Publicist Elissa Josephsohn helped arts flourish

Public relations specialist Elissa Josephsohn succumbed after a two-year battle with ovarian cancer and died peacefully at her home on Thursday, Aug. 20. Josephsohn, born in 1949, was a prominent Honolulu public relations specialist for more than 30 years. She particularly focused on the performing arts and restaurants, helping to publicize visiting national productions such as "Grease," "Rent," "Mamma Mia!" and "Slava's Snowshow.” Until two months ago she was still sending out upbeat press releases to the local news media.

Josephsohn was hired by the Honolulu Symphony nearly 35 years ago, subsequently making her home here. "Whenever there was an opening night for a traveling Broadway show here, she'd make it a benefit for something, and she did that for the Kapiolani Women's Cancer Center for the opening of 'Mamma Mia!'" said a friend. She also represented Ballet Hawaii, Army Community Theatre and Diamond Head Theatre.

About a decade ago, Josephsohn also helped start Arts with Aloha, a program founded by Charlie Aldinger and Anne Smoke to promote performance and visual arts in the islands. She also brought travel writers to the islands to partake of its culture and arts, promoting Hawaii as having more to offer than surf and sun.

Josephsohn is survived by half sister Debbie Koerner, brother-in-law David Koerner and cousin Ann Hiatt. A memorial to celebrate Josephsohn's life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Hawaii Theatre.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations may be made to the just-established Elissa Josephsohn Spirit Fund for the Kapiolani Women's Cancer Center. Checks made out to the fund may be sent to the Kapiolani Health Foundation, 55 Merchant St., 26th Floor, Honolulu 96813.

Hamabata honored with Hookele leadership award

Matt Hamabata , executive director of The Kohala Center, has been recognized as a nonprofit leader in Hawaii who is making a difference in our community and honored with a 2009 Hookele award by the Hawaii Community Foundation and Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation.

Hamabata has guided The Kohala Center from its bare-bones founding in January 2001 to a $4.1 million organization in eight short years, based on the vision of building research and educational programs that help communities on the island and around the world to thrive — ecologically, economically, culturally, and socially.

The Kohala Center is an independent, community-based center for research and education that respectfully engages Hawaii Island as an extraordinary and vibrant learning laboratory for humanity. The Kohala Center builds research and teaching programs about and for the environment, partnering with island experts and experts from universities and research agencies that operate in the national and international arena.

Board, ED named by new nonprofit, After-School All-Stars

Dawn Matsuyama Dunbar has been named executive director of the new nonprofit After-School All-Stars Hawaii, which was started in Hawaii's middle schools this year. Named to the founding board of directors were former Gov. Ben Cayetano; Maya Soetoro-Ng, educator; Jim Donovan, University of Hawaii at Manoa athletic director; Lori Abe, McNeil Wilson Communications; Brett Brewer (board chair), AdKnowledge; Winston Chow, First Hawaiian Bank; Greg Dickhens, Kyo-ya; AJ Halagao, Westlaw Hawaii; Bert A. Kobayashi, Kobayashi Group LLC; Richanne Lam, Morgan Stanley; Jim Polk, Bank of Hawaii; Brett Seitman, It's All About Kids; Toby Taniguchi, KTA Superstores; Jeffrey Watanabe, counsel; Lynn Watanabe, community volunteer; and Aubrey Yee, Pacific-Home.

Hawaii Women Lawyers elects new officers, directors

Hawaii Women's Lawyers has elected new officers and directors for 2009-2010: Joanne Lo Grimes, president; Ruth K. Oh, vice president/president-elect; Shellie K. Park Hoapili, secretary; Zale T. Okazaki, treasurer; and directors Emi L. Kaimuloa, Lori K. Amano, Sarah Bazzi, Cathy Betts, Dianne Brookins, Stacey Djou, M. Nalani Fujimori Kaina, Lane Hornfeck, Jen-L. Lyman, Lynne McGivern, Tricia Nakamatsu, Karen Nakasone, Jennifer Rose, Patsy Saiki, Lauren R. Sharkey and Natalie Wilson. Student representatives are Jennifer Allen, Jamila Jarmon and Erin Kobayashi.

MADD names new officers for 2009-2010

The MADD Hawaii Council named its officers for 2009-2010: Arkie Koehl, council chairman; Rachel Ledford, treasurer; and Kari Benes, secretary. Vice presidents are Theresa Paulette, Sara Dudgeon, David Taylor, Elsa Honma and Anita DiMauro.

HCAP adds two new directors to its staff

Karl Espaldon and Robert Naniole have joined the executive management team at the Honolulu Community Action Program.

Espaldon has been named the new Director of Planning, Program Development and Communications at HCAP. He was formerly the State of Hawaii’s Statewide Drug Control Liaison, coordinating a statewide anti-drug initiative. Prior to that, he was the Research, Planning, and Resource Development Administrator and Interim Executive Director of the Office of Community Services, State of Hawaii for more than five years, overseeing state and federal human services programs for the economically disadvantaged, immigrants, and refugees. Karl has also served the community as a Deputy Public Defender, an Intermediate Court of Appeals Law Clerk, and a Congressional Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill.

Naniole becomes HCAP’s new Director of Community Services, succeeding Val Tavai who stepped forward a couple of weeks ago to lead the agency’s charge in addressing the many challenges faced by its clients in our Leeward District as its District’s new Senior District Service Manager. Naniole was Program Specialist/Program Administrator at the Office of Community Services and returns to HCAP after four years with the State. He was a Community Service Manager in HCAP’s Windward District Office and a Community Worker at the agency’s Central District Office. He also chairs the Windward Community School for Adults, School Community Council and is a commissioner on the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service.