With Angela Perez Baraquio Grey the cycle began with her parents. Currently, Angela holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, with emphasis in Speech. She is a full-time student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, earning a Master's degree in Educational Administration. She is the President/Founder of the Angela Perez Baraquio Education Foundation, spokesperson for First Hawaiian Bank, and a loving wife. As Miss America 2001, she continues to maintain a schedule of appearances and speaking engagements for various charities and events. The evening before our photo-shoot for this project, Angela had been MC at the "Heart Ball" to raise funds for the American Heart Association, which kept her up until well past midnight. While talking with her on the phone, and all through our photo-shoot, she reminded me of the Energizer Bunny! When asked if she ever sleeps, she replied in all seriousness, "I've learned to sleep standing up". It's not that sleep really isn't important to her, it just that her goals and obligations take priority. Angie, as her family and friends call her, is the eighth of ten children, so it goes without saying that her parents are hard working. It requires a whole lot of sacrifice and patience to raise ten kids! Growing up, Angela's parents, Claudio and Rigolette Baraquio provided training for her and her siblings in the performing arts. They all sing and play instruments. The girls also studied ballet. Angela's musical training began at age five. But her objective wasn't just to learn to sing, dance, or play instruments in themselves, it was to bring joy to others through her performances. Bringing joy, love, light, and laughter to others seems to be her motto in life for she is always smiling, buoyant, upbeat, and never complaining. Of the thousands of wonderful experiences she had as the reigning Miss America, Angela related a couple of stand-outs. Once, while in Washington, D.C., she participated in an event for the Children's Miracle Network where 50 children were in attendance, one from each state. Each was a survivor of a severe disease or physical trauma. One four-year-old had survived 24 open-heart surgeries! A boy had survived having 90% of his scalp torn off by a vicious dog attack and had large patches of skin grafts on his head. Then there was a young boy who had beat leukemia. He told his dad that he didn't feel worthy enough to be there, since many of the other children were in wheelchairs, on crutches, or otherwise bore visible signs of their ordeal. The boy's father asked Angela to speak with his son. The boy was keeping to himself and feeling out of place when Angela spent some time with him in private. Her reassurance of his worth really boosted his self-confidence, and thereafter, he was able to enjoy the event. On another occasion while visiting a children's hospital in Florida, there was a young girl who was ill, and quite contagious. She had a mask covering her face. Angela asked the girl if she'd like to have a picture of herself taken, wearing Angela's crown. The girl declined saying, "I'm not pretty enough." Angela, (who wouldn't ordinarily wear her Miss America crown, but had it on hand in case of requests), brought out her crown and asked if she could put it on the little girl's head. The girl gave in, the picture was made, and Angela wrote on the Polaroid photo, "You are so beautiful!" The little girl looked at the picture, hugged Angela, and exclaimed, "I am beautiful! I'll never forget this day for the rest of my life." What is it about these experiences that make them so special to Angela? When she sees children like these, with dire needs, she is able to directly influence a positive change in their outlook, and gets a feeling of fulfillment. You see, Angela's parents taught and inspired her by their example to always give back to the community, and to serve the Lord in every way. For Angela, it has become her vocation. Her non-profit organization promotes character development, while rewarding educators with grants, and students with scholarships. Angela's desire to be a "part of a cycle that will continue and create positive change in this world" is, at least in part, attained.

 

 

Brother Noland needs no introduction to most people here in Hawaii. He is a 'native son', born and raised in these islands. Brother Noland's Hawaiian roots run deep, and his 'hanai' family extends statewide. After his parents split up when Noland was in the second grade, he was largely raised by "the Village", taken in as hanai son of many. This is where he learned the deeper and wider meaning of Aloha, and hanai family. Growing up in the village, Noland was tutored in sportsmanship, survival, cultivation, conservation and social conduct. The lessons of Aloha: Permission, Respect, Humility, gratitude, responsibility, unconditional love, and Family took root in Brother Noland and have flourished ever since. His musical career took off after high school and Brother Noland embarked on a life of touring to points far away from Hawaii. Returning to Hawaii in 1993, he determined to cut back on performing and to embark on a new career; that of sharing and teaching, and giving back to the community and youth. When visiting friends at Palama Settlement in 1993, he was invited to head up a new Performing Arts program. He accepted, and has been teaching music, ukulele, guitar, and basketball there since. In 1998 Brother Noland organized a Goodwill Basketball tournament where teams would compete in the spirit of friendship, and kids would learn to honor the game and appreciate all the life lessons the sport could offer. In 2003, the 6th annual, Palama Settlement, Brother Noland Goodwill Basketball Tournament hosted nearly 700 participants, including teams from the Big Island. In 2004, they look forward to an expanded 7th annual tournament that will service other islands as well as mainland children. The most important lesson to be taught and learned, Brother Noland feels is, 'Ano'. "Ano is how you treat people", Brother Noland explains, "It's how you carry yourself, your behavior and character". Brother Noland has been entrusted with the culture and wisdom of his Hawaiian Ohana and feels the responsibility to carry on the teaching. To that end, in 2000 he founded, Brother Noland Goodwill Charities, through which he conducts the "Hawaiian Inside" program, and the "Lessons of Aloha" presentation. Here on Oahu, as well as the Big Island and Molokai, Brother Noland heads up a distinguished group of community leaders to reach out to Hawaii's youth. They conduct "nature classes" where they share and teach indigenous knowledge, survival skills and how to work with the rhythm and timing of nature. Mostly, they teach about Aloha and Ano. That is what perpetuates the sharing and teaching. Brother Noland takes pride in people he has known through the programs he works with, especially those who develop into roll models and good citizens. Rightly so, as he has played a part in their development. Brother Noland says, "Working with the multitudes one realizes that we are all underprivileged in some way, and can always learn to be better people." We should all learn from the Ano of Brother Noland. We are all part of the Ohana and Hanai Concept. We are "The Village"

 

 

Carl Ackerman is the kind of schoolteacher every parent wants for his or her child. For every profession there are personality qualities or 'types', which are best suited. Carl loves what he gets to do every day so much, he would never consider it a 'job'. His enthusiasm for teaching is immediately evident as he talks about the joy and fulfillment he derives from going to school and teaching his classes. "If I'm feeling not well in the morning", Ackerman says, "once I get to class and get going, I get well again!" Born in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised in Malibu, California, Carl credits his parents with instilling in him his sense of community responsibility. His mother spearheaded the institution of the first NAACP in the state of Arizona, and his dad started up the first Fund for Slain Police Officers. "They were always working with charities", Carl explains. And they taught him that everyone has responsibility to give back to the community, and to help others. When Carl was working toward his Doctorate at UC Berkeley, he happened on an old friend he hadn't been in touch with for some time. His friend was down on his luck, in fact he was homeless, and panhandling for food money. Carl talked briefly with his friend, and gave him some money, but he needed to get to a class, so he left him there. After class, Carl went to find his friend, but he was gone. Carl says that experience has stayed with him ever since, and the lesson is: to give personal attention. He knows that giving that personal attention to help another person is more beneficial and lasting than merely giving a couple dollars and sending them on their way. He wishes he had missed class and spent the time personally helping his friend. Carl loves to learn. He loves baseball. He loves to teach even more. He loves his family, playing with his daughters, (one whom he and his wife adopted about a year ago), and walking his dog. So, other than teaching classes in history at Punahou, and watching the San Francisco Giants on TV, (which he absolutely loves), the most important thing he likes to teach is how to 'be'. One of the ways he gets to do that is through his class, "Contemporary Hawaiian Issues". On Saturdays he takes his class to the IHS shelter to help out. They help prepare meals and spend time talking with and giving personal attention to the shelter residents. Carl likes the IHS because they provide basic services directly to people who need them, along with personal attention. Capitalizing on his opportunities to help out, Carl initiated the Community Service Fairs in 1996 with the objective of getting schools, service agencies and the community at large working together for mutual benefit. Carl was also instrumental in helping Gailene Wong of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation create "Educating the Heart". The concept of this special program is to link service learning with community service and philanthropy. It gives students an opportunity to experience the workings of non-profit agencies, and be exposed directly to some of the situations and issues addressed by the non-profits. And, teachers can share their learning experiences with their students while participating in a community service program. When a teacher and class put in a total of 100 hours working at an approved, non-profit service organization, the non-profit organization receives a money grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Carl's example is a lesson in 'how to be'

 

 

Cheryl Ka'uhane Lupenui is an "accidental philanthropist". She didn't ask to be leader of the YWCA of Oahu. She was asked to come to the YWCA to get something started. What "got" her was the part of the pitch that said, '(she) would not only be able to apply her creative entreupaneurial skills, but be able to share her knowledge and experience with other young women.' That 'sold' her, and the experiences of the past seven years have made a "True Believer" out of her. While Cheryl's dad grew up in Kailua, her parents met back east and she grew up on the mainland in Maryland. After high school, she attended the University of Hawaii, Manoa for her Bachelor of Business Administration. During that time she spent a year at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, but she has made Oahu home for the past 20 years. Since she arrived here, with time away at Tulane University in Louisiana to complete her Master of Business Administration, Cheryl has put her knowledge and skills to work in a variety of positions for different companies. She confessed that she usually felt the need to move on after a couple years at any one job, but her YWCA experience is different. As proprietor of "Broke the Mouth" restaurant, Cheryl actively supported indigenous farmers and local products. As a way of expanding her experience, Cheryl was open to being recruited to the YWCA of Oahu as Director of Restaurant and Catering in 1997 by the former Executive Director. One of the many programs the YWCA has offered due to her vision is culinary training for "youth at risk". This program provides training and employment in the restaurant business for young enterprising youth. Along the way, Cheryl took on the management of more and more of the enrichment and service programs of the YWCA as its Chief Operating Officer. Then in 2001 she became President and CEO. As such, she has seen first-hand many of the accomplishments and success stories of those programs. For example: One young woman who had a four year old son came to live at the YWCA Fernhurst Residence, a transitional housing program for women and their children, through Hawaii's Drug Court program. In part, because of the caring, helpful staff at Fernhurst, and the positive influence of the residents, she has managed her substance abuse, found permanent housing, obtained gainful employment, while attending graduate school. Another example is that of a woman who was recently recognized by the YWCA as an outstanding leader in the community. A political refugee from Hungary, she stayed at Fernhurst for over a year where she was able to establish herself in her adopted Hawaii home. She now operates one of the last locally owned radio stations in Hawaii known for its multi-cultural format with programs in 10 languages including Tagalog, Samoan, Vietnamese and Polish. Being in daily contact with women whose lives have been made better because of the YWCA gives Cheryl a sense of fulfillment. And it keeps her inspired to continue building great programs that meet the mission of the YWCA. The YWCA is about leadership for women and girls by women and girls. Cheryl believes in the principal that leadership is not limited by race, gender or economic status. The theme for the annual "Leader Luncheon", their main fundraiser is: "Moving Forward, Giving Back", which speaks to the challenge of taking professional leadership skills and bringing then into the community for social change. The YWCA is open to all women, (and men!), all ages and all ethnicities. Eliminating racism is a national imperative, but the main thing offered at the YWCA is a place women can go, where they can be safe, where they can get help if they need it, understanding and friendship. And Cheryl plans to be a part of it for a long time to come. Moving Forward, Giving Back.

 

 

'Coach Price'. Larry Price has earned other monikers as well: "Man of the Year", "Rainbow of the Decade", "Professor", but "Coach" pretty much covers it. It's about Attitude. Once known as "Lau Lau Larry", 'Coach' seems to have always been involved in sports. It's a topic that flows naturally into his conversation. There's always a metaphor, no matter what the topic. Born in Kalihi, and raised in Kaaawa, the school district he matriculated through was not the richest, to put it mildly. Teams he played on were beneficiaries of anonymous people who donated money for uniforms, or who pulled together to build and supply a canoe for the team. He thought that was really nice: for people who he didn't know to contribute that way. So when Kaaawa School decided to sell lau lau as a fundraiser, Larry was there to help. He knew how to build the Imu in which to cook the lau lau. Once the lau lau were made, though, it was discovered that there was no one to sell them! Once again, Larry was there. (You can see where this is going…) No matter that he had no sales experience, he knew what it was for, and, they were good lau lau! So, off he went, door to door, "Knock knock, 'Hi! I'm Larry and I'm selling fresh lau lau to raise money for Kaaawa School. Would you like to help out?" His infectious smile, bubbling friendliness, (and the delicious smelling lau lau), netted one thousand lau lau sold in just a few days! The fundraiser was so successful, it was repeated regularly. And that's how he became known as, "Lau Lau Larry". 'Student' Larry won scholarships to University, played professional football, and then became head football coach for UH. For years a leading radio and television personality, 'Coach' is approached often to lend his name and presence to charitable causes. If it has to do with helping kids to get a better education, he does his best to fit it in. In addition to his family and broadcasting responsibilities, Coach is involved in helping Pop Warner Leagues and the OIA Foundation. He started a scholarship program at Chaminade University, and a Hall of Fame for Hawaii sports legends. Replying to the question, "How do you find the time?" Coach said simply, "It's part of my job, my routine." Then he related a lesson his dad, who was a chaplain for the Fraternal Order of Eagles, taught him: he said, "God gave you two eyes and two ears, but one mouth. That's so you will see and hear twice as much as you talk. He also gave you two hands. One to take, and one to give." Meaning, 'those who can, are responsible to give back.'" When Waipahu Little League went to Williams Port, Main for the World Series, Coach got together with Zippy's. They flew a big package of local style foods to them so they would feel more at home. Attitude is everything, eh, Coach!

 

 

Donna Fouts is one of those rare individuals who knew what she wanted to do with her life even before high school, and has the same goals today more than twenty years after college. Sure, all kids growing up want to be a fireman or a nurse at some point, and some go on into those careers. Even those who do become firemen and nurses often take circuitous routes to get to those careers. Not Donna. Donna has always been athletic, and has always known she wanted to help other people. Born in New York, Donna moved to Hawaii with her family in 1959, the year Hawaii became a state. Growing up and attending school on the windward side of Oahu, Donna recalls that she was always involved in student government and volunteering. When she went off to the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, she continued volunteering, helping out both at a girl's reformatory, and at a nursing home there. When she returned to Hawaii, she came back with a Bachelor's degree in Recreation. Donna worked with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and YWCS's for a few years, and the last twenty years, Donna has been fulfilling her destiny as Executive Director and Special Events Director for The United Cerebral Palsy Association here in Hawaii. The United Cerebral Palsy Association provides assistance with the ongoing needs of people with disabilities of various kinds, not just those affected by cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy is not a disease or genetic defect, but results from some kinds of brain trauma. Most common with cerebral palsy are difficulty with muscle movement and speech. And while these physical problems may be severe, mental acuity is usually not affected. Over the 20 years Donna has been with the organization, she has seen much progress made in assessments and therapies applied to people with disabilities. She tells the story of a Hawaiian man she had the experience of helping: Some years ago, because the man had no speech ability, and had very limited muscle use in his upper body, he was considered "hopelessly retarded, an imbecile", and had been made a ward of the state. At an assessment meeting, the doctor dropped his pen. Unexpectedly, the Hawaiian man picked up the pen, with his toes, and handed it to the doctor. From the accidental discovery that the man was neither "hopeless" nor an "imbecile", a new therapy program was developed, and the man has been living on his own in the Independent Living Program thanks to The United Cerebral Palsy Association and many others. A large part of being Special Events Director is organizing fundraisers. At Donna's first event for Cerebral Palsy, a friend and former coworker at the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation who had received a case of canned beans as a donation, took a can out of the case and gave it to Donna as the first donation at the event. It became a "good luck" symbol for their fundraisers and they passed it back and forth at each event, carefully recording each on the label. Two decades later, Donna proudly displays the can of beans with a couple yards worth of label wrapped around it and proclaims, "This can of beans has raised over 8 million dollars!" I'd say those are some lucky beans!

 

 

Mike McCartney has a strong Irish name. More than that, he carries in his heart the hopes and dreams of his ancestors. Okinawan on his mother's side and Irish on his father's, his maternal grandparents and father migrated to Hawaii with the hope of building a better life. Building a better life is the theme of Mike's life. Born and raised in Kahaluu by children of immigrants, Mike has experienced the lessons of prejudice and Aloha. Knowing well the poison of prejudice and the power of Aloha, Mike's mission is to be a "bridge-builder" by bringing people together. Likening Hawaii to an outrigger canoe with all people on board together, Mike says, "When people are spending their time assigning blame for not making progress, no progress gets made. It makes more sense to work together to adjust the sails!" Mike is a facilitator of "adjusting the sails," helping to progress forward in blending the diverse cultures of Hawaii's microcosm to benefit all. High on Mike's priority list is stamping out the things he sees as major obstacles to making progress: prejudice; the tendency to blame and whine about problems but not take ownership with practical or creative solutions to those problems. The goal is to have all people work together productively, he says. Mike sees the entire population of Hawaii as one team. And he believes this team philosophy and the benefits of teamwork should be inculcated in successive generations, teaching our children and theirs from earliest youth on through adulthood. That way, when they take their places in society, the Aloha will continue and the hope for a better life becomes even more real for everyone. For these reasons and because of the hope and guidance passed to him by his parents, Mike has pursued his goals of making a difference and making Hawaii a better place with undying passion. The list of directorships and charities Mike has served and continues to serve is too long for this article, but his resume is testimony to his dedication and passion for being a positive influence in our community. As president and chief executive officer of PBS Hawaii since 2000, Mike's goals are to continue to present excellent educational television programs and other programs with high content value. And he is making positive moves to "dimensionalize" the programs, so they are more interactive and useful for those who want to learn more. In addition to being president and CEO of PBS Hawaii, he is the current chairman of the Hawaii Tourism Authority and serves on the board of directors for the Carole Kai Community Foundation, Kualoa-Heeia Ecumenical Youth Project (KEY), and No Hope in Dope, among others. For Mike, it was only natural to initiate and co-found "Live Aloha." Living aloha is instinctive --- from the heart --- and shouldn't have to require thought. Here in the islands, we should not be afraid to help others.

 

 

Born of Portuguese descent, and raised in Kaimuki, Neva Rego was called to opera at a very early age. She first heard an American opera singer on the radio when she was seven years old, and it was love at first note. After Neva declared to her mother that it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard, her mother obtained all the recordings she could get her hands on from that artist. Neva devoured it all. She played the records so much the black vinyl turned white! Supporting and nurturing Neva's desire to "sing like that", her parents sent her to a voice instructor. But Neva didn't get what she needed there. She tried several instructors here on Oahu before her parents sent her to San Francisco to try the Music Conservatory there. After a short while, Neva knew it still wasn't right and returned home. She started performing at venues on Oahu and saving her money for a trip to Italy. When she got there she was introduced to an instructor at the famous Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milano. But she needed to learn the language before she could study there, as all instruction was in Italian. Working odd jobs to sustain herself, and working to learn Italian, after several months, she finally began to study with the renowned instructors at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory. She discovered to her dismay that, rather than making the improvement she was hoping for, she actually began to have trouble with notes she previously found easy. Depressed with her situation, Neva was almost ready to give up when she heard a performance by a former student of the Conservatory, whom she knew from when she had started there. She was so moved by the performance, she wanted to discover what her friend had done since leaving the Conservatory, but she couldn't find her. The next day by happenstance, Neva saw her friend and asked her what had made such a change in her voice. She went along to her friend's lesson that day and found the teacher she'd been searching for her whole life. Neva stayed and studied with her for the next 20 years. Now, as ever before, music is Neva's life. She has operated her Bel Canto School of Singing ever since returning to her beloved Kaimuki in 1980. She is on the Board of Directors for the Hawaii Opera, as well as the National Society of Arts and Letters. These charitable, non-profit organizations raise money to help young students of the arts to further their studies and growth as artists. Neva also likes to help provide music education to the students of her Alma Mater, Sacred Hearts Academy by sponsoring opera performances by her young students. And she has the opera students of Roosevelt High over for dinner once a year, where she plays an opera and explains what it means…in English. In addition to operating her School of Singing and teaching full time, as well as serving on the Boards mentioned above, Neva also volunteers with IHS to help feed the homeless. What motivates her to give so much of her time for charity? For Neva, music is the joy in life. "Sharing my joy and knowledge of music is reward enough for me." Neva thanks God for her gifts, and is an example for all of us in giving.

 

 

For Rudy McIntyre, volunteering is a "selfish" thing. He readily admits it. He volunteers because it makes him "feel so good inside!" What's more, his theory is that everyone who volunteers for charity does it for the same, selfish reason: To feel good! It's difficult to argue with a man of Rudy's wealth of experience in volunteering for charity. He's been volunteering for over thirty years! Born and raised in Connecticut, then living in New Jersey, Rudy and wife raised two daughters, who have given them two granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter. Moving to Oahu with his current wife of forty plus years in 1974, Rudy has been helping out as a volunteer with the Shriner's Children's Hospital ever since. Last year, he was named Volunteer of the Year. Rudy has been a member of the Fraternal Order of Masons for thirty years and has had the highest honors, (33rd Degree) bestowed upon him by the Scottish Rite. As a Shriner volunteer, Rudy is constantly amazed by the near miraculous cures performed by the physicians, therapists, nurses and staff of the Shriner's Hospital. He has witnessed many over the years and is proud and happy that all of the care given at Shriners Hospitals for Children is done free to the patient and family. Rudy proudly and enthusiastically relates, "There was a boy who came to the Shriner's Hospital who's back and limbs were so deformed, he had to walk like a crab, using arms and legs." When he left, he was walking upright, just like everyone else!" And… "There was another boy who came in with one leg thirteen inches shorter than the other, and couldn't walk." When he disembarked the flight home two years later, his mother exclaimed, "That's not my son…my son can't walk!" It was indeed her son. The procedure performed at the Shriner's Hospital had lengthened his leg to be even with the other! Just about everyone who lives here knows about the little girl who was afflicted by a flesh-eating disease. The Shriner's sent her and her parents to the Sacramento Shriner's Hospital, where after two weeks, they were returned home, a cure in place, full recovery to follow! With evident joy, Rudy relates about the basketball games at the hospital. Boys and girls from all over the world, of various ages, struggling around the court, dribbling, passing, shooting. laughing, shouting, and mostly, having a great time! Every one of them wearing a cast on some part of their young bodies, progressing to a much better condition than when they went in. Apologizing for his limp caused by a broken and fused ankle as we descended the stairs of the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Rudy says, "When I was in the hospital recovering from the ankle fusion, and the nurses would ask, 'how come you're so cheerful?', I told them about the children at the Shriner's hospital. They have much more severe trauma than me and are happy, why shouldn't I be?" Over the years Rudy has performed a variety of tasks as a volunteer for the Hospital including driving, vehicle inspection and maintenance, and fundraising. (The Shriner's Hospital for Children is totally funded by donations.) Performing any small task at all in volunteer service makes Rudy a part of those cures. And he loves the way that makes him feel!

 

 

1/5/2004 On the day I met Sonya Mendez, she had just returned to Oahu after being rained in on Lanai for 3 days following her New Years Eve performance there. Her father, with whom she lived since returning to Oahu from Georgia in 1991, had passed away just 2 months prior. Sonya, with plenty reason to be melancholy, or at least in a hurry to get caught up, was neither. Sonya's demeanor is energetic, upbeat and happy! Born on Oahu and raised on a dairy farm nestled in the valleys of Red Hill, the Mendez family did not live in opulence, but had everything they needed. Family first, fresh meat and vegetables, and lots of milk! They made their way to town, (Kalihi), every couple weeks to buy things for the farm, but no fast foods or junk-food snacks. Sonya's vocal talents have taken her from local stardom with "Sonya Mendez and Revelucion", to venues all over the world and including being the lead vocalist with "Worldwide Groove". Sonya has tremendous empathy, social conscience, and a heart as big as the Big Island! Back in the 1980's when then Mayor, Frank Fasi's slogan was, "Fasi can get it done!", Sonya was distressed by the sight of an elderly Filipino man waiting for the bus out in west Oahu, in the pouring rain. There were no shelters at the bus stops, nor even a bench out Waianae way. An avid photographer, Sonya grabbed her camera and made a photograph of the old gentleman sitting on a rock at the bus stop, in the rain. Then she submitted a letter to the Mayor along with the photo, pleading for better facilities for the elderly folks dependant on the bus out in west Oahu. While she doesn't take credit for it, within a few months of her letter to the mayor, benches were installed at the west end bus stops, and later, rain shelters were erected. The point she makes is, we all need to look out for each other, and ad our voices in speaking out to those in position to effect positive change. It was while living in Atlanta, Georgia, that Sonya was inspired to get more involved in helping to alleviate suffering through charity work. Driving to a neighboring town one day, she lost her way and found herself in an area where the people were living in abject poverty. It struck her that, "These people lived that way every day of their lives!" She was appalled that such poverty exists in our great country. Sonya loves being an entertainer, and she loves helping others. Besides her full-time entertainment enterprise, she is very involved as a volunteer with the Carol Kai Charities, which benefit some 27 charities here. In addition, Sonya volunteers at the Hawaii Food Bank, and the Rotary Club, which benefits scholarship programs as well as distributing medical supplies and aid to the underprivileged. Her next charity project is to learn to be a service animal trainer with "Hawaii Fido Services" who provide service animals to help the handicapped. When asked how she can find the time to do everything, she replies, "Prioritize!" "Success is not about how much money you have or what you own. It's about how much quality time you have for yourself, and how you chose to spend it helping others." The thing she likes best about volunteering is, "helping to make someone's life a little better". One gets the feeling that's also the reason she loves singing! Her dad taught her that, "Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one". Sonya's not wasting a single day!

 

 

Anthony Guerrero, jr. leads two lives. Well known as one of the leaders of First Hawaiian Bank and one of it's Vice Chairmen, Tony's 'first life' often keeps him busy from 4am to 11pm. Is his 'second life' that of Super-Hero, Crime-Fighter? Well, no…not in the Marvel Comic Books sense. Actually, Tony's 'second life' is really what his whole life is about. It's his motivation to succeed in life, to help build Hawaii's economy, and to help those less fortunate to be able to "take the next step forward". In his own words, Tony is "a keiki o ka aina", born and raised in Honolulu. A surfer from his early youth, Tony is an original 'Beach Boy'. Tony graduated from St. Louis High School, and went to Universities on the mainland. He and his wife of 37 years, Haunani, raised two children, who are now adults with families and careers of their own. Tony began working with charities some thirty years ago after joining First Hawaiian Bank. Two of his favorite organizations are HUGS and Child & Family Service. Of course, there's also his Alma Mater, St. Louis High School, and Friends of Hawaii Charities, which he is the founding President of, among others. Tony loves working with the Child & Family Service because, as he puts it, "They serve our community from the cradle to the grave". They offer pre-natal counseling and care, family counseling, health clinics, addiction care and counseling, senior centers, and trauma and loss counseling. Tony recalls an incident that happened out at the Child & Family Service Headquarters in Ewa Beach, where they operate a School for Troubled Teens, and a care facility for autistic children. "One day a man and his wife came up to me. Each of them hugged me. With tears in their eyes, they said, 'Thank you, Tony, so much! If it weren't for what you do out here, we couldn't enjoy our other three children.'" "It really brings it home, that what you're doing is really helping in a very important way, for a lot of people. It makes you feel good inside. And it reminds you of how fortunate you are." When the Hawaiian Open dissolved as a PGA event, Tony wanted to find a way to keep the PGA coming to Oahu, and millions of dollars into our economy. Along with some fellow members of the Waialae Country Club, they founded the Friends of Hawaii Charities in 1997, which would 1) own the Sony Open; 2) Keep the PGA and all that money coming into Hawaii; and 3) raise money for Hawaii charities. The very first year, the Friends of Hawaii Charities raised nearly a quarter million dollars for local charities. This past year, they were able to give $900,000.00 to local charities. In all, since it's inception, Friends of Hawaii Charities has given over four million dollars to local charities. Tony doesn't take credit for his charity fundraising. He says, "It's the volunteers that makes it work. We have about 1700 volunteers that help out with the Sony Open. A lot of them come here from the mainland just to help out with this one event. Without them, we wouldn't be able to raise the money." Friends of Hawaii Charities, supports over 100 local charities with their donations. Tony credits his upbringing, and his education at St. Louis High School for building the moral fabric to want to go out into the community and to give something back. All in all, Tony's giving back enables a lot of people to "Take the next step forward". While not aSuper-Hero, Tony is a hero, just the same.

 

 

For the man with no (first) name, protecting our Earth's oceans and their inhabitants is a pure passion. Growing up in Detroit, Wyland had never seen any ocean until he stood on the shore at Laguna Beach, California at the age of fourteen. Already developing as an artist, his passion turned to the ocean. He watched the documentaries of Jacque Cousteau, and read his books. He took up scuba diving. He took up the torch. His artist's passion for the ocean and the life therein has been a consuming one. It has driven him to take on a 50 states in 50 days tour, a fete he now recommends no human undertake. It was so exhausting he "needed a blood transfusion afterward!" Wyland came to Maui to study the humpback whales. He fell in love with Hawaii, moved to the North Shore of Oahu, and has called it home ever since. The message of Jacque Cousteau, that of preserving the life in the sea, and his own passion for the oceans inspired Wyland to establish the Wyland Foundation in 1994. He has big goals, and determination to match. His "Wyland Ocean Challenge", in partnership with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography is a 100 year program with the goal of clean water for the 21st Century and beyond. The Wyland Foundation has created a Clean Water Program for all public and private schools in the U.S., and has plans to grow the program worldwide. In 1998, the International Year of the Oceans, Wyland painted life size whales on the sides of a moving van donated to the Foundation. Inside he created a beach, replete with sand, sea shells, and aquariums with fish and anenomies. That same year he took the van to 50 states in 50 days to put on demonstrations for audiences of from 350 to ten thousand school children and their teachers. The program includes letting the kids compare the size of the whales to themselves, as well as actually walking, barefoot on beach sand while viewing ocean life live in the aquariums. In most cases, he was bringing the beach experience to kids who had never been close to the ocean. Wyland rigged it so they could even get a little ocean spray on their faces! Additionally, at each event, Wyland helped the kids paint a mural at their location. His foundation also sponsors an annual Clean Water Costal Cleanup program. This year, starting August 2, 2004, they will be working to clean up the beaches in from Main to Key West…17 states in 17 days. The goal for this year is one million volunteers to work on the cleanup. Wyland says, "One person can make a difference. And, one million will make a difference!" What drives him so fast and furious? He is inspired by people's reactions to his work and the message of his foundation. "My ultimate goal is to inspire others to take up and carry the torch", says Wyland. It's a big torch, but working together, we can, and will move it forward!