Community

We must work together. Democrats, Republicans, Independants and others, fixing a roadside pothole, and other problems, is not a partisan issue. Together, we'll find the Aloha State's best solutions.

My neighborhood work includes being a Neighborhood Board member 98-06, former Waikiki Residents Association president and Waikiki Citizens Patrol member.
I also participate in various community charitable events, clean ups and recycling projects.

1999


Volunteering

Over the decades I have volunteered for various events and charities, including the Hawaii Aloha Festivals Parade, Honolulu Marathon, Easter Seals 'Taste of Honolulu,' Great Aloha Run, Junior Achievement Bowling Blast, Honolulu Chinese Jaycees membership activities, and others.

I also participated in the United Japanese Society of Hawaii's Japan Festival; 1999, 46th Annual Narcissus Festival; 1995, Aloha United Way's 2001 Executive Loan Program, March of Dimes Walk America; 1993, Hawaii Seniors Fair; 1998, Hosted 1996 the Miss Chinatown Pageant, Dept. of Transportation's H-3 Opening; 1996

Memberships

I have previously been a member of the League of Women Voters, Waikiki Community Center, Hawaii Association of Broadcasters, American Society of Professional Journalists, Massage Therapist Association of Hawaii, (I am a licensed Massage Therapist,) 24 Hour Fitness Center - Kapiolani Blvd., YMCA Atkinson Drive, Punahou Spa Fitness Center and was an improv actor in Honolulu City Laffs comdey group; 1994-96.

1992


College

I majored in Journalism at the University of Hawaii; Manoa, wrote for the school newspaper Kaleo O Hawaii, worked at college radio station KTUH, was president of Sigma Lambda Fraternity and a member of of Alpha Beta Kai business club. During college I worked at a Hilo Hatties kiosk on Duke's Lane in Waikiki and a Sushi Restaurant on Mcully St. and Kapiolani Blvd.

1995


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NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS: The Honolulu Charter Commission, revised 1972; today Honolulu's Neighborhood Board system is made of 35 boards. The concept is for full citizen participation in government to better serve the community. I would like to thank my fellow board members in Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako and downtown for their service.

KAKAAKO: Hawaii has the oldest organized Fire Department in the Western U.S. The Kakaako station, in part a museum, is near a 1929 small pox victims mass burial site and said to have ghost sitings. As a historic landmark the station is valuable to Hawaii's cultural and architectural history, even King Kalakaua was a volunteer fireman. I always enjoy visiting and driving by the station.

JAPAN: Being Japanese, German, Irish, (& Indian/French), I can't express how exciting it was to visit relatives in Japan for the first time in 1995. I will always remember Kyoto's temples, smoking a Cuban cigar at Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, steam baths, appearing on Nippon TV's 'Kinchan no Kaso Taisho,' and the goodwill visit at Sendai's government. Domo Arigato to Tokyo's friendly residents.

NEW YORK: I went to American architect Minoru Yamasaki's World Trade Center after it opened in 1973. I wish I had returned to it, as an adult, before it was destroyed. During Thanksgiving 2005, I visited lower Manhattan. I walked over 150 blocks from Penn Station to Central Park down Broadway to Greenwich Village, Wall Street and back. In some ways we are all New Yorkers. 

1. TOM's History, background

2. SEE TOM's Community Service 25 yr. dist. resident

3. TOM's Career Honolulu's private/public sector

4. TOM's Issues, philosophy, character