julia frohlich, m.d. - 2000

“I believe my greatest strengths are my dedication, perseverance, and commitment that have been strengthened through the day-to-day challenges of running a nonprofit.”

Julia Frohlich, M.D. combines the training of a physician, the experience of a businessperson and a sense of caring for the community.  A trailblazer in the medical profession at a time when few women were becoming doctors, Dr. Frohlich is also a community volunteer and role model for young women in health care and management. 

Julia served as the chief executive officer of the Blood Bank of Hawaii for 28 years before retiring in 2000.  As the medical director and later president of the Blood Bank, Frohlich strived to modernize the operation.  She adopted screening tests before such procedures were mandated, coordinated major fund raisers and projects, established special training for advanced certification for medical technologists and established an alliance with the Puget Sound Blood Center in Seattle that provides specialized products and services.  During this time, she was also a consulting pathologist at the Queen’s Medical Center and an assistant clinical professor at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Dr. Frohlich’s community involvement over the years has been exemplary.  She was the first woman to chair the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii in its 134 year history.  She served on the boards of BancWest, Inc., First Hawaiian Bank, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Opera Theatre, HMSA foundation, YMCA, and Hawaii Employers Council.  She also chaired the board of the Hawaii Community Foundation, Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, and a board member of the Hawaii Medical Service Association.  In 1988, she was named Physician of the Year.

patti j. lyons - 2000

“I hear children cry, victims of abuse and neglect.  If we are all servant leaders, we can, together, work miracles, ministering to those who suffer most.  Our greatest strengths as women are the ability to listen and to give unconditional love.”

A social worker by profession, Patti J. Lyons has been an outstanding role model for women throughout her career in working for the rights of abused children and women.  Lyons was instrumental in the creation of Child Protective Services and was the prime mover behind the development and consistent enforcement of child abuse legislation in the state.  She was also responsible for creating shelters for abused spouses and abused teens.

Lyons served with Child and Family Service for more than twenty-three years beginning in 1967 as a supervisor and outreach worker for its first satellite office in Waianae.  She rose to the level of president and chief executive officer in 1980 and served in that position for ten years.  She left child and Family Service to take on the position of president and chief executive officer of Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, which operates and funds numerous projects in Hawaii and the Philippines. 

Under Patti’s leadership, Consuelo Foundation received the coveted Peter F. Drucker Foundation Award for Nonprofit Innovation; and the Philippine Presidential Kaanib ng Bayan Award for outstanding contributions to the progress of development of the Philippines.  The Foundation has assisted more than 100 programs, serving over 10,000 children and families.

In retrospect, Patti cites the establishment of Child Protective Services as her proudest achievement.  Her passion and mission to eliminate child abuse continues to fuel Patti’s drive to succeed and has led her to earn additional accolades from the community.  Since 2000, Lyons has been honored with the Na Loio Keeper of the Home Award and the School of Social Work Leader Award.

Lyons characterizes her leadership style as being a “servant leader” and hopes her community service has inspired other women to raise their collective voices to make Hawaii a better and safe place in which children live.

clarice cornett - 2001

“If you build a woman a house it will eventually fall into disrepair; if you teach a woman to build - she will build her life, her home, and her community too.”

Clarice Cornett has demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of women and girls through her work as a General and Electrical Contractor.  Cornett stands as a pioneer and inspiration for other women who want to succeed in the ‘non-traditional’ field of construction.  Cornett founded Wahine Builders in 1986 with a commitment to excellence in ‘craftswomanship’ and to teaching and employing women.  During the past 15 years, Wahine Builders has trained many women and received local and national awards for Excellence in Construction.

In 1999, after years of frustration with slow pace of diversity in the construction industry, Clarice endeavored to do more to change the ‘face and image’ of construction and partnered with others to create the Building Women Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program.  Building Women provides training for women by women, and gives women the boost in self-esteem necessary to make it in a male-dominated and highly lucrative industry.  The first group of trainees was five women from the Windward Community Correctional Center.  Their success has inspired many others and currently Building Women has 50 women signed up for a class that can handle only ten!  The model is a combination of community service and training, and the goal is to train hundreds of women while building community oriented projects.

Cornett is a passionate proponent of community service and has received service awards from the ABC National, Business and Professional Women, Windward Rotary, and the Life Foundation.

In November of 1999, Cornett committed to Honolulu Habitat for Humanity to supervise the first ‘Ladies Build’ - named in honor of Hawaii’s First Lady Vicky Cayetano.  This two-story two-family home is Building Women’s pilot project, and it has encouraged women and girls from all background to try their hand at construction.  Clarice and her wahine have taught women and girls from church groups, high schools, universities, and community groups and given them confidence to say, “Yes I can do it, because I have.”

Clarice grew up in the wilds of Alaska - 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle and on a sailboat in the Ala Wai Harbor.  She embraces diversity in all aspects of her life and loves her role as teacher and pioneer.

“Passion is the engine of purpose; service is the fuel of the soul; vision is the blessing of hope; and faith is the link to our past and the key to our future.”

sandra au fong - 2002

“I learned about being true to myself from my grandfather and about giving back to the community from my grandmother and mother.  It is through my community service work that I found the greatest satisfaction and a balance in my life.”

Sandra Au Fong personifies the successful balance of work and family, a challenge that is so familiar to professional women.  She was honored by the YWCA in 2002, for her work as an accomplished business person, an inspiring leader and a dedicated wife and mother.

A powerful real estate broker for more than forty years, Sandra is known for renovating, expanding and leasing Market City Shopping Center.  She shares the management responsibilities of Market City with her husband, Marvin Fong.

Sandy was also instrumental in restoring and leasing the historic Kress Building in downtown Hilo.  An active community leader, Sandy serves numerous organizations, including Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Children’s Discovery Center, Organization of Women Leaders, River of Life Mission, Parents and Children Together (PACT), Hanahauoli School and Central Union Church.

One would assume Sandy would be most proud of her successful career.  However, when asked of her proudest accomplishment, it was the honor of attending her youngest son’s graduation (Cum Laude) from the University of California.  Rounding out the balance of her family and career is Sandy’s volunteer work.  The importance of giving back to the community is a value instilled by her ancestors and one she plans to pass on to future generations.

“Helping women to grow strong has been my life’s work.  I love to hold up a mirror that shows each one her value and her untapped gifts.  How rich our world will be when it nurtures and values success in all its girls and women.”

Caroline Ward Oda left St. Andrew’s Priory School as class valedictorian.  Years later she returned - as its first female head of school.  In the intervening decades she compiled a record of compassionate accomplishment and contribution that embodies the vision Priory founder Queen Emma Kaleleonalani had for the Priory’s girls: to become women of excellence, spirituality and integrity and promote those values in their community.

In addition to her contributions as an educator, Caroline spent a good deal of her distinguished career in the area of social work, as a “soldier in the trenches,” making a difference one person at a time, a “general,” improving the lives of entire groups, and a strategist, administrator and consultant.  As a social worker for Child and Family Service and in private practice, Caroline counseled pregnant teens, runaways, single parents, abused women, sexually abused youth and the homeless.

Caroline has been an advocate for social change on state, national, and international levels, as an advisory board member of the Missing Child Center Hawaii, as a delegate to the International Forum on Child Welfare, as a board member of Summerbridge -- Hawaii, a program for at-risk middle school students; in Kids Voting Hawaii and Hawaii 2020.  She was featured in “The Visionaries,” a PBS production on the Alger Foundation’s Self-Help Housing Community in Waianae, a Drucker Award winning project in which she played a key role.

A life-long learner, Caroline has a B.S. from Stanford University, a MA from San Francisco State, and an M.S.W. from U.C. Berkeley.

nalani olds - 2002

“To work and live life with aloha is always my goal.”

Nalani Olds is a cultural treasure who has used her talents as an entertainer over the course of her almost fifty plus year career to share Hawaiian values and heritage with people all over the world.  In her early career she was the co-star and vocalist with the Danny Kaleikini Show and since 1978 has been a soloist with the Royal Hawaiian Band.  In 2000, she developed a musical program in conjunction with the State Library System called “He Po‘ai Aloha” presenting songs from the newly published “The Queen’s Songbook, the musical legacy of Queen Liliuokalani.”  In 2001 and 2002, she presented this program at the Smithsonian Institution by special invitation.

Esteemed as a kupuna, she has trained others in the traditional values of the Hawaiian culture.  In 1987, she founded “He‘ala Kulaiwi: An Ancestral Pathway,” an educational program she has used extensively with the prison system to help women and men gain empowerment through Hawaiian spirituality, cultural awareness and values, and self identity.  She also served as an advocate within the court system to aid women and their children as they wrestled with problems of substance and spousal abuse. 

Nalani has served the community in a variety of ways: as security supervisor and docent/trainer for the Friends of ‘Iolani Palace, as a kupuna for both the Hawaii Addiction Center and the Offender/Ex-Offender Substance Abuse Prevention Program (Alu Like), and as a trainer for the Kupuna-in-the-Schools Program (DOE).  She also founded the Prince Lot Hula Festival and continues to co-host the event.  In addition, she is vice chair of the U.H. Committee for the Preservation of Hawaiian Language, Art and Culture; and is a committee member and past chair of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Public Health Fund.

“Aloha mai no, aloha aku; o ka huhu ka mea e ola ole ai.  When love is given, love should be returned; anger is the thing that gives no life.”  From ‘Olelo No‘eau -- By Mary Kawena Pukui

naleen n. andrade, m.d. - 2003

“How do women shape history?  At one time, we did so by being mothers and wives to leaders.  Today, we are something more -- we are leaders who create history.  We reshape the structure and culture of our families, professions, societies and nations.”

Dr. Naleen Andrade began creating a future when she ignored her high school counselor’s advice to train as a medical technician and instead set her ambitions on becoming a doctor.  One of nine children born to a coffee farmer and heavy equipment operator in Kona, Naleen pursued a career in medicine, a profession dominated by men and underrepresented by minorities.  She currently serves the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine as a professor of psychiatry and as chair of the Department of Psychiatry.

This self-described “healer” is an advocate for Native Hawaiian rights to equal education and healthcare.  She is a founding member and executive board president of E Ola Mau, an organization committed to the spiritual and physical health of Native Hawaiians.  She works on individual and organizational levels to nurture, inspire and mentor students of all ethnicities, but with a special emphasis on young Hawaiian women who train in medicine and go on to become leaders and “healers” in their communities.

Dr. Andrade succeeds and excels in the demanding profession of medicine, yet she remains faithful to her local roots.  At 26, she took a year off from medical school and spearheaded a project to restore Kahikolu Congregational Church in Kona, which was all but nearly destroyed in the 1952 earthquake.  In the mid-1980’s, she set out to improve the mental health and spiritual well-being of Native Hawaiians and to cultivate research in Hawaiian culture.  Her quest resulted in the establishment of the Native Hawaiian Mental Health Research Development Program, funded by over $4.8 million in grants to date.

carol h. mcnamee - 2003

“Vision is essential for deciding on which stone to step, but without the additional support from two kinds of people - those who encourage and those who help do the work - the vision will remain just that.  The milestones may never be reached and will remain as dreams instead of reality.”

For nearly a generation, Carol McNamee has worked for the safety of the children and families in Hawaii - drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.  In 1984, she founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Hawaii and has since persevered toward the organization’s mission “to stop drunk driving, to assist the victims of this violent crime and to prevent underage drinking.”

Carol McNamee’s name is virtually synonymous with MADD in Hawaii.  Since 1982, she has been instrumental in reducing the number of alcohol related traffic deaths in the state by 40%.  Carol has never faltered in her commitment to educate the public and the lawmakers to change behavior and adopt effective impaired driving legislation.  She was instrumental in raising Hawaii’s drinking age to 21 in 1986, passing License Revocation Law in 1991, reducing the illegal blood alcohol level in 1995 and adopting zero tolerance laws for minors in 1997.

The Carol McNamee Volunteer award, established at MADD’s 15th Annual Meeting, acknowledges outstanding dedication and service to the community.  Carol was the first recipient of this award which honors the most deserving and committed MADD volunteers.  Presently she serves as vice president for public policy of the national board of directors of MADD.

In addition to her work for MADD, Carol has been a delegate to the White House Conference on Families and has served on community boards such as the Hawaii Family Stress Center, Salvation Army Advisory Committee, Crime Stoppers, Hawaii Opera Theatre and Junior League of Honolulu.

jean e. rolles - 2003

“In our family you worked hard,” Rolles said.  “Both my parents did, and from them we learned to work hard, be resilient and independent.”

Few individuals in Hawaii, men or women, can match Jean Rolles’ record of achievement as a professional and a leader.  “Jeannie” is a role model for women because of her accomplishments in academics, her success in business, and her contributions to the community.

Although she sits on numerous boards, nineteen at last count, Jean makes a point to always arrive at meetings, prepared and ready to get things done.  Her take-charge attitude makes her a valuable asset to each organization in which she gets involved.  “Instead of long discussions, I see an answer to a problem and try to get to the answer in the shortest possible way,” she said.

Jean’s career is characterized by an eye for the future and an instinct for business.  She graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in an era when women rarely held executive positions in this field.  After helping to establish a chain of 50 restaurants throughout the United States, Jean joined Outrigger Hotels in 1982 and was responsible for the leasing of all commercial space in 21 hotels.  Today she serves as vice president of community relations of Outrigger Enterprises Group.  A visionary, Jean recognized early on the importance of Japanese business in Hawaii, so she earned a masters degree in Japanese Business Studies from Chaminade University.  She serves as a director of the East-West Center Foundation, among her many position in the Japanese-American business and education sectors.

Jean’s community activities include serving on the East-West Center Board of Governors, Chaminade University Board of Regents, and U.H. College of Business Administration Advisory Council. She is also a director of American Red Cross Hawaii Chapter, YWCA of O‘ahu, Honolulu Academy of Arts, and many other organizations. She also serves on the U.S. President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

louise ing - 2004

“The YWCA has enriched my life from grandma Mari Li Sia’s Chinese cooking class to summer ceramics and swimming to today’s fitness club and halau hula.  An important part of “giving back” has been my support of the YWCA’s programs imparting to women and girls the tools to live their dreams.”

While a student at Yale University in the 1970’s, Louise K.Y. Ing remembers a counselor advising her to become a paralegal instead of a lawyer.  She did not heed the advice, but instead went on to graduate magna cum laude from Yale, obtained a law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at Berkeley, and co-founded a Honolulu law firm.  She remembers thinking it would be “something to have women arguing against each other in court, and a woman judge too!”

As Ing’s career progressed, she became partner in a small firm. When the firm broke up in 1991, she and three of the other attorneys founded Alston, Hunt, Floyd and Ing, which currently employs more than 40 lawyers.  Ing practices business and employment litigation, dispute resolution, and counseling.  Today, gender-balanced Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing is the fifth largest law firm in the state and the largest Hawaii law firm where women comprise 50% of the attorneys and nearly 50% of the owners.

Louise is a mentor to all younger associates, both men and women, but she states, women seem to have more self-doubt and lack self-confidence.  To help with that, the firm has an internal email group for the female associates - “PWR.”  “As a young lawyer,” Ing says, “I’d complain about the long hours.  And my father would tell me, ‘Face it! You’re going to have to work really hard until you’re in your 40s.’  And I’d think I couldn’t last.  Then, before I knew it, I was past it!”  Over the years, Ing says, her legal work has tempered her idealism by teaching her to reserve judgment until she has all the facts.  “With more information comes greater understanding,” she says.

“My parents and grandparents always encouraged us to work hard, strive for success, do good in the community and plan for the future, at a time when studying hard, earning A’s and playing the viola didn’t exactly make you the coolest kid in school,” said Louise -- who considers herself a member of “the nerd club” in high school.  Her success is evident and her professional work is confirmation of her beliefs and values.  Louise endeavors to eliminate workplace racism, sexism, harassment and discrimination.  She and her firm have served as attorneys for Planned Parenthood of Hawaii for 20 years; she has supported and testified in favor of legislation that promotes reproductive freedom and equal access to contraceptive health coverage.  She also strives within her own firm to maintain a corporate culture that promotes equal opportunity and collegiality and that gives employees of both sexes the tools to have fulfilling family and professional lives.  She has broken through barriers in corporate boardrooms and helped promote local business by being one of the few women on the boards of Aloha Airlines, American Savings Bank and Island Holdings.  Louise is also a director of American Savings Bank, serves as vice president for Kahi Mohala Behavioral Healthcare and is a director for the Hawaii’s health insurance organization, HMSA.

Louise’s record of volunteer service is equally compelling.  She actively gives and has given of her time to an array of non-profit organizations, including the YWCA of O’ahu Capital Campaign, Hawaii Women’s Legal Foundation, ASSETS School, Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health Hospital, HMSA, Child and Family Service, Big Brothers Big Sisters Capital Campaign, Hawaii Community Foundation, University of Hawaii Foundation and Aloha United Way. 

lynn c. z. maunakea - 2004

Maunakea’s Theory of Relativity: “There will always be someone brighter than you and someone not as bright; There will always be someone prettier than you and someone not as pretty; There will always be someone wealthier than you and someone not as wealthy.  Do your absolutely best with what you have.”

“It just feels the right thing to do.  This is a very supportive community, and in taking on this challenge I know I am not alone,” said Lynn Maunakea, accepting her position as executive director of IHS in 1997.  Lynn’s record of accomplishments in this leadership role shows that her appointment was indeed the right thing, starting with her spearheading the opening of a new shelter for women and families with children after only four months on the job. 

Lynn Maunakea became O‘ahu’s expert on the causes and solutions to homelessness.  Her determination and vision are evident through her motivating words, “If I didn’t believe we can end chronic homelessness, I wouldn’t be here.”  This conviction drives her tireless advocacy, and ability to galvanize the support necessary to make real changes.

Lynn constantly raises the bar for herself and her employees.  Not satisfied with simply meeting basic needs of the “guests” at IHS, she is committed to ending chronic homelessness.  After participating in national conferences on homelessness, Lynn brought together the “best practice” models of service delivery and is successfully implementing them here.  Another national endeavor is as a member of the Hawaii Homeless Policy Academy, whose vision is to end homelessness by coordinating efforts of city, state and federal agencies, along with non-profit services providers, to reduce the number of people becoming homeless due to the release from prison and hospitals.

A great believer in the power of collaboration, Lynn has energetically participated in the building of key O‘ahu coalitions.  She served as chair of Partners in Care (PIC), a group of homeless services providers and others who plan and advocate on behalf of people who are homeless.  Additionally, Lynn participated in the formation of the Hawaii Behavioral Health Coalition that came together to improve the quality of life for adults with mental illness.

victoria schneider, m.d. - 2004

“Children are our most valuable and least protected asset.  It is time for individuals -- all of us -- in every community to make the commitment of our time and effort to break the cycle of violence that constitutes the biggest threat to our children’s futures.”

Victoria Schneider has dedicated her career to the detection and prevention of child abuse.  As the leading child abuse pediatrician in Hawaii, she specializes in the diagnosis, documentation and treatment of child abuse and neglect injuries.  “Vicky” is a passionate advocate for the most vulnerable children - those who may be unable to speak for themselves about the terrible injuries inflicted upon them by the very people who are supposed to love them the most.

A natural leader, Vicky recognizes a problem, gathers necessary resources and develops a concrete system to tackle the issue.  She builds close working relations among key individuals and agencies involved in the fight against child abuse.  Two programs Vicky created and implemented to address child abuse are Hawaii Outreach Pre-Placement Evaluation (HOPE) and Kapiolani Child-at-Risk Evaluation (CARE).  These programs improve the ability of the foster parent, social worker and health care provider to address the health needs of the foster child.  With the prompt identification and thorough documentation of injuries that these programs provide, children are better protected from future abuse.

Vicky moved to Hawaii from California in 1994 and began teaching in the pediatrics department of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  She continues to teach today and also serves as director of the Kapiolani CARE program, as medical director of the Kapiolani Child Protection Center, and as a physician with the Sex Abuse Treatment Center.     

christine camp friedman - 2005

Christine Camp Friedman is one of the few visible female leaders in Hawaii’s real estate development field.  Christine strives to be a leader and role model, both personally and professionally, and to encourage other qualified women to pursue ambitious goals, especially in non-traditional professions.

Christine is managing director and principal of Avalon Development Company LLC.  She started that company at age 32 and grew it from a one-man office to a multi-faceted real estate firm with investment partners and clients from Hawaii and overseas.  Since that time, her company has led the industry by consistently achieving the top five commercial transactions in Hawaii.  She was recognized at the 2005 LeaderLuncheon as an industry expert and a dominant force in the business. 

A first-generation Korean American who immigrated to Hawaii when she was in the 5th grade, Christine believes that civic involvement is a privilege of being an American.  Perhaps as a result of living in poverty herself, she understands that the success of the economy depends on the overall health of the community.  Thus, she actively seeks leadership positions in which she can work to improve Hawaii’s small business environment.  As the newly elected chair of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, she has successfully led efforts toward cooperation between unions and businesses, and has mandated “inclusivity and transparency” as a focus of the organization so that all voices may be heard equally.

Christine remembers her own humble beginnings, and thus works to provide opportunities to help young people succeed.  For the last ten years, she has mentored interns, providing a rich learning environment and allowing them to earn income toward their tuition.  Her efforts are focused on public school students and especially girls.  Christine strives to reach young women and tell them that it is possible to achieve their dreams, even in male-dominated industries.

Among the many organizations for which Christine volunteers are the Girl Scout Council of Hawaii, Sacred Hearts Academy for Girls, Child and Family Services and the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce.

tyrie l. jenkins, m.d. - 2005

“I see the biggest opportunities among young girls who are being given examples of the growing number of women in (male dominated) professions.  These role models are planting the seeds for success in work and ultimately in life.”

A leading LASIK eye surgeon, Dr. Jenkins stands out as one of the few women in ophthalmology.  In fact, although 25% of all physicians in Hawaii are female, a mere 15% of practicing ophthalmologists are women.  Dr. Jenkins is a pioneer in her field, having performed more laser vision corrections than any other physician in the state. 

In 2005, Dr. Jenkins celebrated her tenth year in private practice by sponsoring another ten-year anniversary, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s Race for the Cure in Honolulu.  She also helped launch Docs for the Cure© among local physicians to promote awareness and early detection, and has chaired the initiative for three years.  This event is important because over 75% of the money from the event stays in Hawaii to support women in the local community.

Dr. Jenkins’ practice has done well and it is important for her to give back to those less fortunate.  Last year, she joined a colleague in lecturing and working with ophthalmologists in the People’s Republic of China.  By doing this, Dr. Jenkins carries forth the tradition of her grandparents, who were medical missionaries in Nepal.  

Interview with 2005 Honoree Dr. Tyrie Jenkins re Leadership

  Perhaps most impressive, however, is Tyrie’s reputation as a caring, compassionate
  doctor.  She embraces her feminine tendency to nurture,” and often goes out of her
  way to comfort and reassure her patients.  She also takes on the   role of mentor to
  members of her all-female staff.  Tyrie promotes a culture of acceptance and
  encourages her associates and workers to go after their goals. 

  “One of the most important and satisfying aspects of my own small business is the
  overlapping circles of communities it supports – my family, my employees and their
  families, my patients, other businesses,”  Tyrie said.  “What happens is that those   intersecting communities end up supporting me as well.  An act of service drops into the pond of the community, ripples out and is felt miles and years away.  It’s powerful stuff.” 

carol ai may - 2005

“When you drink water, remember the source.”

Carol Ai May recalls her grandfather saying these words.  The meaning is reflected in Carol’s actions and lifestyle, as a business leader, a community volunteer and a dedicated parent.

As an executive of City Mill Co., Inc., Carol has demonstrated her strengths as
a business person.  She leads with compassion, builds winning teams and solves problems with creativity and style.  Throughout the challenges and triumphs of City Mill’s 106-year history, the family motto has been, “persevere, be willing to change, and be humble.”  Carol’s management style epitomizes this philosophy.  When faced with rising competition from “big box” stores in recent years, Carol developed innovative marketing strategies to keep the company fresh and competitive.  As a result of her creativity and drive, City Mill has flourished in the past six years, opening three new stores and rising in the annual ranking of Hawaii’s “Top 250” companies.

Her business accomplishments are even more impressive when added to her philanthropic contributions.  In 2002, Carol teamed up with her husband, Mike May, to chair the Aloha United Way annual fundraising campaign.  The first married couple to co-chair the statewide campaign, Mike and Carol created a family theme and recruited other couples to lead fundraising teams.  This unique strategy got more people involved and enabled the campaign to reach its goal of raising $13.2 million.

As a former single parent, Carol is an inspiration to all who struggle to manage work and family responsibilities.  Carol met the challenge of balancing a successful corporate career with the demands of providing for her two sons.  She has been active in her sons’ academic and extracurricular activities throughout their elementary, high school and even college years.

Always one to put her values into action, Carol goes beyond her duties as a board member for numerous organizations, including Assets School and Child and Family Services.  She gives generously of her time, resources and knowledge and provides an excellent example of leadership in every aspect of her life.

brigadier general coral wong pietsch - 2005

“I hope that other women and importantly, girls, will see that they can aspire to non-traditional leadership roles or leadership roles that have been traditionally occupied by men.  Also, I want girls to see that they can do so without giving up femininity, approachability, and sincerity.”

Brigadier General Coral Wong Pietsch is a role model for women because of her accomplishments as a soldier and her dedication to future opportunities for women in the service.  Her 30-year career began at a time when it was not fashionable for women to serve in the military.  Even today, females make up less than 1% of all individuals at the U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters.  General Pietsch sets a standard for future female soldiers, and works to see that every woman in the military can achieve all that is available to her.

In the 228-year history of the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Coral Pietsch is the very first female to attain the rank of general.  And, she is the highest ranking Asian American woman in the United States Army.

Coral has served in many positions throughout her career including chief judge of the U.S. Army Court of Appeals and commander of the Judicial/Defense Services Unit.  During this last assignment, she commanded the Trial Defense Legal Services Support Organization and the Judge’s Legal Support Organization for the entire U.S. Army Reserve.

The demands of her current positions as general in the Reserves and as senior attorney for the U.S. Army Pacific Command require frequent travel to Washington D.C. and throughout the world.  Yet Coral never misses an opportunity to address local organizations.  She allocates time to speak to community, business and women’s groups of all kinds.  Community outreach is a priority because it enables her to communicate that women, especially minorities, can build rewarding careers in non-traditional fields while serving in the military.

As a military lawyer, leadership could be said to define her professionally, but Coral maintains humility in her various roles and takes great pride in the support of other women, thus impressing upon her the importance of her achievements to women in the military and in the community.  She continues to lead by example and encourages women to lead without losing their femininity, approachability and sincerity.

adelia chung - 2006

“Nothing is more gratifying than seeing the plans you helped put in place make a difference.”

In her roles as mother, advocate and renowned professional in her field, Adelia Chung conducts herself with extraordinary compassion and resilience.  In the face of life’s most daunting challenges, she has managed to turn tragedy and challenge into life lessons and opportunity.

In 1996, Adelia faced a mother’s ultimate fear when her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.  In an attempt to find Alana a bone marrow match, Adelia and her husband Stephen initiated drives that resulted in 30,788 people joining the Hawai’i Bone Marrow Registry.  Today, it is one of the largest in the country and has matched nearly 100 patients with donors.  Following Alana’s death at age three, they established the Alana Dung Research Foundation, to support clinical studies and medical research. 

Adelia’s generous and compassionate spirit is evident in everything she does.  When her son Spencer had trouble understanding Alana’s death, Adelia created a story about waterbugs and dragonflies, which was read to him and his fellow second graders by Punahou Chaplain Lauren Medeiros the day after Alana died.  Adelia emphasized that Alana, like a waterbug, had been transformed into a dragonfly in her new life and that we, too, will join her someday as dragonflies soaring above the earth.  In March 2000, the Dungs adopted three-year-old daughter Erin from China.  They purposefully sought out an older child because they are more difficult to place than infants.

Professionally, Adelia is among the most successful insurance agents in her field.  In 2005, she served as the President of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), an association of over 30,000 financial professionals in 77 countries.  She was the first female, the first Asian American and the first person from Hawai’i to serve as President of the MDRT. 

mary bea porter king - 2006

“What they’re learning from golf will be with them all their lives,” Mary Bea says of the HSJGA members. “I believe the children in Hawaii should have the same opportunity as children on the mainland, and college golf can provide them with even more opportunities.”

Golf is a game of honor and integrity.  Mary Bea Porter King exemplifies these qualities in her accomplishments as an athlete and her contributions to the very game itself.  She is a driving force in Hawaii’s junior golf and has devoted herself to helping young people develop confidence, skill and character through the game of golf.

Most people know Mary Bea as an accomplished golfer; she played on the LPGA for nearly 25 years and today tees off on the Women’s Senior Golf Tour.  Few may know, however, that she actually played four sports in college: golf, basketball, volleyball and softball.  She was honored as an All-American and Outstanding Athlete of the Year at Arizona State University before joining the LPGA in 1973.  Today she sits on the USGA Executive Committee.  She is the second woman, and the first mother, to serve on this committee.

Her athletic accomplishments have been recognized as she was inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame in 2001 and into the Hawai‘i Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.  She served on the USGA Executive Committee from 2001-2006 and now serves on the USGA Junior Am Committee and the USGA Regional Associations Committee.

Mary Bea is also well-known as a humanitarian and a hero.  During an LPGA qualifying round in 1988, she bolted from the fairway and jumped a fence to save a boy from drowning in an adjacent pool.  In honor of her valiant deed, the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association established the Mary Bea Porter Humanitarian Award, which is presented annually in New York.

Mary Bea’s humanitarian efforts extend far beyond that legendary event.  She helped found the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association, and has worked tirelessly to ensure opportunities for Hawaii kids to compete at national and international levels.

ku kahakalau, ph.d. - 2006

“And so we said,’ Well, then we have to change the system. We have to look at a system that is Hawaiian, to teach Hawaiian children in a Hawaiian way.’”

Dr. Ku Kahakalau is an advocate for the future of Hawaii’s children.  Whether working as a teacher, one-on-one with a child, or as a community activist at the state level, Ku is committed to helping young people realize opportunities through lifelong education. 

Early in her career as a public school Hawaiian language teacher, Dr. Kahakalau saw that Native Hawaiian students were not performing well in the traditional school setting.  Ku set out to address the educational and cultural needs of children by providing an environment that incorporated Native Hawaiian values into all aspects of daily activities.

Kanu o ka ‘Aina is that vision realized.  Designed and founded by Dr. Kahakalau, the charter school integrates Native Hawaiian culture and values with 21st century academic principles and modern technology.  Located in Waimea on the Big Island, Kanu o Ka ‘Aina primarily serves children of Hawaiian ancestry.  Half of the students are from low-income families and most arrive at the school performing below their grade level.

Interview with 2006 Honoree Dr. Kū Kahakalau re Leadership

  A pioneer in indigenous education, Ku has developed curriculum that emphasizes
  group work, or “affiliation achievement,”   which is a shift from Western culture that
  focuses on individual achievement.  “For us, it’s trying to look at charter schools as
  a vehicle to prove that we can design and control our own education -- not just to the
  Western world but even to ourselves,” Ku explains.

  In addition to her work at Kanu o ka ‘Aina, Ku has been instrumental in developing
  Na Lei Na‘auao-Native Hawaiian Charter Schools, an alliance of twelve schools serving
  over 1,000 children on four islands.  She also promotes professional development through Halau Wanana, a center dedicated to culturally-driven training for educators in Hawaii. 

faye watanabe kurren - 2006

“I’ve often said that women invented the term, ‘multi-tasking’ long before the term became popular… It’s with these multi-tasking abilities, combined with being natural team players, that we are shaping today’s workplaces and redefining the way companies are run.  I would really like to see women come together and bring this same mindset to the way in which our community operates.”

Faye Watanabe Kurren was selected as president and ceo of Hawaii Dental Service because of her ability to always rise to new career challenges.  Faye’s work ethic, leadership skills and strong moral compass made her the ideal candidate to lead Hawaii Dental Service, where in three years, she has created an exemplary work environment, upgraded the quality of customer experiences, and improved the company’s overall performance.

She started as an associate of a law firm and, through a series of promotions, became the leader of the state’s largest energy company.  After practicing corporate law at BHP Hawai‘i, she was presented with a new role as vice president of supply and international sales.  Faye quickly mastered the operational and marketing aspects of the traditionally male-dominated petroleum industry.  When Tesoro acquired BHP, Faye was the natural choice for president and ceo of the organization.  She has masterfully transferred those leadership skills to the dental insurance industry.

Faye has never forgotten her roots and places a high priority on island culture and values.  Despite having the largest market share of any of Hawaii’s dental benefit providers with more than 500,000 HDS members, Faye’s passion for the people of Hawai‘i motivates her to make dental care more accessible for families in need.  She works collaboratively with dentists, employers, unions and employees to provide excellent care, knowing that everyone’s role is critical to the oral health of Hawaii residents.

Faye encourages her staff members to make professional development and community service priorities.  She sets the example by serving as chair of the University of Hawaii Foundation and recently completed her term as chair of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women.  She is also a lifetime member of both the YWCA of O‘ahu and the Girl Scout Council of Hawaii.

Gwen Pacarro came to a crossroads in her career in 1995 while serving on the Board of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.  An accomplished financial advisor, she had contemplated a career change before witnessing powerful philanthropy at work.  Armed with a “new appreciation for wealth,” Gwen was inspired to re-focus her business and volunteerism.  She has never looked back.

“That was kind of a turning point of understanding that there’s more to just investing your money, there’s also investing in the community as well,” Gwen said of the experience.  In her work as a community leader, Gwen gives more than money and time; she gives of herself.  As Chair of The Women’s Fund of Hawai‘i she has led the once fledgling program to its current status as an independent, well-funded 501(c)3.  Gwen takes time to listen to the often disadvantaged women who are served by The Women’s Fund.  Gwen encourages young women to join this board and others, thereby fostering and mentoring the next generation of talent. She knows that at the heart of strong communities are caring, capable female leaders. 

Professionally, Gwen is at the pinnacle of the male-dominated financial services industry.  Gwen is the first woman to serve as Manager of Morgan Stanley in Hawai‘i.  Gwen was named by Barron's as one of the top 100 Women Financial Advisors in the country and by Hawaii Business Magazine, as the top female advisor in the state.  Even while dealing with clients who are among the wealthiest in the state, Gwen remains grounded, humble and warm to everyone she meets.  Her achievements are impressive, but her compassion and grace are extraordinary.

Read the story in The Honolulu Advertiser about Gwen

dr. donnis thompson - 2008

When Donnis Thompson came to work for University of Hawaii as the first Women’s Director of Athletics in 1972, she took on a $5,000 program with virtually no presence in the sports community.  Over thirty years, she transformed the UH Wahines into a $4 million powerhouse including 200 women in 12 sports.  Her commitment to women in sports led her to co-author with Patsy Mink Title IX, the landmark legislation that changed how the country approached female athletics.

“It was a constant fight because everything was new, everything I suggested was new,” Donnis said of her career at UH.  Prior to hiring Dave Shoji in 1975, the school had never charged admission for women’s volleyball games.  Shortly thereafter, the Wahines drew a sell-out crowd for a match against UCLA and the team gained national recognition.  Today, the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Team is synonymous with “girl power.”  The program earns as much as $500,000 a year and has produced numerous Olympic athletes and four national titles.

Still, there were times when the struggle for equality in sports was overwhelming.  Donnis recalled retreating to her research at one point, frustrated by the unrelenting uphill battle.  She was jolted back into action by a female student who came to her office one day in tears.  The girl had been dismissed from swim class for wearing a swimsuit that showed her navel.  This incident symbolizes the discrimination women athletes still fight today.  Dr. Thompson is a leader in this battle.  Challenging assumptions and breaking new ground, she has worked to see women treated equally – both in and out of the pool.

Read the story in The Honolulu Advertiser about Donnis

Jenai Sullivan Wall is the kind of boss who knows her employees by name.  As Chairman and CEO of Foodland Super Markets, Ltd., she takes the time to send hand-written birthday cards to workers and stops to chat with employees about their children’s activities.  Her humble attitude, sharp business sense and reverence for customer service have solidified Foodland as a fierce competitor in the dynamic supermarket industry.

In fact, when Jenai assumed the CEO job nearly ten years ago, the company struggled with low morale and deteriorating image.  Jenai reinvigorated the organization and built a corporate culture that is notably collaborative and intensely loyal.  Today, Foodland reports annual sales of more than $500 million and has branched out into new retail genres with Beard Papa and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.  The newly named Sullivan Family of Companies has infused the Hawai‘i economy with 25 new stores in the past 2 years.

“My dad instilled in us a belief that we need to take care of our customers and we need to give back to the community that supported us,” Jenai said.  In recent years, Foodland has earned a reputation for civic engagement with its Give Aloha and Shop for Higher Education programs.  More than catchy marketing ploys, these programs impact community giving substantially: to date, Give Aloha has donated over $9 million to local non-profits.  Ultimately, Jenai has cultivated within the organization a mentality of generosity and responsibility, as employees at all levels take pride in their role toward creating a better future in Hawai‘i.

Read the story in The Honolulu Advertiser about Jenai

Forty years ago, Erlinda M. Cachola came to Hawaii from the Philippines with a savings of just $500.  She took babysitting and odd jobs to make ends meet while awaiting acceptance into a residency program.  She is now a medical doctor and entrepreneur and has been running her own medical clinic for the last 30 years.

Erlinda was the first female president of the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii.  She started the Kalihi Community Health Fair 25 years ago, which today still provides free medical testing and education to the community.  An active volunteer, she teaches public speaking at a community middle school and hosts volunteer opportunities for students interested in medical careers.

See what others are saying to celebrate Erlinda

Suzanne D. Case has been the Executive Director of The Hawaii Nature Conservancy of Hawaii since 2001.   Under her leadership, the Conservancy has doubled contributions, acquired Palmyra Atoll, and forged the largest conservation transaction in Hawaii history - a $22 million, 116,000-acre addition to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

 No task is too small for Suzanne:  she pulls weeds, stuffs envelopes, dons a scuba tank to clean alien algae from Waikiki Beach and houses and feeds forest fire-fighters.  She was also the inspiration behind Maoli No, a free educational DVD celebrating the connections of Hawaiian music, culture, and its native environment.  From mauka to makai, Suzanne has made preserving the bounty of Hawaii's natural resources her lifelong ambition.

Born in Hilo, Suzanne completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford University, and attained her law degree from University of California, San Francisco.

See what others are saying to celebrate Suzanne

Watch Suzanne's KGMB interview

As an attorney and trade organization leader, Anna Elento-Sneed is dedicated to creating and maintaining valuable jobs for people who live in Hawaii.  She works tirelessly to promote a workplace culture where fairness, responsibility and respect are the norms. 

As an attorney for Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing, she created a labor/employment/ government group dedicated to improving the quality of the workplace.  Prior to joining the firm, she was called upon to train lawyers and staff members on promoting workplaces free of discrimination and harassment.
Anna raised two smart and accomplished daughters and commits much of her spare time to mentoring promising young attorneys and business people. 

She received her Juris Doctorate from University of California, Berkeley.

See what others are saying to celebrate Anna

Watch Anna's KGMB interview

Marsha H. Graham, MSN is a Registered Nurse working at Tripler Army  Medical Center (TAMC). She has held various management positions at TAMC since 1988 and is currently is Chief of Medical Management.  She has more than 35 years of nursing experience with extensive experience in the fields of neurological disorders, surgery and trauma. 

Marsha is a vital link in the U.S. Army's Wounded Warriors program.  In her role as the Pacific regional coordinator for Wounded Warriors, she works with the best care venues across the country to ensure that each soldier's well-being and medical rehabilitation needs are met.  Two of her many honors include Nurse of the Year from Walter Reed Army Medical
Center and Commanders Award for Civilian Service from Tripler Army Medical Center.

Marsha is an active participant in our community. She has served as Team Mom and assistant referee for her four children's soccer teams, Chaperone for field trips, and a certified Karate Coach. She also serves on a local task force that researches and develops legislative solutions for long term care problems in Hawaii and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Hawaii.

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Watch Marsha's KGMB interview

Janice Kalanihuia started at Molokai General Hospital in 1979 as an Licensed Practical Nurse but quickly moved on to become Director of the award winning Women's Health Center. During her tenure there, Janice created a bond with the community like no other.

In 2002 Janice was promoted to Molokai General Hospital President. Since then she has brought about many advances in the health care delivery process, including state-of-the-art equipment, well trained providers, a new medical wing and the complete renovation of the remaining facility. In her tenure as President, Janice has not only enhanced the image of the hospital within the Molokai community but has worked effortlessly to connect all points of healthcare on the island with the newly organized Molokai Health System. In her spare time, Janice serves the Molokai community as Chair of the Governor's Molokai Neighbor Island Council of Advisors as well as President of Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club.

See what others are saying to celebrate Janice

Watch Janice's KGMB interview

Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie is an Assistant Professor and Director of Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law at the William Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i.  She is committed to providing opportunities for dialogue on Native Hawaiian issues and to ensuring that Native Hawaiians understand how the law can facilitate their own aspirations and those of their community. 

Melody has worked on Native Hawaiian legal issues for over thirty years. In her role at the Law School, she develops and teaches courses on Native Hawaiian law, writes and lectures extensively and is the chief editor of the Native Hawaiian Rights Handbook.  Recently, her efforts lead to the approval of a new certificate program in Native Hawaiian Law at the Law School.  She also counsels and mentors law students as part of her commitment to developing future leaders. 

After receiving her undergraduate degree from Beloit College and her Juris Doctor from UH, she served as a law clerk to Chief Justice William S. Richardson of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.  Melody is an active member of the YWCA; she has taken classes, and is a kumu graduate and current student of Hulau Muhala ‘Ilima, whose classes are taught at the YWCA’s Kokakahi facility.

See what others are saying to celebrate Melody

Watch Melody's KGMB interview

Diane J. Plotts has been a member of the Board of Trustees for Kamehameha Schools for the past eight years.  As a savvy businesswoman, community volunteer and philanthropist, she has the ability to balance business and  economic impacts, community and stakeholder concerns and political repercussions to find the most optimal solutions.

Diane makes critical and strategic decisions on behalf of Kamehameha Schools, but her dedication and compassion go  far  beyond  the Boardroom and her position as a Trustee.  She makes it a priority to spend time supporting our students whether to attend Christmas concerts, May Day programs, Founder's Day events the 5th grade play or to stand in as a surrogate parent when necessary for the Back to School Day.

See what others are saying to celebrate Diane

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Virginia Pressler, M.D. is Executive Vice President Strategic Business Development for Hawaii Pacific Health. (Parent organization for Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Kapiolani Medical Specialists, Straub Clinic & Hospital, Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Kauai Medical Clinic and Wilcox Hospital). 

Prior to Hawaii Pacific Health, Dr. Pressler was a deputy director of the State Department of Health where she initiated the Tobacco Trust Fund, Healthy Hawaii Initiative, Hawaii Outcomes Institute, and Hawaii Uninsured Project. 

Both her experience in private practice in general surgery and extensive administrative responsibilities drive Ginny to always look for the best and most efficient ways to provide healthcare to all of the people of Hawaii .  Colleagues and community leaders look to Ginny for expertise in healthcare advocacy within the necessary boundaries of business and legislative powers.

With the Hawaii Business Roundtable, Ginny has led efforts to improve access to quality health care, including better reimbursements for physicians and hospitals in jeopardy and advocating for long-term care.  She is active locally and nationally on these efforts and always enabling others to understand the complexities of healthcare issues.

See what others are saying to celebrate Ginny

Indru Watumull is one of the most active community volunteers in Hawaii.  She generously gives her own personal support and raises funds for causes ranging from cancer to the arts.  As a cancer survivor, she is passionate about helping others through the American Cancer Society of Hawaii.  She provided pivotal support to its capital campaign for the purchase of the new headquarters and led fundraisers for "Race for the Cure" and "Boots on the Beach" events.

Indru has been a long time volunteer and board member at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and helped in establishing the Jhamandas Watumull Gallery for Indian Art there.  Over the years she has served on many boards in the community and right now serves on the boards of the Diamond Head Theatre, Hawaii International Film Festival and the American Cancer Society and a long standing member of the Junior League of Honolulu.  A long-time YWCA member, Indru recently helped to secure funds for the renovation of the lobby alcove at the YWCA headquarters, Laniakea.

Very early remembrances of her arrival in Hawaii as a young bride from India in 1953 was taking her first swimming lessons at the YWCA pool and teaching Indian cooking classes at Laniakea.  Her favorite thing to do now is family gatherings with children and grandchildren.

See what others are saying to celebrate Indru

Watch Indru's KGMB interview

Honorees 1977 - 1979
Honorees 1980 - 1989
Honorees 1990 - 1999
Honorees - Organizations

Young LeaderLuncheon
Honorees