8/19/2021: Historic Hawai‘i Foundation invited the six new members of the Board of Trustees who were officially appointed at yesterday’s Annual Meeting to tell us about their personal interests and the path that led them to HHF.  Vernon Wong, who was elected board president, also reciprocated. We hope you will appreciate their candid and thoughtful responses.

Q&A with the Trustees
Elected to Serve a First Term on the Board

The questions asked:

1. Tell us a little about yourself and what motivated you to join the HHF board.
2. Please name one of your favorite historic places in Hawai‘i and describe what makes it special to you. (Imagine where you’d take an out-of-town guest, for example.)
3. Have you learned anything about yourself during the Covid-19 pandemic that you would be willing to share?
4. Do you have a favorite book (provide the title and author), poem, or quote that you would like to share?
5. What are you most proud of?

JEREMY BALDWIN

Jeremy Baldwin’s roots on Maui and O‘ahu go back six generations. He is manager and part owner of JKT Partnership which owns a number of historic buildings in Makawao Town on Maui. He has a BS in physics from Harvey Mudd College but has always been more interested in building and architecture. Many historic properties of the family led to repairs and renovations relying on traditional methods and the making of many sash windows. Single wall construction is the most fun to restore because it was often covered up and is more unique to the islands. He serves on the boards of Seabury Hall, Montessori School of Maui and the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation.

I enjoy being involved with small historical projects and always viewed the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation as being involved with larger projects so I was surprised when I was asked to join the board.

Lahaina town is a place I enjoy taking off-island guests, with its extreme proximity to the ocean and many buildings that could not be built today.  It offers many hints at what life used to be like, while still being vibrant.

During Covid some people enjoyed staying home but I did not, and made a point of getting out and observing and socializing in ways that I deemed safe.

I have trouble with favorites and when it comes to books, I suppose I would choose Hawaiian historical books that I come back to from time to time as I notice historical facts that I am fuzzy on.  “From Land and Sea: The Story of Castle and Cooke of Hawai‘i” by Frank J. Taylor, Earl M. Welty, and David W. Eyre chronicles events during times of significant change in Hawai‘i and reveals a surprising point of vulnerability of H. P. Baldwin.

For the last 30 years with some gaps, I am proud to be involved in renovating some commercial properties in Makawao town.  It is a fairly humble place that has seen varying degrees of adaptive reuse.  I have revised and added a number of things, replacing anachronistic materials and methods.  Functionally, I have added public bathrooms and quite of bit of parking, without impacting the quaint character of Makawao.

CHRIS HONG, AIA
English Hong Architecture

Chris Hong is a Principal at English Hong Architecture, where he oversees projects ranging from financial institutions to healthcare architecture. Mr. Hong graduated from California Polytechnical Institute at San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Architecture. He is a licensed architect in Hawai‘i and Washington. He worked with the Seattle-based architecture firm NBBJ before returning to Hawai‘i to join G70, a local design and planning firm. After a time with Redmont Group as the president of architecture, Chris co-founded English Hong Architecture in 2019. His community service includes terms as director and president of the Hawai‘i Architectural Foundation, president of AIA Honolulu, and an active member of the Build Committee and Board member for Honolulu Habitat for Humanity. 

I was born in Honolulu and raised in Palolo. I attended Punahou High School and studied architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo prior to starting my career at NBBJ in Seattle. After 6 years at NBBJ, I moved back home in 2011 to take care of family and make a positive impact here in Hawai‘i. I worked at G70 before starting a partnership in 2019 called English Hong Architecture.

I served as AIA Honolulu President and currently serve as the President of the Hawaii Architectural Foundation as well as a Board Member for Honolulu Habitat for Humanity. I am also a visiting lecturer at the University of Hawai’i School of Architecture, having taught several classes before starting the new firm, and I have been serving on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Dean’s Leadership Council for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design since 2016. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation has always been an organization that I have respected and admired, and I was honored to be asked to join the Board of Trustees. I am hoping to become a valued member and contribute my knowledge, network, and effort to the organization.

There are two different homes that have always been special to me. The Liljestrand House and the Charlot House, both are amazing examples of what architecture in Hawai‘i should be and both are places of several memorable experiences that I have had in my life.  With each visit to these homes, I was amazed at how beautifully the architecture complimented the site and vice versa. The transitions from room to room are so logically orchestrated while sculptural elements, like the staircases of each home, demonstrate functional beauty.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a very trying time for all of us and has put an undue strain on every aspect of our lives. Out of the many lessons I learned during the pandemic, my biggest take-away was to not take anything for granted. Things as simple as my morning and pau hana commutes took on a whole new meaning once they were eliminated from my routine. I hadn’t realized how much I needed that time to mentally prepare myself to focus on work and how much I needed the commute home to clear my head of work and re-focus on my family. Despite the hardships that we all faced, there were upsides including spending a lot more time with my family and helping my stepdaughter with her online schooling. My immediate and extended family have always been a huge part of my life, and the pandemic taking away our regular family gatherings left me cherishing family time even more.

There are quite a few books that I have enjoyed reading over and over and a few that have helped shape my architectural career. Reading Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino in college made me realize how poetic the built environment can be and what stories can be derived from experiences walking through constructed landscapes. The other book to really resonate with me is called Down Detour Road: An Architect in Search of Practice by Eric Cesal. This book, which documents one architecture students journey after graduating during the 2008 recession, posed several thoughtful questions that have stayed constant in mind as I have navigated my own journey.

I would have to say (I’m most proud of) my family. I am proud of how my daughter has not only persevered but thrived through the challenges of the pandemic, proud of my wife for her continual professional growth all the while being the central figure of our family, and proud of my parents for continuing to live full healthy lives and denying “old age” from hindering them.

JAMES KELLY
Hawaiian Electric Co.

Jim Kelly is Vice President, Government and Community Relations and Corporate Communications for Hawaiian Electric. He is responsible for overseeing the company’s relationships with state and local government and its community engagement and customer education activities. He also oversees internal and external communications, including advertising and customer research. Previously, he was vice president of corporate relations, responsible for Hawaiian Electric’s communications activities. Before joining HECO in 2016, Mr. Kelly worked as manager of member services and communications for Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, where he was responsible for KIUC’s customer service and community engagement. Mr. Kelly joined the energy industry after a career as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Massachusetts, Minnesota, California and Hawai‘i. He worked as editor of Pacific Business News in Honolulu and as managing editor of The Honolulu Advertiser. A native of Minnesota, Jim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He has also taken graduate-level courses in historic preservation at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. His community work includes serving as member of the board of directors of the American Red Cross, Hawai‘i State Chapter and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i. 

Historic preservation has always been an interest of mine and a few years ago I decided to become more knowledgeable about it, so I took some graduate classes at UH to at least elevate my vocabulary above the superficial level. I’ve been a longtime member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and thought now would be a great time to become involved with local preservation and education efforts.

Because my wife’s father was a sugar plantation manager, and one of the first Native Hawaiian supervisors, I’m fascinated by the remnants of the sugar industry, especially the administrative offices, the homes that were once part the mill camps or were assigned to the plantation supervisors. I worked for several years on Kauai and one of my favorite spots is the old mill outside Koloa. A lot of it is rusting but intact and you can imagine the bustle of activity around it back in the day.

(I’ve learned during the Covid-19 pandemic) That I’m very loud on phone calls and in virtual meetings.

“Blue Highways” by William Least Heat Moon is one of my favorites, mainly because it’s the road trip book I always meant to write but never got around to.

Besides my smart and creative wife and my two great boys, I’m proud of the 30 years I spent in the newspaper business as a reporter and editor. I was lucky enough to be in journalism when nearly everyone read the daily paper and had a shared factual understanding of what was going on at city hall, on the school board, at the courthouse, at the capitol, so it was up to all of us to get our facts right.

KAWIKA MCKEAGUE, AICP
G70

Kawika McKeague is a Principal and Director of Cultural Planning at G70, where his background, experience and passion have resulted in a unique and knowledgeable approach to land use planning and indigenous responses to design for over 20 years. Kawika’s past work experience has included serving as the Senior Cultural Resource Manager for Kamehameha Schools and as a cultural specialist with the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. Mr. McKeague holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and graduate certification in historic preservation from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Kawika is a Native Hawaiian rights advocate trained as a ho‘opa‘a and ‘ōlapa under Kumu Hula Victoria Holt Takamine and a kīhōʻalu artist by the late Cyril Lani Pahinui. He is the board president of PAʻI Foundation, which preserves and perpetuates Native Hawaiian arts and cultural traditions for future generations. He is a board member of the PAC Foundation, which directs resources to support Polynesian arts and culture. Kawika is also part of a volunteer design team assisting with the ongoing planning and development of Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae, a contemporary refuge rooted in traditional Hawaiian values and kuleana. His past community service has included two terms on the O‘ahu Island Burial Council and as a national design juror for the National Native American Veteran’s Memorial at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

My moʻokūʻauhau (geneaology) connects me from a small village in Prussia to a former fishing village in Ka‘awaloa, Kona Hema on Hawai‘i Island. I was raised in the cascading silhouette of Pu‘u Pālailai in Honouliuli wherein Kapoʻulakīnaʻu revealed herself in the painted auburn and crimson hues of twilight. It was this wahi pana (storied place) that was my kūpuna, my starting point and beginnings of understanding kuleana to placekeeping. For the past 50 years of my existence on this honua (land/Earth), this sense of ancestral obligation, of kuleana, continues to flourish.  I have come to only have the deepest sense of appreciation and aloha for the work that Kiersten and her staff have ‘auamo (shoulder a burden, provide services) in their role and responsibility towards the heritage and legacy of our island home. My motivation is simple–honor those who have come before and ensure there is a birthright to be inherited by those kūpuna yet unborn.

Pūowaina, a.k.a. the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, holds a special place in my heart as this is where most of my ‘ohana, extending four generations, lie in eternal rest. It is a place both of contemplative peace and unresolvable inner conflict. It is a place that is as endearing to me as a place of spiritual nourishment in equal measure as the beaches of Kalaeloa that once provided physical sustenance through the merits of our family’s subsistence fishing practices. Pūowaina is a puʻuhonua (place of refue and peace), in which my invitation conveys a deep conviction of pilina (connection, relationship) to whomever I share my time and energy in this wahi (place).

I have come to appreciate the duality that a view from a window upon the Koʻolau would teach me each day as to the ancestral flow and rhythm of this place we call home is a constant presence and life force if we only pause long enough to move from a state of awareness to a union of our consciousness.

“Foster and polish the warrior spirit while serving in the world; illuminate the path according to your inner light.” – Sensei Morihei Ueshiba

(I feel most proud) When my children sing the songs and tell the stories of our family and our connection to place in their own way.

NICOLE OKUNA
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort

Nicole Okuna is the Hotel Manager for the historic The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort in Waikīkī, where she leads hotel operations. She was previously the Resident Manager and operations leader for the historic Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort and Spa, known as The First Lady of Waikīkī. Other hospitality work has included Director of Sales and Marketing of the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort and Account Director for the Sheraton Kona at Keauhou Bay. Mrs. Okuna holds a Master of Science in Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and a B.A. in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in mathematics from Pepperdine University. Her other community work includes serving on the Board of Directors for the TIM Alumni Association and former co-chair of the Kaua‘i Chapter of Hospitality’s Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs. 

I was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i . Through my professional career, I’ve had the opportunity to live on Maui, Oahu and Kauai and as a resident of each island, I’ve enjoyed exploring the historical sites in each county. After working at two historic hotels (the Moana Surfrider and the Royal Hawaiian), I appreciate the unique experience our historical sites have to offer our guests and enjoy working with a team of associates who bring the unique legacies of each to life.

One of my favorite places to take a visiting friend is Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.  I have been there many times as a child in school and with my family when growing up.  There are a collection of experiences and historical sites that make a visit to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park special.

Her response to questions 2 & 4:”Something good comes out of everything.”

I am proud to be a part of a state champion high school swim team (Waiakea High School 2002).

JOANNA OSHIRO
Deloitte & Touche

Joanna Oshiro serves as the audit managing director in audit enterprise and risk service for the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. She also is the talent recruiting leader in the firm’s Honolulu practice. Ms. Oshiro is a graduate of Punahou School and the University of Washington. She spent a few years in the Deloitte Seattle practice and then made her way home to the Hawai‘i practice. She is nominated to return to the HHF board after a one-year hiatus. She previously served two terms on the board, including two years as President. Ms. Oshiro’s other community service includes terms on the boards of Institute for Human Services, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Aloha Harvest.

I grew up in ‘Aiea on O‘ahu and continue to live there today.  Since first joining HHF’s board in 2014, I’ve enjoyed learning about historic preservation, getting to know other trustees, and witnessing the impact of the small but mighty team at HHF.

One of the most memorable places I’ve had the opportunity to visit as a board member was the Honouliuli Internment Camp, now a National Historic Site. Feeling the intense heat and isolation of the valley while learning about the internees’ experiences in captivity left an unforgettable impression. It’s something I’ll share with my daughter when she’s old enough.

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD (2021-2022)

VERNON WONG
First Hawaiian Bank

Vernon Wong serves as Senior Vice President for the Wealth Management Group at First Hawaiian Bank. Mr. Wong has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has a BA in Business Administration from the University of Hawai‘i and an MBA from Chaminade University. He has served on the board and as President of the Hawai‘i Lupus Foundation and the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise. Other community service includes the boards of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i and the Diamond Head Theatre. He owns a bungalow built in 1927 in Mānoa. Vernon has chaired HHF’s Finance Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee as Board Treasurer. He is nominated for a second term and to serve as President of the Board of Trustees.

I’m a 4th generation local boy from Mānoa who has lived in Mānoa Valley for my entire life. Proud graduate of Roosevelt High and UH Mānoa for my business degree and my MBA from Chaminade University. My wife and our family live in lower Mānoa in a home that was built in 1927. We love our neighborhood and the many historic homes that surround us.

My career started at Ameriprise Financial where I worked for 21 years before joining First Hawaiian Bank in 2005. I am currently a Senior VP in the bank’s Wealth Management group. My wife and I both truly enjoy the history and culture of Hawai‘i, the only home we’ve known. I believe in the mission of the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and am passionate about preserving and encouraging the preservation of the historic buildings, structures, sites, objects which are so important to our history of the Islands. When I was approached to join the Board of HHF, I jumped at the opportunity to join this wonderful board and to have the ability to work with Kiersten and the amazing team at HHF.

I have so many favorite historic places in Hawai‘i. If a friend were visiting, I would take them hiking in Mānoa Valley for the reasons already mentioned.  For architecture, and having worked in the downtown business district for so many years, I just love all of the historic buildings on Merchant and Bishop streets. The one building that I can’t take my eyes off because I literally see it from my office every day is the Alexander and Baldwin Building. The intricate details of the building are extraordinary. Completed in 1929, it is truly a reflection of the incredible architectural design of Will Dickey and Hart Wood. It serves as testament to the pioneers of Hawai‘i Industry and Business.

The thing that I learned most during the Covid-19 pandemic is that life is so precious and also uncertain. It helped me to reflect upon what’s most important to me. It helped me to focus on my family, friends, health and really spend time on the things and people that are important to me, including the community I live in, including the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation.

A couple of books I have enjoyed. “On Bishop Street: Avenue of Hawaii Pioneers” by Kenneth Ames. A great book on the history and importance of the buildings and companies on Bishop published in 1996. The most recent book I have read and enjoyed is “Think Again” by Adam Grant. It was very timely as Grant speaks to the rapidly changing world and the importance of re-thinking our perspectives and point of views. What worked in the past and what we are comfortable with may not be the best approach moving forward. He speaks about why being open-minded and innovative will be essential for businesses to grow.

I am very proud of my family, my wife of 29 years and our two children who have grown up to be everything I could have asked for. I am also very proud of my local roots and incorporating the spirit of aloha and malama in everything that I do.