Hawaii nonprofit people in the news

David Nakada steps down after 33 years with Boys & Girls Club

Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii announced on Jan. 26 that its longtime Executive Director David Nakada will step down once a new leader is in place. A search committee will be led by retired Judge Michael A. Town, chair-elect of the BGCH board. Nakada has served the organization since 1976 and became executive director in 1979.

“David has an exceptional record in nonprofit service in the islands,” said David Hudson, BGCH board chair. “His work has touched the lives of many thousands of Hawaii youths.” Hudson said part of Nakada’s legacy is keeping the Club relevant to youngsters for more than three decades.  “With the speed of change in technology and lifestyles, that was no easy task.”

Nakada helped grow the nonprofit from one clubhouse in the McCully area to nine sites on Oahu and Kauai serving some 4,800 youth members and touching the lives of another 5,000, mostly at-risk young people, each year.

His service has been recognized repeatedly over the past three decades. He received the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs Hooulu Award in 2005 and the Hawaii Community Foundation and Gerbode Foundation Ho‘okele Award in 2001. The David Nakada Scholarship was established in 2009. The scholarship supports graduating young women and men who have struggled to graduate but have expressed a strong desire to continue post high school education at a community college or technical school.

Nakada plans to head a recently established project to assist start up social services ventures dedicated to youth development. This new organization is being founded by former BGCH President Richard Gushman in collaboration with the Hawaii Community Foundation. Nakada intends to stay with the BGCH to assist with the search for a new executive director, and help with the transition.

“David recognized the need for expanding the Club to meet first Oahu and then Kauai needs,” said Hudson “He was instrumental in helping the board found the Waianae branch in 1988 and within a year, that clubhouse had 1,600 members.”

Nakada also orchestrated service to Kauai. Immediately after Hurricane Iniki, BGCH took programs to that island, locating on the grounds of Kapaa High School, and then in 1998, opened a branch in Waimea.

“Everything BGCH has achieved over these years has been possible because of a long record of terrific boards of directors,” said Nakada, “I have been honored to work with each of them, and know this one will find the right leader to carry BGCH forward.”

> Susan Au Doyle announced she will step down as president and chief professional officer of Aloha United Way this year. Doyle, who has been working part time since the start of the year, is leaving to devote more time to caring for her mother, 86, and aunt, 98, both of whom live with her.

> Honolulu Academy of Arts has named Stephan Jost as its new director, effective May 2. Jost replaces Stephen Little, who resigned last March. The organization’s board chairman, Lynne Johnson, has served as the interim director. Jost most recently served as the director of the Shelburne Museum in Vermont.

> Kuyper named president of Parker Ranch – Parker Ranch Inc. has named Neil “Dutch” Kuyper as its president and CEO, effective Feb. 28. Kuyper replaces Chris Kanazawa, who left Parker Ranch in December 2008. Dave Ramos served as the interim CEO for the past five months while the ranch’s board of directors completed its search for a CEO, according to a company statement. Kuyper, an Oahu native, most recently served as the chief operating officer with Capricorn Investment Group. Parker Ranch is a subsidiary of the nonprofit Parker Ranch Foundation Trust, a cattle ranch located in Waimea on the Big Island that produces 10 million pounds of beef per year.

> The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has announced new board officers: Alvin Parker, a native Hawaiian Public Charter School leader, was elected to another term as chairman; attorney William Ornellas became vice-chairman, Michelle Kauhane, a homestead leader, secretary; and Li Garcia-Ballard, a native Hawaiian business leader, treasurer. CNHA voting members elected the following board members: Aimoku McClellan, Pacific Center for Economic Development; Leinā‘ala Kalama Heine and Pi‘ilani Hanohano, Hālau Nā Pualei O Likolehua; Philip Kahue and Curtney Tagupa, Alaka‘ina Foundation; Maile Meyer, Native Books / Nā Mea Hawaii; Kelly Lincoln, Panaewa Homestead Association; Akoni Akana and Shirly Ann Kahai, Friends of Moku‘ula; Mel Soong, Bob Moore and Eddie Lee, I Mua Group; Andrew Ah Po and Jan Allianic, Kanaka Maoli O Kaleponi, Inc.; Michael Naho‘opi‘I and Carol-Marie Kanohi Lee, Kaho‘olawe Island Reseve Commission; Lance Holden and Annelle Amaral, ‘Aha Hui Siwila Hawai‘i O Kapolei; Keoni Jensen, Tee Furtado and Darlene Butts, Mainland Council Associaton of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Harold Johnston and Puni Kekauoha, Papakolea Community Development Corporation; Trustee Bob Lyndsey and Kama Hopkins, Individual Member (OHA); and Judge Bill Fernandez, Native Hawaiian Political Action Committee. In addition, Robin Puanani Danner, chief executive officer was appointed for another term as president, Napali Woode, chief financial officer, was appointed as senior vice president and Lilia Kapuniai, community services manager, was appointed as vice president.

> Envision Hawaii has elected new board leadership and added new board members. Joseph Kourieh and Mary St. John have joined the board and new board officers for 2011-2012 are: Francis H. Choe, chair; Bronson Chang, vice chair; Carmille Lim, treasurer; and Tandy Tabata, secretary.

> American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter, has announced its 2011 officers and board of directors: Spencer Leineweber, president; Philip K. White, vice president/president elect; Sandi Quildon, secretary; and Terry McFarland, treasurer. At-large directors for 2011 are Scott Wilson, Reid Mizue, Eric Nelson, Kelly Irvine, Mayumi Hara, Katherine MacNeil and Tonia Moy. Zon Sullenberger serves as Hawaii Island section director, and Kris Palagi was elected as associate, representing AIA Honolulu's design and architect professionals.

> Hawaii Employers Council has reappointed Glenn Hong to chairman for the board of governors for 2011. Appointed to the council's executive committee were Dennis Brown, Michael Cheng, Perry Confalone, Tim Ho, Gary Kajiwara and David Rietow.

> Hawaii Youth Symphony board of directors elected Laurie LaGrange as director. She is founder and president of Ontai-LaGrange and Associates.

> Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corp. has elected the following 2011 officers: Ralph Mesick, chairman; Alan Yee, vice chairman; David Kamimura, treasurer; Keith Ishida, secretary. Gwen Yamamoto Lau will continue as president. New board members are Alan Arizumi and Linda Lewis Ezuka.

> Queen's Health Systems has announced four new members to its board of trustees: Christine M. Gayagas, Peter K. Hanashiro, Robert K. Nobriga and Barry M. Weinman. They also will serve on the Queen's Medical Center board of trustees.

> Hawaii Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has elected the following officers for its 2011 board of directors: Moani Wright-Van Alst, president; Melissa Malahoff-Kamei, president-elect; Deborah Sharkey, secretary; Kristen Bonilla, treasurer; Nathan Kam, immediate past president; Duke Gonzales, assembly delegate and western district delegate; Nancy Daniels, director of outreach; Rebecca Pang, director of member services; Lee Britos, director of professional development; and Noreen Kam, director of communications. Other committee chairs are Franziska Roessy and Erica Yamauchi, membership co-chairs; Donda D. Spiker, accreditation chair; Thi Lam, young professionals group chairwoman; Amy Hennessey, education, University of Hawaii chairwoman; Nancy Daniels, education, Hawaii Pacific University chairwoman; Crystal Yamasaki and Jill Bona, professional development co-chairwomen; Huy Vo and Shauna Goya, Koa Anvil Awards co-chairs; and Nathan Kam, sponsorship chairman.

> Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu has promoted and hired: Daphne Rees to full time from part-time, school-based case manager; Melda Tani as fund development associate; Alicia Gutierrez as match support specialist’ and China Haag as school-based case manager.

> Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation has appointed Lisa Varde as its new development specialist. In this newly created position, Varde will plan and direct all facets of fundraising, including annual giving, special events, planned giving, corporate sponsorships and creating donor cultivation and stewardship programs. She Varde holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and has more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit fund development with St. Francis Medical Center, Honolulu Theatre for Youth and the Hawaii Foodbank. Most recently, Varde was director of development for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

> La Pietra has selected Mike Moses as the school¹s director of development, responsible for developing and implementing all strategies for external relations of the school. In addition to fundraising, alumnae coordination and special events, he will oversee the website, newsletters, public relations and admissions outreach. Moses, an Iolani School graduate, has 10 years of experience in development and was most recently director of alumni relations at Iolani. He was previously director for development at Mid-Pacific Institute and director of the 49er Athletic Association at Long Beach State in California.

> University of Hawaii Foundation has appointed Greg Willems to be vice president of development, overseeing the fundraising and development operations at the foundation. He will also be responsible for leading the planning and implementation of the next comprehensive campaign. Willems, who was most recently executive director of development at the University of British Columbia, has held executive fundraising positions at premier public universities. Prior to his development work, he worked in the corporate sector in the construction, finance and insurance industries.

> Hawaii Public Radio has named Bill Dorman news director. He succeeds Kayla Rosenfeld, who has been named producer of ‘The Conversation,’ an hour-long morning program on Hawaii Public Radio’s KIPO station, which will debut on Feb. 14. Dorman is the co-founder of private communications consulting firm Dorman Namiki Communications and has served as managing editor of Asia Pacific broadcast at Bloomberg’s Tokyo office.

> Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has appointed Liza Villanueva as executive director and administrator for continuing care and ancillary services. She has more than 30 years of health care leadership and management experience and was previously an assistant medical center administrator of operations at Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region.

> Waikiki Aquarium has named James B. Wood as associate director and director of education. He has more than 10 years of experience in the field, including serving as director of education for Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif.

> Maryknoll School has chosen Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Tseu as the honoree for the 2011 Charles A. Kekumano Noblesse Oblige Service award. He is a retired dentist who was chosen for his dedicated assistance to organizations in Hawaii and around the world. Tseu will receive the award March 5 at Waikiki Edition hotel.