January 2007

Families welcome, $10 per person, $5 for students and educators

Tickets are available at Deja Vu Surfwear, Borders Books & Music, Scottys Music, Larrys Music, M. Miura Store, Hanalei Video & Music, The Kauai Chamber of Commerce or call Leadership Kauai (808) 246-8727.

Leadership Kauai – Adult Class of 2007

Front row:  Naomi Nishida, Fran Becker, Lisa Ubay, Sheryl Grady, Janine Rapozo, Jacy Youn, Renae Hamilton, Leah Ragsac, Ketih Yap, Keone Kealoha.  Back row: Thor Seraphin, Claurino Bueno, David Bukoski, Jerry Refamonte, Kelly Knudsen, Kim Hester, Anna Peters, Rebekah Reid, Bill Cathers (moderator).

New Youth Program Director, Mason Chock
The beginning of the youth program also coincides with the hiring of Program Director, Mason Chock.  According to Executive Director, Tim Bynum, “Mason brings the right combination of skills and experience to make Pi`ina Hoku a success from the start.”  Chock is a Kamehameha and UH Manoa graduate and a former firefighter.  The owner of Kauai Team Challenge, Inc., an outdoor experiential education company specializing in team building and self development, Chock has worked in partnership with The Waipa Foundation for over three years to administer a Mentoring Children of Prisoners program.

Graduates are: (1st row) Caven Raco, Char Ravelo, Rayne Regush, Matthew Taba, Soncy Tamashiro, Carol Texeira, William Trugillo, Michelle Lizama, Lynne Nagaoka.  (2nd row) Erik Burkman, Janice Ikeda, Larry Dill, Nacole Kaai, Jeff Deren, Ken Pierce, Michael Hubbard, Allison Fraley, Corey Nakamura, Michelle McGregor, John Cox, Ryan Elston.  (Standing with group on left): Board President – Michael Murakoshi.  (On Right): Executive Director, Tim Bynum, Mr. and Mrs. Ariyoshi.

Former Army Chief of Staff, General Eric Shinseki was a guest speaker at Leadership Kaua`i’s adult class on November 3^rd. The adult participants were treated to more that two hours of General Shinseki’s time as he shared stories illustrating leadership challenges he had faced and the lessons he has learned during his long career.

Born on Kaua`i General Shinseki sserved as the 34th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1999 – 2003). He is the first Asian American four-star general in U.S. history, and the first to lead one of the four military services.

Regularly in the news over the last few years he is famous for his remarks in testimony to the Senate Armed Services committee before the war in Iraq in which he said “something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers” would probably be required for post-war Iraq. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld publicly disagreed with his estimate. Since our meeting this article appeared. Shinseki article

In December our Leadership Kaua`i program meeting in Waimea the class spent the morning with Peter Apo. Peter is a Director of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association in Oahu and a former State legislator. Appearing for the third year at one of ourtraining days Peter speaks about the benefits of incorporating traditional Hawaiian values into our daily lives and collaborative activities with others. He serves as a consultant to the tourism and development industries sharing the concept of “values driven economic development” seeking business models that are “Pono” by achieving a balance between community, place and economic activity.

Other Leadership Kauai Program speakers in December were Chris Faye sharing a tour through plantation history and Aletha Kaohi from the West Kaua`i Technology and Visitor’s Center.

Peter Apo, Director of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association