Kamaaina Awards recognize community builders for long term service

KANEOHE—Six awards were given to Kaneohe residents who were recently honored for their long-term dedication to the community. Hank Iida, the T. Iida family, Ron Bright, Art Machado, and Teri and Clifford Loo were all recognized at the Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club’s (KHCC) recent 4th Annual Distinguished Kamaaina Awards Recognition night, where “celebrating their makana to our community” was the focus. KHCC member Mahealani Cypher conferred the awards to the recipients along with a speech explaining their exceptional dedication to the community in ways that affect the history and heritage of the region.

Hank Iida
Hank Iida, an aerospace engineer and head of T. Iida Contracting, Ltd., has a long resume of service to Kaneohe, including over 30 years in the Rotary Club and as a trustee for the Hawaii Carpenters health and Welfare Trust Fund. He has been president of the Castle Alumni/Community Association since 1989, and has been involved with community projects like the H-3 Run, Castle High School’s 50th Anniversary fundraiser, repairing the bridges at Waikalua Loko fishpond, and the bus shelter at Windward Community College.

T. Iida family
Cypher’s speech for the T. Iida family took on a personal tone, testifying to how embedded the recipients were in the community.

“In 1937,” Cypher said, “Tomitaro Iida and his family moved to Kaneohe and started their construction business. 1937, the same year the Kaneohe Civic Club was established! They rented a house from the Yim family next to Y. Ah Lin store and had eight children: Grace, Florence, Henry, Betsy, Thelma, Charles, Alvin and Hamilton.

“The business officially became T. Iida Contracting in 1960. Since that time, they have built numerous homes, office buildings, and public institutions and facilities throughout the Kaneohe region, including schools, fire stations, churches, temples, and more.”

Some notable projects were the Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii, the Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center on Haiku Road, the Kaumakapili Congregational Church community center in Kalihi, Calvary Episcopal Church, Higashi Hongwanji Mission, and the Olympic-sized pool in Kailua.

“But perhaps most of us,” continued Cypher, “were touched by the Iidas if we lived in a house that they built. I did, I grew up in an Iida home.”

Also, in 2007, Florence Iida Fanning put together a book titled Partial History of the Japanese in Kane`ohe, 1898 to 1959.

Ron Bright
Ron Bright, an educator with roots in both Castle High School and Windward Community College, directed over 100 plays and musicals before his retirement. However, he still remains active in the performing arts, education and community.

“In his 50-plus years of directing and nurturing the lives of people young and old,” said Cypher, “he has always encouraged them to stretch, to reach beyond their perceived limits, to become responsible, respectful, and productive in their communities.”

His awards include the Living Treasure Award, Public Schools of Hawaii Kulia I ka Nuu Award for High Achievement, Hawaii State Teacher of the Year, Father of the Year, National Guardsman of the Year, the National Milken Family Foundation Educator of the Year, UH Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, and the University of Hawaii College of Education Alumni Association’s Stueben Crystal Apple Award. His production of Miss Saigon was awarded a Pookela for Overall Musical for 2008.

While teaching drama at Castle in the 1970s, he successfully marched his students to the State Legislature to rally for funding to house the school drama program.

Art Machado
Art Machado has been a part of the Kaneohe community since 1960, getting involved in youth athletics, founding the Kahaluu Pop Warner program, and been president of the Hawaii Bowling Association.

He has been involved with the Miss Kaneohe pageant, the School Battle of the Bands, the St. Louis Class of ’58 reunions, the Kaneohe Marine Corps Bay Fest, and Windward City Lights. He founded the Kaneohe Hoolaulea, and has been chairman of the Christmas Parade for 38 years.

In addition to special events, he has been part of local governance by serving on the Kahaluu Neighborhood Board, the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council, a Rash Residency and Member of the Exchange Club of Kaneohe for 25 years, was made an honorary member of the Kaneohe Business Group, and recently formed the Coalition to Save the Communities from Heeia to Koolau District Park from Drugs.

He made the Hall of Fame of Bowling in 2004 and was named Outstanding Citizen by the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board in 2008.

Teri and Clifford Loo
Teri And Clifford Loo received the Helen C. Kane Mahalo Award, established by the late Oahu Council President Mary K. Robinson, which recognizes Civic Club members of the Council for contributions.

“It was the belief of Mary K. Robinson,” Cypher said, “that such contributions had gone unnoticed and it was time that such members are truly recognized for their efforts.”

Helen C. Kane of the Nanaikapono Civic Club passed away while serving on the Oahu Council board, and, because she worked hard towards establishing the recognition sought by Robinson, the award was named after her.

“Our honorees this year are kamaaina residents of Waihee ahupuaa,” said Cypher. “Both are cultural practitioners, having been instructed in Hawaiian crafts and dance by native Hawaiian experts and their kupuna. Their service to the Hawaiian civic clubs is known throughout the islands, as they coordinate the volunteer program to clean Mauna Ala, the Royal Mausoleum, to honor our alii. They are tireless, dedicated volunteers, always willing to give service, not just to our club, but to the community and to other civic clubs and the Oahu Council and state association.”