October 2009

On Thursday, August 13, 2009, Leadership Kaua`i launched its sixth annual adult leadership class of 2010 that includes 20 diverse participants representing all corners of our island with respect to backgrounds, professions, and cultures. The participants were surprised with guest speaker Lt. Governor Duke Aiona who shared some of his leadership experiences, inspiring them as they embark on their journey with Leadership Kaua`i.

Leadership Kaua`i is also pleased to announce the launch of its fourth Pi`ina Hoku Youth Leadership Program year, kicking it off with an opening weekend retreat from August 21-23, 2009 at Camp Sloggett in Koke`e. The cross-section of 20 youth participants join together from public (Kaua`i High school, Kapa`a High school, Waimea High school), private (Island school) and even home school backgrounds.

During the retreat, youth participants engaged in a stewardship project to help eradicate invasive kahili ginger growing in Koke`e. As a group, they have elected to collaborate on “KEEP” standing for Kaua`i Energy Education Project as their yearlong community service project. The project will have three components including an energy school survey, an energy resource Website (www.keeproject.org) and personal energy analysis conducted by each Pi`ina Hoku student. The findings of their personal energy analysis will be reported for general awareness and education on their Website.

The youth bonded throughout the weekend while learning leadership practices, self awareness, cultural awareness and team building with Leadership Kaua`i’s staff as well as having the opportunity to hear from guest speakers including Katie Cassel, Marsha Erickson, and Tim Bynum on topics such as conservation on Kaua`i, Queen Emma’s travels to Koke`e and leadership through adversity, and Kaua`i’s challenges.

As the year progresses, Leadership Kaua`i’s goals include fostering and nurturing these young adult leaders into the future with a raised awareness of the environment, sense of place, community service, career path, employment opportunities and resource networks with professionals on our island. We have found that the majority of our youth participants’ intention is to return to Kaua`i and call it their home as returning professionals entering the workforce upon their return from off island education.

The time is now to step up and lead in a direction that we build bridges to each other, collaboratively committing to positive socio-economic change and investing in a future that considers our lifestyle, values and service to the world. Our message is to spread the opportunity for individual and collective growth for a future that will benefit all.

Four new board of directors join a dedicated group of individuals who donate their time to see the mission of Leadership Kaua`i succeed. They are:

 

Click here to view a full listing of Leadership Kaua`i’s board of directors and leaders.

Special mahalo to board director, Janet Mayfield for her service on the board. Our prayers and blessings go out to Christy Mayfield and the Mayfield `ohana.

Twenty-one students of the Leadership Kaua`i Adult Class of 2009 proudly took the stage after ten months of dedication and training, to be recognized for their successful participation and completion in this year’s leadership program. The graduation ceremony was held at the Kaua`i Marriott Resort & Beach Club on Friday, June 19, 2009 with a little more than a hundred family members, co-workers and community supporters present to witness their accomplishments. Keynote speaker, Former Governor George Ariyoshi addressed the group and shared his philosophies on leadership during tough economic times.

A first for Leadership Kaua`i graduates, was a special certificate of recognition made to each student on behalf of Senator Gary Hooser, and the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawai`i, who acknowledged them for their willingness to serve their community and home island. Students presented the outcomes of their community projects that included Da Zone – Teen Events, Got Drug Awareness?, Special Needs Shelter and Waipa Ahupua`a: Educational Project.

We wish to recognize and express special thanks to the following individuals, businesses and organizations. It is with your continued support that makes Leadership Kaua`i possible and able to achieve its mission.

This year the Kaua`i Filipino Chamber of Commerce graciously provided a $2,500 tuition scholarship to adult leadership program participant Galen Alvarez.

Over the past five years, the Filipino Chamber of Commerce has sponsored a total of eight students to attend Leadership Kaua`i’s annual adult leadership program. Leadership Kaua`i is pleased at the continued partnership established with the Filipino Chamber of Commerce to foster leadership for the future of our island. A recent donor plaque was presented to Filipino Chamber Executive Director, Oscar Portugal and President, Ernie Pasion at their recent annual chamber meeting.

The goal of expanding viable career opportunities for Kaua`i’s youth, in addition to showcasing eight in-school projects who are currently mobilized towards this direction, was the original idea behind the Ka Ulu Pono Career Awareness Conference. On Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Kaua`i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, Leadership Kaua’i hosted this event with a total of two-hundred thirty-nine (239) students from various schools on the island. Through exhibits and on-stage presentations, students from each of our eight in-school projects were able to share the work they accomplished over the past school year. Support from more than twenty organizations who represented industries of food & agriculture, health & wellness, high technology, renewable energy, arts & culture and sports & recreation were on-hand at exhibit tables to network with the students and share information regarding their industry.

In-school projects directly involved with the Ka Ulu Pono Career Awareness program for the 2008-2009 school year were Island School Scuba, Kapa`a High School Health Services Pathway, Kapa`a High School Workforce Readiness – Aquaculture, Kaua`i High School EAST, Kaua`i High School Biodiesel Car, Kaua`i Island First Robotics, Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School and Waimea High School ROV.

The Leadership Kaua`i Alumni Network (LKAN) continues to meet on the first Tuesday of every month at the conference room of the Kaua`i Chamber of Commerce – 4pm. Representatives from each class attend this meeting to receive updates on Leadership Kaua`i programs, events and needs. After each meeting, the class representatives share these updates with their fellow classmates. As a way to stay connected, LKAN quarterly gatherings were hosted by the Class of 2006 in July at Kalapaki Joe’s and the Class of 2007 in October at Puakea Golf Clubhouse. The next LKAN quarterly gathering will be hosted by the Class of 2008 in January 2010. All LKAN quarterly gatherings are open to Leadership Kaua`i Alumni, Board Members and extended `ohana.

This school year, Leadership Kaua`i is partnering with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kaua`i to deliver an afterschool mentoring program. Kapa`a middle school students have the opportunity to be a part of the Hawai`i Uplink “Holomua” program and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kaua`i simultaneously. The program entails Kapa`a high school students serving in mentoring relations as “Bigs” with middle school aged youth or “Littles.” On two Wednesdays of each month, Leadership Kaua`i conducts the mentoring program on behalf of Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Leadership Kaua`i’s curriculum offers life skills building and career exploration within their bi-monthly program.

Pictured here, Kapa`a high school Freshman, Kellee (Big) and Maile (Little), present their fort built on their selected value “Respect.”

The Princeville at Hanalei’s Prince Golf Course played host to the Leadership Kaua`i benefit golf tournament on Saturday, August 15, 2009 for the second consecutive year. On a beautiful Saturday morning, golfers made their way to the North Shore for a day filled with fun, in addition to some wind-related challenges, indicative to the character of the Prince Course. A two man scramble proved victorious for the dynamic duo of Shaun Keep and John Giles who walked away with the grand prize package of two-night stays at Waimea Plantation Cottages and Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club, Captain Andy’s Napali Sail & Snorkel and Kaua`i Backcountry Adventures Zipline Tours. Not only did they place first in the golf tournament, but Shaun Keep also won the Grand Prize Happy Ticket giveaway of a two-night stay at the YWCA Camp Sloggett Lodge and gift certificates to Ishihara Market. Golfers Gordon Muramaru, Mitch Keep, Tom Cooper and Corey Nakamura each won prizes for being closest to the pin on select holes.

An outpouring of support came from the local businesses and private donors including All Kaua`i Cleaning, Captain Andy’s, Casa Di Amici, Costco, Gaylord’s at Kilohana, Grove Farm, Holoholo Charters, Hukilau Lanai, Ishihara Market, Kaha Lani, Kaua`i Kookie Co., Kaua`i Backcountry Adventures, Kaua`i Marriott & Beach Club, KCFCU, Na Pali Explorer, No Ka Oi Landscape Services, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Princeville at Hanalei, Princeville Health Club & Spa, Senter Petroleum, Smith’s Motor Boat Service, Inc., Spa Makaiwa, Waimea Plantation Cottages and YWCA.

Sponsoring holes for the tournament were Grand Hyatt Kaua`i, Soul Construction, Big Save, Derek Kawakami, Daryl Kaneshiro, KIUC, Niu Pia Land Co., Eric Knudsen Trust, Ink Spot, First Hawaiian Bank, Kaua`i Foreign Cars, Kaua`i Team Challenge, King Auto Center, Kukui`ula Development, PS&D, Randall Francisco and Restaurant Kintaro.

The Waipa Ahupua`a: Educational Project team from the Adult Class of 2009 just completed another stage of their community project! The restoration day was covered in the Princeville newsletter.

Over the past year, the Garden Island Newspaper has provided a leadership column series for our alumni, board, and staff to provide their insights and share their leadership experiences. Here is a list of the articles printed to date for your reading and reference.

A Tribute to our Heroes Affecting Positive Change Bridging Generations Cultural Leadership Finding Success Through Your Best Critics Leaders Choose the Right Tool Leadership and Kuleana

Leadership in Balance Model the Way The Need to Fit In The Unintentional Leader We Are All Leaders The Truth About Leadership