf Courses ( Ed Kageyama) Rons Construction Corp. (Ron Oshiro) Big Island Candies (Allan Ikawa) Kahili Golf Course (Kenny Kanzaki) Jason Sakamoto Bret Netzer…To remember/honor my Dr. Micky Kanemaru Joey Sakaue Mom (Lynn) who passed away last Kapalua Golf (Mike Jones) Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar year. Kauai Lagoons (Scott Ashworth) (Chef DK Kodama) Casey Nakama Golf Development Center, Walter Kawakami Paul Shinseki LLC.