PCF Hawaii educational mission: One for the ages

First of a two-part series

One of the special and unique features of being part of the Pacific Century Fellows program is an opportunity to visit Guam and Hawaii on an educational mission in which key meetings with senior officials representing government, the military, academia, and the private sector are arranged—all designed to enhance the Fellows’ knowledge and understanding of priority issues of these areas. Of course, the added benefit of establishing new contacts and developing new friendships are a real plus.

Guam took place in late June, which included members of the inaugural 2014 Fellows class since that was not part of their calendar year. Some of the highlights of the two-day excursion there included meetings with Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio and the Speaker of the House Judith Won Pat in which they were impressive in their Q-and-A potion with the Fellows, a detailed tourism briefing by the Guam Visitors Bureau chair Mark Baldyga, an extensive military tour and discussion, a networking opportunity as special guests at a Guam Chamber of Commerce luncheon and dinner with Sir Deryck Maughan, an international business and finance expert who, having worked extensively in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, gave the Fellows his perspective on the future of the American and Chinese economic and political relationship and its impact on the rest of the world.

Hawaii was an intensive three-and-a-half-day schedule grind that had the Fellows traipsing through the North Shore of Oahu, Kapolei, Pearl Harbor, Kalihi, Sand Island, Manoa, Kaimuki, Diamond Head, Ala Moana and Waikiki for their sessions and tours. In putting together the schedule, I wanted to not only expose the Fellows to the serious aspects of life in Hawaii and the issues that are top of the mind but also wanted to make sure that culture, foodie, fun and entertainment would also be a part of their Hawaiian experience.

Day one had the Fellows heading to University of Hawaii Manoa where they met with Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman who gave them an overview of the state’s largest university and its present and future challenges. He acknowledged UH’s interest in Pacific-Asian affairs and saw it as a mutually beneficial endeavor and the Fellows asked several thought provoking questions. Next was a visit to Pearl Harbor PACFLT where they received a Pacific Command briefing of U.S. strategic and military interests in the region including Guam and the CNMI and got a personal tour of the USS Chosin, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser docked at Pearl Harbor. Then it was off to Kapolei through the former sugar plantation town of Waipahu for lunch as it gave them an opportunity to see firsthand the construction of the largest capital improvement project in the history of Hawaii—the $8 billion rail system. At Kapolei Hale, an official with the HART (Honolulu Authority on Rapid Transit) provided an informative briefing on a project that has been nearly five decades in the making and were informed on how it will transform the quality of life for Honolulu residents for generations to come. Wrapping up the initial day was a trek back to a town called Kalihi just west of the airport where they received a private tour of the Bishop Museum—the state’s most prestigious and largest private museum with an unmatched collection of art and artifacts from Hawaii and Oceania. Currently on exhibit is a special tribute to one of Hawaii’s all-time greatest ambassadors, Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing that the Fellows enjoyed immensely. At this stop they were joined by the present 15th class of Hawaii Pacific Century Fellows on the tour and who were part of the welcoming dinner reception that evening at the museum. The Hawaiian catered dinner by Highway Inn featured a laulau (pork baked in taro leaves) that had some of the Fellows craving for more. Interestingly, both Blair Collis, CEO of the Museum, and Monica Toguchi, owner of the restaurant, are also products of the PCF Hawaii program and were all too happy to be in attendance to extend their personal greetings and aloha to the Fellows.

The second day was a breakfast with First Hawaiian Bank executives at their impressive downtown headquarters. Hosted by president Eric Yeaman and vice chairman Ray Ono, whose responsibilities include being in charge of the Saipan and Guam branches of the bank, the duo was joined by a PCF Hawaii alum, senior vice president Neil Char. The trio spent an extraordinary amount of time sharing their leadership style, the bank’s much admired philosophy of its emphasis on a family-like corporate culture and FHB’s plans to remain committed to doing and expanding business in the Marianas region. The latter was obviously well received by the Fellows. Next up was a tour and visit to Kaimuki High School that boasts the largest Micronesian population in their student body in Hawaii. Its creative and energetic principal, Wade Araki, visited Saipan last year to talk to the 2014 class and has developed quite a reputation for developing a curriculum that specializes in having his students “college-, career- and citizenship-ready” by the time they graduate. By incorporating a college pathways system with Kapiolani Community College, attendance, grades and test scores have improved and morale amongst students, faculty and staff are at an all-time high. A 10-minute ride to the slopes of Diamond Head took them to the Pacific HQ of the American Red Cross, whose jurisdiction includes CNMI and Guam. Fresh from their experience with Typhoon Soudelor, the Fellows were able to offer their insights and perspective besides expressing their appreciation to the Red Cross for their assistance with the recovery efforts on Saipan. Waikiki and Hawaii’s vaunted visitor industry was the focal point of the Fellows orientation for the rest of the afternoon. Two more PCF Hawaii alums led the discussion: Daniel Nahoopii, the director of tourism research of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and Kaiwi Yoon, chief of the architectural branch of the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. Together they provided an excellent briefing on tourism from a marketing and cultural standpoint. Nahoopii also shared data and statistics of Hawaii’s international tourism arrivals, which drew interest from the Fellows given the parallel marketing focus of MVA on the Chinese, Korean and Japanese visitors as well. Last activity of the day was from Rick Egged, the president of the Waikiki Improvement Association, who led a trolley ride tour of Waikiki where the Fellows got to witness first hand the pivotal role of 2 square miles (the size of Waikiki) to the state’s $14-billion-dollar industry. Egged, who like Araki spoke to the inaugural class of Fellows on Saipan, provided expert commentary and insight.

To be continued.

Mufi Hannemann
Special to the Saipan Tribune
Mufi Hannemann is a Harvard-educated former mayor of Honolulu. He is the principal of MFH Enterprises and is the chair and founder of the Pacific Century Fellows program.