ALUMNI
Compiled by Alumni Editor Mona Chock Stephanie McGee (JD ’01 Manoa) married
¯ the UH Hilo Alumni Association. He is married
¯noa). UH’s 10 campus-
(MEd ’77, BS ’74 Ma in May and moved to San Diego, where her to Sandra Kaohimaunu Flowers, and they
es are UH Ma¯noa; UH Hilo; UH West husband is stationed with the Navy. have a daughter, Jennifer.
O‘ahu; and Hawai‘i, Honolulu, Kapi‘olani, Deona “Nona” Naboa (BA’02 West Lily (Yamamoto) Fukushima (BBA ’98
Kaua‘i, Leeward, Maui and Windward O‘ahu) received a National Science Foundation ¯
Manoa) is general manager for the luxury
Community Colleges. grant from the Society for American brands Loewe and Celine in Hawai‘i. She
Archaeology. She participated in a field school ¯
focuses on tourism and serving kama’aina.
CORRECTION: Class Notes misspelled the in Rapa Nui and is pursuing a master’s degree Roger Gerard Gaspar (BArch ’96 Manoa) ¯
name of Ted Stepp (MA ’89, MA ’73, ¯
in Pacific Island Studies at Manoa. is a registered architect with Wimberly Allison
¯
BA ’70 Manoa) in the July 2002 issue.
Joyce Ruth-Yuan Pien (MEd ’02, BEd ’98 Tong & Goo in Newport Beach, Calif. He is a
Manoa) is a preschool teacher specializing in
¯ member of the American Institute of
2000s special education. She is married to Ethan Architects.
Michelle Leigh Adams (MS ’00, BS ’97 Pien (MD ’02 Manoa).¯ Paul G. Jocson (BA ’99 Manoa), a Navy
¯
¯
Manoa) is director of rehabilitation at Genesis Danielle E. Scherman (BA ’00 Manoa) is a
¯ ensign, recently completed Foal Eagle ’02
Rehab Services, specializing in speech patholo- public relations account coordinator with the training exercises while assigned to
gy in geriatrics. Limtiaco Company in Honolulu. Commander Amphibious Squadron 11 in
Nicole Min Yee Chan (BFA ’01 Manoa) is ¯ Leilani Tan (JD ’02 Manoa) married Alan
¯ Sasebo, Japan.
pursuing graduate work in museum studies at Ching in August, is working at Marr Hipp Reynold Kam (BS ’93 Manoa) is vice presi-
¯
JFK University in Orinda, Calif., after spending a Jones & Pepper and plans to take the February dent at KD Construction, responsible for
summer internship with the ImaginAsia Hawai‘i bar exam. numerous construction projects at Hickam Air
program at two Smithsonian galleries. In Force Base. The Aiea, Hawai‘i, resident is a
Washington, D.C., she introduced children with 1990s member of the International Life Support and
emotional and physical challenges to hands-on American Heart Association.
Aaron Akau (BArch ’93 Manoa) is a land-
¯
art projects including Chinese horse puppets, Anita K. S. Li (MBA ’95, BBA ’88 Manoa), a ¯
scape architect at Belt Collins Hawai‘i with
Japanese fans and Islamic ceramic tiles. vice president and financial advisor at Morgan
experience in hardscape and water feature
Dave P. Closas (BS ’01 Manoa) was com-
¯ designs. Akau is active in the American Society Stanley, is a certified financial planner.
missioned as a Navy officer after completing of Landscape Architects Hawai‘i Chapter. Niki (BEd ’91 Manoa, AA ’89 Leeward) and
¯
Officer Candidate School at Naval Aviation Laurie Libarios (AA ’88 Leeward)
Carol Anne Reinicke Aki (BA ’93 Manoa) ¯
Schools Command in Pensacola, Fla. announce the arrival of future UH student Joy
is a real estate broker and analyst for Richard
Joshua Cooper (MA ’94, BA ’93 Manoa) ¯ K. Ing/Sheridan Ing Partners Hawai‘i. Emiko Shirley Aug. 5, 2002. Niki is an acade-
was named the W. Alton Jones Fellow by the mic advisor and
Cornelius Carter (MFA ’90 Manoa) was
¯
Center on Violence and Human Survival. He doctoral stu-
recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the
was also elected to the national board of dent at the
Advancement of Teaching and the Council for
directors for Peace Action and selected by College of
Advancement and Support of Education for
Amnesty International for training to work on Education;
his work as an associate professor of dance at
a project linking human environmental and Laurie is a
the University of Alabama–Tuscaloosa.
labor rights. counselor at
Melodie A. (Mills) Chisteckoff (BS ’98, Leeward.
Sandra Au Fong (MBA ’00, BA ’74 Manoa) ¯
¯
Cert ’97 Manoa; AA ’96 Leeward) opened Grandfather
is senior vice president and secretary of Market
Island Smiles, a family and general dentistry Ernie Libarios (MEd ’72 Manoa) is a pro-
¯
City, Limited. Fong is a board member for
office in Las Vegas with husband Guy fessor at Leeward.
Family Businesses for the College of Business
Chisteckoff.
Administration at Manoa.
¯ Heidi Mill (MFA ’97 Manoa) is one of four
¯
Kelvin Chun (BEd ’95, BBA ’82 Manoa), a¯ full-time teaching members of the Lincoln
Randy Geuy (JD ’01 Manoa) was recalled to
¯
technology resource teacher at Nu‘uanu Center Institute, the educational arm of the
active duty to serve as a military observer in the
Elementary School, was named a semifinalist Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara.
for Ed Tech Leaders of the Year.
Lisa Leilani Ha‘o (MPH ’00 Manoa) ¯ Brian C. Nishida (MBA ’90, BA ’77 Manoa) ¯
Colin L. Fairman is vice president and general manager for Del
received the 2002 Board of Directors Award
¯
(PhD ’94 Manoa) Monte Fresh Produce (Hawai‘i). He previously
from Southcentral Foundation, where she is a
earned his law degree worked at J. N. Hawai‘i Distributor.
health system administrator. Ha‘o is a member
from the University of
of the American Public Health Association, Diane Ono (JD ’91, BA ’73 Manoa) and hus-
¯
Wisconsin in 2001 and
Southcentral. She is married to Harvey Lee band Gary Galiher (JD ’77, MEd ’71 Manoa) ¯
joined DeWitt Ross &
Muller and lives in Anchorage, Alaska. have created the Galiher/Ono Distinguished
Stevens, Madison’s
Tabitha Kam (BBA ’01 Manoa) is an auditor
¯ Lecture Series, funded by lawyers and admin-
largest law firm, as an
on assignment with Chio Lim and Associates istered through the UH law school.
associate attorney con-
in Singapore. Kam is a member of Horwath centrating on intellectual property in the Nancy Oppenheim (MA ’93 Manoa) was ¯
International. biotechnology field. named featured scholar at Fort Lewis College.
Susan Lam (BBA ’01 Manoa) is the contract
¯ She joined the college in 1997 as an assistant
S. Lubuw Falanruw (BA ’98 Manoa) is ¯
officer for the Institute of Forest Genetics. professor of law and finance and won the
president of Digital Mediums. The company
New Faculty Teaching Award in 2001. She is
Sheryl Anne Lynch (MLS ’00 Manoa) is a ¯ specializes in developing Web sites and appli-
chair of assessment at the International
librarian at the Hawai‘i State Public Library. cations in Hawai‘i, Micronesia and Japan.
Academy of Legal Studies in Business.
She specializes in young adult books. Lynch is Larry E. Flowers (BA ’92 Hilo) is a police
married to Timothy David Lynch. officer in Worcester, Mass. He is a member of
¯
20 Malamalama
Gwynne Masae Osaki (BA ’93 Manoa) is ¯ Relations at the Harvard Business School. Businesswoman of the Year awards program.
a graduate student in medicinal chemistry at Natalia Tabatchnaia-Tamirisa (PhD ’90, Gary T. Fujimoto (BBA ’80 Manoa), assis-
¯
the University of Michigan. Osaki married ¯
MA ’94 Manoa) is an economist with the tant vice president and commercial underwrit-
Robert Izenson in May 2002. International Monetary Fund in Washington, ing manager for Island Insurance, twice
Jerome Peter Florentino Padua (BS ’99 D.C. received the Chairman’s Award for outstand-
Manoa) is a receptionist at the Halekulani
¯ ¯ Jeffrey Tobin (MA ’91 Manoa) is an assis-
¯ ing work performance.
Hotel in Honolulu. tant anthropology professor at Occidental Norman H. Gentry (BS ’80 Manoa) is pres-
¯
Helene Parker (JD ’95, MA ’92 Manoa) is ¯ College and recipient of a Fulbright ident of Gentry Pacific. He likes hiking and
the managing partner at Mosher Parker & Fellowship. Tobin traveled to Buenos Aires to holds 1987, 1991 and 1993 world champi-
Walker, Attorneys & Mediators in Dallas. teach and conduct research on Jewishness at onship titles in offshore power boat races.
Michael Thurston Pfeffer (MA ’95 Argentina’s National Institute of Anthropology. “Reggie” Keisuke Hashimoto (att. ’85
Manoa) is chair and
¯ Susan M. Uejo (MURP ’94, BS ’81 Manoa) ¯ ¯
Manoa) is a researcher with a social welfare
chief executive officer joined Belt Collins Hawai‘i as a civil/transporta- institute in Tokyo. Hashimoto is director of the
of Persis Corporation, tion engineer. A 24-year veteran of transporta- overseas program of OES Academy, a small
founder and director of tion projects for private and governmental private school to train flight attendants and
AllRecipies.com and clients, Uejo is active in the American Planning teach children conversational English. His wife
partner of Pinpoint Association, Institute of Transportation Kaoli is a piano teacher.
Venture Group. He con- Engineers Hawai‘i Section and Transportation Dean Hirabayashi
tinues his interest in Research Board and serves on the O‘ahu ¯
(BBA ’83 Manoa)
archaeology, publishing Metropolitan Planning Association Citizen joined A&B Properties,
papers on his research, and pursuing a doc- Advisory Committee. the real estate sub-
torate in anthropology from the University of Tony Young (BA ’92 Manoa) won the
¯ sidiary of Alexander &
Washington. Audience Award Best Baldwin. As project
Cheryl Ku‘ulei Reeser (BA ’99 Hilo) is Asian American Feature manager for acquisi-
director of financial operations specializing in at the Big Bear Lake tions, he identifies and
grant management at the Hawai‘i Small Film Festival for his first analyzes new
Business Development Center Network. Reeser film, Soap Girl, pro- investments and acquisitions.
is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha. She is married duced by friends and Nolan N. Kawano (BBA ’84 Manoa) is vice ¯
to Jonmarvin Temol Ngirutang Jr. (BA colleagues from president and chief financial officer of Island
’98 Hilo). Hawai‘i and picked up Insurance Companies. He previously served as
Kristy Lee Reye (AA ’99 Windward) is a for international distrib- executive director of the state’s Hawai‘i
senior technical writer for Bank of Hawai‘i. ution. The LA-based screenwriter is working Hurricane Relief Fund.
on a big budget film to be released in 2003.
Tom Schnell (MURP ’94, BA ’91 Manoa) is ¯ Richard A. Kersenbrock Jr. (JD ’87, BA
associate/planner at the Kauzko Yumoto (’95 Manoa) teaches lin-
¯ ¯
’83 Manoa) was named vice president and
landscape architectural guistics, phonetics and grammar at Kanagawa Ventura County manager for First American
firm PBR Hawai‘i. He is Prefecture College, a two-year college located Title Insurance. He joined the company in
experienced in plan- in Yokohama, Japan. Honolulu in 1998 and relocated to California
ning, land use, trans- in 2000.
portation and develop- 1980s Gilbert Kohnke (MBA ’87 Manoa) is the
¯
ment issues. He is a Wendy Abe (BS ’81 Manoa) has been
¯ executive director for risk management at
member of the named donor services director at the Blood CIBC World Markets, Canadian Imperial Bank
American Institute of Bank of Hawai‘i. She was previously vice presi- of Commerce located in Singapore.
Certified Planners and American Planning dent of campaign and community relations for James Leonard (Cert ’88, BA ’80 Manoa) ¯
Association. Aloha United Way. oversees master plan-
Karen Scott-Martinet (BA ’94 West Clifford B. Alakai (BBA ’86 Manoa) has ¯ ning and environmental
O‘ahu) is the emergency preparedness coordi- been a certified public accountant since 1991 and land use issues as
nator for Lawndale, Calif. She and husband, and is the chief financial officer for the Maui principal/managing
Mike Martinet, are both pursuing master’s Medical Group. He serves on community director of PBR
degrees in emergency services administration boards for the Maui Philharmonic Society and Hawai‘i’s Hilo office. His
at California State University, Long Beach. The the Royal Order of Kamehameha I. projects have included
Redondo Beach residents each have a son and the UH Hilo and
Ballard Bannister (att. ’82 Manoa) has
¯
recently became grandparents. Hawai‘i CC long range
been promoted to vice president at KD
Kristy Shibuya (BA ’98 Manoa) works in
¯ Construction. He is responsible for the general development plans. He is active in business and
the travel and promotions department as an contracting firm’s Army and federal General professional groups.
account executive at Stryker Weiner and Services Administration projects in Hawai‘i. Sylvia Chang Luke (BA ’89 Manoa) and ¯
Yokota. husband Michael K. H. Luke (BBA ’90
Shawn P. Cahill (BA ’88 Manoa) is working
¯
Pamela Stepien (BS ’90 Manoa) is the
¯ at the University of Pennsylvania Center for ¯
Manoa) welcomed baby Logan into the world
human resources manager for The National the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. June 21, 2002. Sylvia Luke is a representative
Judicial College in Reno, Nev. in the Hawai‘i State Legislature.
Beadie Dawson (MD ’81 Manoa) was hon-
¯
Deborah Ann Stuart (BS ’95 Manoa, ’93 ¯ ored at the 2002 Pacific Business News Elizabeth Merk (EMBA ’85 Manoa, BBA ¯
Hawai‘i, ’92–’93 Hilo) completed her master’s ’84 Hilo), of Elizabeth Merk Investments of the
degree in nurse midwifery at the University of
Washington. Her master’s thesis, “Primary
Care in Nurse-Midwifery Practice: A National
Survey,” was published in the March/April
2002 Journal of Midwifery and Women’s P ¯
lied with kalua pig, haupia and Hawai‘i trivia, about 50
¯
Manoa-bound California students received a fun fall send-off thanks
to the Los Angeles Alumni Association. Those who could identify the
Health. Stuart works in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Matthew J. M. Suzuki (MEd ’96 Manoa) ¯ most “local-kine” words and facts won UH logo merchandise at what is
completed the Administrative Fellows Program expected to become an annual event.
at Harvard University in 2002 and is now assis-
tant director of special events in External
¯
Malamalama 21
Big Island, Hawai‘i, qualified for the Million digital photography and buttons company. ters, Trisha, Anela and Anuhea.
Dollar Round Table Court of the Table. Dennis Yamase (JD ’82, BEd ’79 Manoa) ¯ Peter C. K. Fong (BBA ’77 Manoa) is presi-
¯
Grant Murakami (BA, Cert ’86 Manoa)¯ has been nominated associate justice for the dent and chief executive officer for Chun Kim
was promoted to Supreme Court of the Federated States of Chow. Fong is active with Boston College Law
senior associate/plan- Micronesia. School and its Alumni Association of Hawai‘i.
ner at PBR Hawai‘i, Alvin Yoshinaga (MBA ’88 Manoa), of ¯ Ernest H. Fukeda Jr. (BBA ’76 Manoa) is ¯
responsible for campus Lyon Arboretum, is working on a UH Pacific president and chief operating officer for
and resort/residential Cooperative Studies Unit project to conserve Hawaiian Insurance and Guaranty Company.
master plans. Among endangered native plant and snail species at Fukeda is a board member for the Ronald
his projects are the UH ¯
the Makua Training Area on O‘ahu. McDonald House Charities and the Hawaiian
West O‘ahu and Humane Society.
Sal Valadez (MA ’85, BA ’81 Manoa) is ¯
Hawai‘i CC long range
executive director of the Language Access to Lewis Goldstein (MFA ’79, BFA ’70 Manoa) ¯
development plans. He teaches urban design
Healthcare program supported by the Provena is adjunct professor of fine art and computer
¯
in Manoa’s Department of Urban and Regional
Mercy Center and Compañeros en Salud graphic art at Portland Community College in
Planning.
(Partners in Health).The program identifies and Oregon. He also develops online curriculum,
On-Cho Ng (PhD ’86 Manoa) is associate
¯ trains healthcare interpreters for organizations, has a graphic design business and teaches pri-
professor at Penn State University history agencies and individuals in greater Aurora, Ill. vate sculpting, painting and computer classes.
department and a member of the UHAA–East Contact him at venusgraphics@aol.com.
chapter located in New York. 1970s Melvin K. Kam (BBA ’74 Manoa) is vice
¯
Fay Okamoto (BBA ’87 Manoa) was
¯ president and O‘ahu branch manager of Royal
Kathryn Au (MA ’76 Manoa) holds the Dai
¯
appointed vice presi- Insurance Agency in Honolulu. He is married
Ho Chun Endowed Chair in the UH Manoa ¯
dent of Arthur J. to Joanne Sato Kam (BEd ’72 Manoa) and ¯
College of Education. A former public school
Gallagher Captive they have a son, Andrew.
teacher, Au has written extensively on literacy
Services of Hawai‘i,
and teacher education. She is a member of Mary Olsen Kelly (MFA ’78, BA ’76 Manoa) ¯
responsible for captive
the Reading Hall of Fame, received the Oscar is co-owner of Black Pearl Gallery stores on
insurance management
S. Causey Award for outstanding contribu- O‘ahu and Maui. Her latest book, Path of the
for Gallagher and Atlas
tions to reading research from the National Pearl: Discover Your Treasures Within, was pub-
Insurance Agency
Reading Conference and served as director of lished in the fall. She also wrote Treasury of
clients. A certified pub-
the International Reading Association. Light and Finding Each Other.
lic accountant, she is a member of the Hawai‘i
Captive Insurance Council. Gene Awakuni (MSW ’78, BA ’76 Manoa) ¯ Derek Kurisu (BS ’74 Manoa) is the College
¯
has been named vice provost for student of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’
Mauri Okamoto-Kearney (MS ’83
affairs at Stanford University. He worked on a 2002 Outstanding Alumnus. Executive vice
¯
Manoa) has been promoted to vice president of
student healthcare plan and a project to president of perishable operations for KTA
product development at Corgentech. She has
improve primary care as vice president for stu- Super Stores, he was named to the Hawai‘i
been with the Palo Alto, Calif., biotechnology
dent services at Columbia University. County Community Advisory Board for Young
company since 2000 and leads development of
Elizabeth Jane Burger (MA ’72 Manoa) ¯ Brothers and Hawaiian Tug & Barge. He is a
E2F Decoy, now in clinical evaluation for pre-
was featured in the May 2002 issue of Teen member of numerous Big Island community
vention of coronary artery bypass graft failure.
Ink magazine as one of 100 Top Educators organizations and UH Hilo Nursing Program
Kathleen Rowley (MFA ’89 Manoa) is the
¯ Advisory Board.
Nationwide. She is a language arts teacher at
grant writer for Riverside Community College.
St. Albans High School in West Virginia. Faye Kurren (JD ’79 Manoa) was named
¯
She lives in Banning, Calif.
Michael M. S. Chun (BArch ’72 Manoa) is ¯ the 2002 Pacific Business News
Lynda Rushing (BA ’82 Manoa) has teach-
¯ Businesswoman of the Year.
chair of the Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo
ing appointments at Tufts and Harvard Medical
Board of Directors. Chun directed numerous James Levin (MS ’70 Manoa) is director of
¯
Schools in Massachusetts. She is medical direc-
award-winning resort projects including academic advising for the Eberly College of
tor of gynecologic pathology and cytology at
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Science and affiliate associate professor in the
Pathology Services. Rushing recently released
Orlando, Fla; Fiesta Americana Hotel and Graduate School of Education at Pennsylvania
the book Abnormal Pap Smears: What Every
Timeshare in Los Cabos, Mexico and The State University.
Woman Needs to Know for both layperson
Breakers Spa and Beach Club in West Palm Clyde Min (BBA ’71 Manoa) is vice president
¯
and health professionals.
Beach, Fla. Chun is a active in the American of operations at the Colonial Williamsburg
Vincent Shigekuni (BA ’80 Manoa) was¯ Institute of Architects, the International Company–Hospitality Group and general man-
promoted to principal at PBR Hawai‘i. His Society of Hospitality Consultants and la ager for the Williamsburg Inn. He is responsi-
award-winning projects include the Asociacion Mexicana de Arquitectos en ble for five hotels and four taverns.
Kaho‘olawe Use Plan, Diamond Head Master Tourismo y Recreacion.
Plan and the Waipahu 2000 Update. Renee Kimiko Mitsunaga (BFA ’79
Brenda Fong Cutwright (BBA ’76 ¯
Manoa) is an elementary teacher at Santa Fe
Shigekuni is past president of the Hawai‘i
¯
Manoa) is executive vice president and chief Public Schools’ Tesuque Elementary School in
chapter of the American Planning Association
operating officer for Aloha Airlines. She man- New Mexico.
and a member of the Society for College and
ages passenger services, in-flight services,
University Planning and the National Myles A. Murakami (BBA ’76 Manoa) is ¯
catering, sales and marketing, planning and
Association for Interpretation. president of Atlas Insurance Agency. He has
business development and computer services.
Owen K. Sekimura (’80 Manoa) is vice
¯ over 25 years of experience in the industry.
Mary A. Dillinger (MLS ’79 Manoa) is an
¯
president of finance and chief financial officer
associate professor and catalog librarian with
at Aloha Airlines.
Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill.
M. Dolly Strazar (PhD ’82, MA ’67 Manoa) ¯ Send Class Notes information
She is married to Paul Dillinger and they have
is president and executive director of the three children, Frank, Daniel and Mary Elise. and photos to ur@hawaii.edu
Lyman Museum and Mission House in Hilo. Dillinger is secretary of the International ¯
or Malamalama, 2444 Dole St.,
Claire Midori Sunada Tanoue (JD ’87 Chapter of Phi Delta Lambda and a member of BA 2, Honolulu HI 96822.
Manoa) co-created Body Mint, a natural
¯ UHAA–Greater Midwest Region. Please include the campus(es)
deodorizer, with classmate Rona Anne B. Russell Dooge (BS ’75 Manoa) is golf
¯ you attended and year(s) you
Wong Yim (JD ’87 Manoa). ¯ course superintendent at Sandalwood Golf graduated, and indicate if your
George Waialeale (’80s Manoa) is presi-
¯ Course in Wailuku. He is married to Sharlene
name has changed.
dent of www.hawaiiantshirts.com, a t-shirt, Nakamoto Dooge and they have three daugh-
¯
22 Malamalama
At present, Tanaka is sales and marketing director for
the Hawai‘i Convention Center, recently designated the
number two major convention site of North America.
“We have made a significant impression on buyers and
sellers” who have attended an event at the center, he
says. It’s a considerable achievement for a center just five
years old, but Tanaka is quick to deflect personal credit.
Randy Tanaka “It’s the team’s role. There is no single individual.”
Promoting conventions with Tanaka looks to the past for inspiration. He spear-
¯
headed Makana O Ka Lokahi (gift of unity), a recogni-
Hawaiian values tion program for noncommercial clients who exemplify
teamwork, unity, goal-orientation and an aspect of
Hawaiian culture. The award is a paddle used in canoe
races from Moloka‘i to O‘ahu. “The paddle has been
anointed by Hawaiian waters and was part of the jour-
ney,” Tanaka explains.
He uses For the “Anybody can quit
Voyager, a painting by school. What a degree
¯
UH Manoa Professor
John Wisnosky, as the demonstrates is your
convention center’s ability to stick to it.”
marketing theme. In
depicting the Polynesians’ first voyage to Hawai‘i, it
embodies the values of teamwork, navigation and vision
that Tanaka applies in seeking conventions with unique
businesses, including the high-tech industry.
And he hopes every convention center client returns
home with at least one aspect of Hawaiian culture—
aloha. “There’s not a whole lot you can do in the global
community, but if everybody does their best in their own
community, the world would be a great place to live.”
He may share wise words, but Tanaka believes wis-
Roots: Wai‘anae
dom comes from the ability to listen. When he first
Degree: AA in liberal arts, ’77, Leeward CC; BS in animal technolo-
gy, ’82, Ma
¯noa started college, he worked full time to pay tuition and
Career: Director of sales and marketing, Hawai‘i Convention ¯ ¯
expenses, including $300 monthly rent in Waikı kı . But
Center after flunking all his classes one semester, he took a
Family: Wife, Karen Yamamoto (’80 Ma
¯noa), now a graduate stu- break. A vice president at the travel destination manage-
¯noa, and daughters, Megan and Kara
dent at Ma ment company where he worked advised him to return
Hidden Talent: Milking cows, part of his college curriculum
to school and graduate. Tanaka did and has been grate-
Study Secret: Eating “loco moco” (hamburger patty and egg on
rice topped with brown gravy) before class
ful ever since. “Anybody can quit school. What a degree
Country Life: “Late at night, you can clearly see the heavens. It is demonstrates is your ability to stick to it,” he says. “You
quiet and uncrowded. You can see, think and feel. That’s the beau- don’t have to be a stellar student. The great emancipator
ty of the country.” is education; that is the thing that will set you free.”
Looking to the future, Tanaka applauds UH’s plans
“
T
o dream you have to see a vision,” says Randall
for an expanded medical school in Kaka‘ako, both for
“Randy” Tanaka. When he awakens at 4:30
the medical conferences it can bring to the state and the
a.m. to prepare for work, he has a clear view of
medical breakthroughs that could improve people’s
the stars from his home in Waialua. The same sky that
health. His dream, always, is how working in the com-
ancient Polynesians used to navigate the Pacific Ocean
munity can improve society for future generations.
Tanaka uses to get his bearings on time—past, present
¯
by Kiele Akana-Gooch (BA ’02 Manoa)
and future.
¯
Malamalama 23
Michael Ogan (BS ’76 Manoa) is an electri-
¯ American National Museum, National of Chinese American Lawyers Association
cal engineer and officer with the U.S. Air Force. Japanese American Memorial Foundation and alternative dispute resolution initiatives. He is
Paul Okimoto (BBA Seabee Historical Foundation. He is a member also developing business ventures in China.
’72 Manoa) is applying
¯ of UHAA–National Capital Region chapter Kent K. Moser (BA ’66 Manoa) is retired as
¯
his diverse accounting located in Washington, D.C. chief executive officer with a high tech com-
experience as the new Bong-Ho Choe (MS ’68 Manoa) works in
¯ pany. He is married to alumna Amy
owner and publisher of the Department of Agronomy at Chungnam Takesue Moser (BA ’67 Manoa) and they
¯
Island Christian Guide. National University. have a son, Kanani.
He was previously Ted Gugelyk (MA ’67, BA ’63 Manoa) ¯ Peter E. Patacsil (PhD ’60 Manoa) is an
¯
financial stewardship retired after serving as a foreign student advi- associate professor at the University of Guam.
director at New Hope ¯
sor at Manoa, dean of students for Maui CC, He was listed in the seventh edition of Who’s
Christian Fellowship O‘ahu. senior program officer at East-West Center Who Among America’s Teachers, 2002.
Bill Patzert (PhD ’72, MS ’69 Manoa) has
¯ ¯
and director of a pre-law program at Manoa.
been a research oceanographer at the When he is not surfing, he spends time as 1950s
California Institute of Technology’s Jet publisher of Anoai Press, which specializes in
Arnold M. Baptiste Sr. (BA ’57 Manoa) is ¯
Propulsion Laboratory since 1983. Previously on books for senior surfers.
founder and chair of the board for Hawai‘i
faculty at Scripps Institution of Oceanography George Held (MA ’62 Manoa) is a retired
¯ Management Alliance Association. He served
in La Jolla, Calif., he researches global climate college teacher and a member of the execu- as president for California Pacific Insurance
variability and its influence on oceans. tive board for the South Fork Natural History Services of Hawai‘i and was vice president for
Kyle K. Sakamoto (BBA ’75 Manoa) is vice¯ Society in Amagansett, N.Y. Held recently cele- Continental Association of Resolute Employers.
president and business relationship officer for brated his marriage to Cheryl Lynn Filsinger. Baptiste also held cost analyst jobs for Pacific
the Central Pacific Bank on Maui. He is Joseph “Doug” K. T. Ho (MBA ’66 Manoa) ¯ Maritime Association and the States
involved in numerous associations, including owns Classic Coins Hawai‘i and Worldwide Marine/Isthmian Agency in San Francisco.
Kiwanis, Maui Young Business Roundtable and Investors Group in Honolulu. He is developing Tit-Mun Chun (BS ’54 Manoa) is chair of
¯
the Maui Adult Day Care Center Board. joint ventures with Chong Qing, China. the board for the Hawai‘i State Federal Credit
Harry A. Saunders III (att. ’69–’71 Timothy L. Hudak (BA ’69 Manoa) has ¯ Union. He is a former engineer and business
¯
Manoa) is president of Castle and Cooke. published two new books through his compa- consultant and the president for M & E Pacific.
John Sciacca (MPH ’75 Manoa) is chair of
¯ ny, Sports Heritage. The Charity Game is a his-
the Department of Health Promotion at tory of the high school football championship 1930s
Northern Arizona University and associate series played in Cleveland every Thanksgiving
Lillie Char Ching (BEd ’34 Manoa) recent-
¯
dean of the Arizona College of Public Health. 1931–68. When the Lions Roared is a history
ly became a UHAA life member. The retired
Patrice Tanaka (BA ’74 Manoa) received
¯ of the football team from Cathedral Latin
public school teacher and widow of Arthur
the Public Relations Society of America’s 2002 School in Cleveland, 1917–78.
Y. Ching (BS ’30 Manoa) has two children,
¯
Paul M. Lund Public Service Award. She is Karen Mendyka Huff (BEd ’65 Manoa) ¯ C. Sue Jean Jung and Gerard Ching.
chief executive officer and co-founder of finished 8th out of 19 javelin throwers at the Grandson Darrell Jung (BS ’97 Manoa) is a
¯
PT&Co., of New York. World Masters Track and Field Championships UH graduate.
Jan Ting (MA ’72 Manoa) was named one of
¯ in Australia in 2001. Huff is president of the
Vernon K. S. Jim (att.’38–’41 Manoa) is
¯
the 50 most influential minority attorneys in UHAA–Greater Midwest Region chapter.
Model Chinese Father of the Year 2002. A
Pennsylvania by The Legal Intelligencer. Ting is Ralph Iwamoto (BS ’65 Manoa) was pro-
¯ physician for 40 years in Honolulu, he has been
a professor at Temple University’s Beasley moted to deputy administrator, international active in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce,
School of Law. services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Kwangtug Community Honolulu Lin Yee Hui,
William R. Wanner Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is United Chinese Society, Chung Shan
¯
(MS ’75 Manoa) has responsible for 1,400 personnel in 27 countries. Association, Kung Sheong Doo and the Hawai‘i
been promoted to con- Randolph F. Leong (BBA ’68 Manoa) has ¯ Chinese Civic Association. He is a volunteer for
struction services man- practiced law in real estate and estate plan- the Hawai‘i Science Fair and the Lyon
ager for M&E Pacific, ning for more than 25 years. He works with Arboretum. His wife, Yun Soong Chock Jim,
directing 25 engineers the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship, received the Model Chinese Mother of the Year
and inspectors on five is a member of eClub and is a charter member Award in 2000. They have four daughters.
islands and managing
more than $100 million
in construction projects across the state. His
most recent project, the microtunneled recon-
Alumni address teaching improvements
structed sewer for Nimitz Highway, won a
national award from the American Consulting
Engineers Council.
M embers of the College of Education Alumni Association used their
annual gathering last summer to brainstorm suggestions for
improving the teaching profession. No surprise—improved salary and
1960s benefits got high priority, but were second to more cohesiveness among
Stuart S. Brannon (BBA ’68 Manoa) ¯ grade levels and departments within schools. Also on the list: consistent
retired from Georgia-Pacific Corporation as
expectations of teachers, dedicated funding and resources that don’t shift
national director of trade relations after 33
years. He is now senior vice-president/senior with each new trend or administration, preparation of individuals for
partner with the consulting firm Encore substitute teacher certification, better internship programs, mentors for
Associates in San Ramon, Calif.
beginning teachers and improved classroom environment. Suggesting
Ken Wai Ching (MS ’68 Manoa) is a port
¯
botanist in Animal and Plant Health Inspection their association facilitate interaction between UH, the Hawai‘i
Services at Honolulu International Airport. Department of Education and state lawmakers, the alumni sent a formal
Melvin H. Chiogioji (MBA ’68 Manoa), an ¯ report to those officials as well as teacher and parent groups. For infor-
electrical engineer, is president and chief exec-
utive officer of MELE Associates in Rockville,
mation, contact Marcia Little, mlittle@hawaii.edu or 808 956-6219.
Md. He is a director with the Japanese
¯
24 Malamalama
Compassionate
Undertaking
burials a year. Ordenstein says his
UH education prepared him well by
expanding his way of looking at life
and the world. He calls the work
Claus Hansen rewarding. “As a teacher, 20 years Ken Ordenstein
Roots: Born and raised in down the line a former student says Roots: St. Louis High School
Denmark you made a difference in his life. In graduate
Family: Married to KHNL News this profession, within two hours you Family: Includes wife Anne
8 anchor Diane Ako ¯
Sage, (BA ’65 Manoa)
make an enormous difference in a and daughter, Milika’a,
Extracurricular: Attended UH on a
swimming scholarship;
person’s life.” ¯
(BA ’00 Manoa)
is a part-time fashion Like Ordenstein, Claus Hansen Recent read: Culinary murder mystery
model (BBA ’90) didn’t anticipate a career in How to Cook a Tart
the funeral industry. His business
T
he undertaker of tradi- degree helped him recognize a con- says. Both Ordenstein, spokesperson
tional TV and movie fare sumer need, however. “Caskets were for the Hawaiian Funeral Directors
is often portrayed as a sold by very few entities and prices Association, and Hansen serve on a
bony, pale, slightly creepy were high,” he explains. So he opened death-care industry task force created
man dressed in black and emanating Affordable Caskets, a discount casket by the state Legislature in the wake
the odor of embalming fluid. Two outlet. Moanalua Mortuary followed of the scandals. “I think we need to
UH Manoa graduates bury that
¯ based on customer requests. Hansen tell our story more. People want in-
stereotype. has been criticized for his unconven- formation but are reluctant to ask
“I didn’t want to be a casket ped- tional style of marketing. For instance, because death is a difficult topic,”
dler,” says Ken Ordenstein (BEd ’76), a window display along the Moanalua Ordenstein says.
chief development officer of RightStar Freeway raised eyebrows when it fea- The entertainment industry may
Hawai‘i Management. After earning a tured a mannequin sitting at a desk in yet prove an unlikely ally. HBO’s
degree in education, he set out to front a row of caskets. “We did these highly acclaimed dark comic drama,
become a teacher. But when his father things to get attention because we Six Feet Under, is changing the stereo-
became ill and asked him to help with were a new business and needed peo- types people have about undertakers
the family business for a year, ple to recognize who we are and what and broaching the topic of death.
Ordenstein began seeing the funeral we do,” he says. The marketing tech- Both Ordenstein and Hansen enjoy
business in a different light. “From nique brought in new customers. the cable TV series. “I like that kind of
then on it took on tremendous mean- Relationships between customers dark humor and sarcasm. Their tech-
ing. I really believe there’s a lot of pain and funeral homes have changed in nical aspects are very accurate,” says
and suffering in the world because of the past year, with highly publicized Hansen. “It’s my favorite show,”
people’s inability or unwillingness to national and local scandals affecting agrees Ordenstein. “It’s accurate,
grieve the loss in their lives. If we can how business is conducted. Hansen funny, poignant, profound, distress-
get people to grieve for one loss in sees positive effects. “Only those 100- ing. It’s just like life. It’s just people
their life, they can grieve for all other percent legitimate, 100-percent ethi- trying to make their way in the world,
things in the past.” cal businesses will thrive and become trying to do the right thing.”
RightStar handles about 2,300 stronger. Unethical businesses can by Stacy Yuen Hernandez, a Honolulu freelance
funeral services and an additional 800 only deceive families for so long,” he writer.
¯
Malamalama 25
Alumnae
Works Tell
WWII Stories
Artist Hestir creates Bataan memorial
A
s part of her memorial to American and Filipino
soldiers forced to make the Bataan Death
March, Kelley S. Hestir envisioned a walkway
with footprints of the survivors. Before her first sched-
Malnourished and weakened by disease after four
uled appointment with one such veteran in 2001, she
months of fighting, more than 70,000 American
received an urgent call from his family. He was in inten-
and Filipino soldiers began the 65-mile forced
sive care, not expected to last the day; could she come march from the Bataan Peninsula after the surren-
right away? Lorenzo Banegas died before Hestir could der of the Philippines on April 9, 1942. Thousands
get to the hospital, but his family wanted him to be part died or were killed en route. More lost their lives in
of the memorial. the horrific conditions of prison and labor camps.
“Three generations of women helped me take the Sculpted by UH-educated artist Kelley S. Hestir,
Heroes of Bataan, the Bataan Death March
molds of his feet. It was extremely moving,” Hestir says.
Memorial, is located in Veterans Park in Las Cruces,
The heart-rending sto- N.M. The memorial began as a 36-inch clay model.
ries she heard from It was enlarged using 3D image scans and mathe-
other survivors and her matical formulas to mill an 8-foot foam facsimile.
own anguish over the Further sculpting was done before it was cast in
Sept. 11 terrorist bronze by Artworks Foundry in Berkeley, Calif.
attack were also The monument will be rededicated on March 29.
poured into the pro-
ject. Sometimes she work on two commercial complexes he was involved in.
wept as she worked on “It was the opportunity of a lifetime,” Hestir says.
Photo by Darrol Shillingburg
the agonized faces of As the memorial walkway approaches the statue, the
the sculpture. many footprints in the beginning give way to just a few
The New Mexico at the end, signifying the thousands who died along the
National Guard fig- way. The sculpture depicts two soldiers, Filipino and
ured prominently in Sculptor/illustrator Kelley Hestir American, supporting a third between them. It is 8 feet
the Asian theater; and tall, but placed on the ground so viewers can approach
the state had the highest per capita prisoner-of-war pop- it. To get the statue right, Hestir studied authentic uni-
ulation when the war ended. Las Cruces businessman forms and artifacts; incorporated elements of the setting,
J. Joe Martinez lost two uncles in Bataan. Determined such as a banana-frond woven bag, and took 150 pic-
to honor the soldiers, he enlisted the support of New tures of young soldiers. One of them, a Filipino
Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici, who secured funding for American, confided that his father, at age 10, witnessed
the project. He commissioned Hestir, pleased with her the grandfather’s execution by Japanese soldiers. Once
¯
26 Malamalama
veterans approved the nearly done model, Hestir pro- Like many of the soldiers, Castillo returned with a
ceeded with confidence. war bride to build today’s Filipino American community.
The dedication ceremony, on the 60th anniversary He, Norma and their seven daughters settled in Hawai‘i.
of the march, was an emotional event. One chair was Their second daughter, Stephanie Castillo (MBA ’00,
draped with the uniform of a man who passed away just BA ’84), studied film in California and completed
six hours earlier. Air Force F-114 stealth jets flew over in ¯
degrees in journalism and English at Manoa. After four
the missing man formation. Dignitaries, including the years with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and brief stints at
Philippine ambassador to Washington, paid tribute. USA Today, she began to produce television documen-
People left flowers and keepsakes. But most poignant taries—the 1992
was the moment death march survivors, now frail with EMMY-winning
age and disability, assisted each other to Hestir’s walk- Simple Courage, 1993
way to view the statue’s unveiling. CINE Golden Eagle
“A lot of public sculpture goes unheeded, so it’s winner OPERA! and
been a real honor to have so many people recognize the yet-to-be released doc-
work,” Hestir says. “Creating the memorial was very umentaries on Father
heavy emotionally, but it was hopeful too. The experi- Damien and the
ence of meeting the vets—their stories were all devastat- Korean tea bowls used
Photo by Philip Spalding III
ingly sad, but to see the people they became after- in Japanese tea cere-
wards—it put a face of reality on a historical event.” monies.
Hestir went from carving animals from bars of soap After completing
as a child in New Mexico to classicist figure work and graduate school,
¯
Chicks from Hell performance art at Manoa, where the Castillo spent two Stephanie Castillo at film debut
late Prithwish Neogy introduced her to non-Western art years in Washington,
and thought “and the difference between truth and con- D.C., spearheading final scripting of An Untold
vention.” Mamoro Sato had her create figures for the Triumph: The Story of the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry
Passage artwork across Punchbowl from the Hawai‘i Regiments, U.S. Army. As an associate producer, she
State Library and Fred Roster provided “pure, powerful helped craft the 84-minute documentary with director
teaching excellence,” she reminisces. Noel Izon, former UH faculty member Linda Revilla
and 1st Regiment veteran Domingo Los Banos. Manoa ¯
Filmmaker honors the men of “the Fil” ethnic studies Professors Dean Alegado and Leonard
Andaya were advisors. The film won the Blockbuster
H
onolulu filmmaker Stephanie J. Castillo has a
Video Audience Award at the 2002 Hawai‘i
personal interest in making the World War II
International Film Festival. It premieres in Washington,
contributions of the 1st and 2nd Filipino
D.C., on Jan. 30 at the National Museum of American
Infantry Regiments as familiar as stories of the Japanese
History and is expected to air on cable and public televi-
American 442nd. Formed two weeks after the bombing
sion stations. Additional showings include community
of Pearl Harbor, “the Fil” regiments included 7,000 men,
events on O‘ahu and film festivals in San Francisco and
mostly sons of Hawai‘i and U.S. mainland immigrants.
Los Angeles this spring.
About 800 were trained as secret operatives—spies,
“I understand so much more about my family now
radiomen, paratroopers and demolition specialists.
and what it means to be Filipino in America,” Castillo
Smuggled into the Philippines by submarine over three
says. Family also provided inspiration for Cockfighters, a
years, many provided intelligence crucial to Gen.
DV Cam documentary that she hopes to turn into a
Douglas MacArthur’s 1945 invasion. Others were
longer film. Her grandfather was a Kaua‘i cockfighter for
counter-intelligence officers, civil affairs personnel and
50 years.
Alamo Scouts, who helped free Bataan death march
For more about An Untold Triumph, see http://hometown.aol.com
survivors in the Cabunatuan Prison and other Allied
/untoldtriumph/untoldtriumph/index.htm
prisoners. Among the “Hawai‘i boys” was Wallace
by Cheryl Ernst, creative services director in External Affairs and University
Castillo of Kapa‘a. Relations
¯
Malamalama 27