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THE VISITOR ALOHA AWARDS
APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
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VASH held its First Annual "Visitor Aloha Awards Appreciation
Luncheon" on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 in the Molokai
Room at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Here are a series of
photos, along with the highlights of the events:
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The guests were greeted at the door by VASH's volunteer
of the Year, Denise Aiko Chinen, pictured above wearing
the red lei.
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Other luncheon greeters at the door included:(Back Row,
Left to Right) Case Manager Lindsay Yamauchi, Case Manager
Cindy Chun, Volunteer of the Year Denise Aiko Chinen, and,
(Front Row, Left to Right) Volunteers Darby Slick, Greg
Chun, Dean Hayashida, Frank Marroquin and Rosemary Hill.
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Volunteer Kula Abiva invited guests to sign up for door
prizes. These prizes included various island activities
and complementary hotel stays all kindly donated by our
various sponsors. The Grand Prize was a trip to Las Vegas
donated by Vacations Hawaii.
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The guests were greeted with Hawaiian music
performed by Na Hoa, a local group.
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Alan Walker, who is the Director of Japan Sales for
the
Polynesian Cultural Center gave the invocation.
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The stage included amenities such as teddy bears and
lei which were donated by Board member Thomas Matthews of
TradeWest.
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The koa awards were purchased from Martin & MacArthur.
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VASH presented 25 Certificates of Appreciation to various
individuals and businesses for their outstanding donations
of goods and services to the VASH cause. The certificates
were presented by VASH Board Member Joe Magaldi, pictured
above, presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Dale
Evans of Charley's Taxi. Charley's was recognized for providing
complimentary taxi service for visitors who are victims
of adversity.
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Also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation was
former Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue (Pictured at right
with VASH Board Member Joe Magaidi). Donohue was honored
for his outstanding work with the Honolulu Police Dept.
and for referring a large number of cases to the Visitor
Aloha Society of Hawaii. Mr. Donohue also servers as a member
of the Board of Directors for VASH.
The Other Certificate of Appreciation recipients were:
• Thomas W. Matthews - President, TradeWest, Inc.
• Paul Kosasa - President, ABC Stores
• Russell Chun - General Manager, Miramar at Waikiki
• Carol Pregill - President, Retail Merchants of Hawaii
• Baron Guss - President, Altres Staffing
• Charlian Wright - Former Corporate Marketing Director,
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center/Pauahi Management Corp. (now
with Aloha Festivals)
• Michael Nozaki - General Manager, American Airlines
• Sharon Weiner - Group Vice President - Business Development,
DFS Hawaii
• Clyde Aikau - Eddie Aikau Foundation, C&K Beach Service,
Inc.
• Lee Erwin - CPA, Managing Partner, Erwin, Au & Cabrinha,
LLP
• Jessica Lani Rich - Former Chairperson of the Board for
VASH
• Michael Miller - Sr. Vice President, Standard Parking
• Rex Johnson - President & CEO, Hawaii Tourism Authority
• David Carey - President & CEO, Outrigger Hotels
• Murray Towill - President, Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association
• Alan Tang - President & CEO, Olomana Marketing
• Peter Carlisle - Prosecuting Attorney, Department of the
Prosecuting Attorney
• Don Girvan - General Manager, Planet Hollywood
• John Cushnie - General Manager, Ala Moana Hotel
• Terry Fowler - General Manager, Waikiki Beachcomber
• Bobbie Lau - Immediate Past President, Building Owner's
& Manager's Association
• Elizabeth Lau - President, Building Owner's & Manager's
Association
• Randall Ha - General Manager, Sheraton Waikiki
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The keynote speaker for the afternoon was Honolulu City
Prosecutor, Peter Carlisle (pictured at left), who told
the group that Hawaii's reputation for safety must be protected
and nurtured to avoid economic and social consequences.
"Those things are going to happen, unfortunately, and we
need to be the insurance," he said. His comments were the
feature in the Honolulu Advertiser article about our Award
Luncheon which can be read in full on
The
Honolulu Advertiser Website.
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Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii Board member and President
of the the Waikiki Improvement Association, Rick Egged,
presented the General Fred Weyand Perpetual Award to the
Hawaii Tourism Authority. The award was accepted by Muriel
Anderson, Director of Tourism Programs (both pictured at
right). The Hawaii Tourism Authority is the primary source
of funding for VASH. Without their contributions, VASH would
not be able to assist the hundreds of visitors who experience
times of adversity during their stay in Hawaii.
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VASH Board Chair, Dr. Terence C. Wade (pictured at left,
at the podium) addressed the luncheon guests. He again stressed
the importance of the work that the Visitor Aloha Society
does, and the continuing need for support from its staff,
volunteers and generous donors. VASH staff members Lisa
Fallau, Volunteer Coordinator (pictured at left, left rear)
and Lindsay Yamauchi, Case Manager (pictured at left, right
rear) assisted Dr. Wade with the presentation of the awards.
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Dr. Terence C. Wade, VASH Board Chair presented the
Chairman's Award to Outrigger Enterprises Vice-President
of Community Relations, Jean E. Rolles (pictured at right
with Dr. Wade). Outrigger Enterprises has generously provided
the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii with a rent-free office
for the past several years. We are truly grateful for their
generosity.
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VASH Board Chair, Dr. Terence C. Wade, also presented
the Volunteer of The Year Award. The recipient was Denise
Aiko Chinen (pictured at left with Dr. Wade). Aiko was honored
for her outstanding work as a volunteer at the Visitor Aloha
Society. She has been a VASH volunteer for the past two
years and has handled over 60 cases. She does not shy away
from even the most challenging and time-intensive ones.
She has provided emotional support to victims and their
families, follow-up assistance, Japanese language interpretation
and has also helped in the office with various duties. She
was presented with a beautiful Koa plaque and an all expense
paid trip for two to Las Vegas, compliments of Vacations
Hawaii.
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Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii President and Executive
Director, Jessica Lani Rich, presented the President's Award
to The Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association for providing
hotel accomodations for visitors who are victims of crime
or adversity. Their generosity allows us to provide rooms
for visitors who are forced to delay their return home or
are unable to pay for their lodgings due to loss of credit
cards and funds. Ernest Nishizaki, Chairman of the Hawaii
Hotel and Lodging Association and Executive Vice-President
& Chief Operation Officer of Kyo-Ya Conpany, Ltd, accepted
the award (pictured at right with Jessica Lani Rich).
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VASH Board member and President of the Hawaii Retail
Merchants Association, Carol Pregill, presented the Hawaii
Tourism Award to Olomana Marketing President Alan Tang (both
pictured on left). Olomana Marketing was presented with
the award for its outstanding work in the media. They produced
a public service television program which included the mission
and the work by the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii which
highlighted the importance or our work with tourists.
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VASH Board member, Jim Fulton, presented the Special
Achievement and Recognition Award to the Honolulu Police
Department for their diligence in informing visitors about
the Visitor Aloha Society and in reporting cases to VASH.
The award was accepted by Honolulu Police Deparment Deputy
Chief, Paul Putzulu (pictured at right).
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The First Annual Visitor Aloha society of Hawaii Appreciation
Luncheon was a great success, with over 200 guests, filling
the Molokai Room at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.
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BACK TO EVENTS PAGE
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Contact Information:
Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii
Jessica Lani Rich, President & Executive Director
2168 Kalia Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 926-8274
Fax: (808) 926-0500
email: visitorexec@hawaii.rr.com
© Opening photo courtesy of Oahu Visitors
Bureau |
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