President
Su Shin
Chief Communications Officer
Board of Water Supply
630 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96843
Office: 748-5311
sshin@hbws.org
Su Shin leads the strategic communications programs for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous city agency charged with providing safe and dependable water supplies for Oahu. She is responsible for the executive vision and development of strategies for a compelling and cogent communications program to advance the BWS strategic initiatives. Su oversees both internal and external communications, including community relations, public affairs, educational outreach, agency and media relations. Prior to joining BWS, Su was Vice President at Joan Bennet & Associates, Inc., a strategic communications firm, for nearly 4 years, and worked at KHNL-TV, Hawaii's NBC affiliate as a news reporter and in sales for 8 years.
President – elect
Elizabeth Ahana
Communications Specialist
Kamehameha Schools
567 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813
Office: 534-3872
elahana@ksbe.edu
After graduating in 1997 from Chaminade University with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Elizabeth Ahana began her communications and PR career with Kapi`olani Health in 1999. In 2002, she joined the Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division as their Public Relations Officer. Elizabeth currently serves as a Communications Specialist at Kamehameha Schools – responsible for internal and external communications of the School’s community education and collaborations as it relates to the institution’s Education Strategic Plan.
Vice President - Finance
Lynne Unemori
VP - Corporate Relations
Hawaiian Electric Company
P.O. Box 2750
Honolulu, HI, 96840
Office: 543-7972
lynne.unemori@heco.com
Lynne Unemori manages a staff that provides a range of communications services addressing strategic issues management, media relations, community relations support, and employee communications. She also helps develop utility investor communications for parent company, HEI. Lynne previously served as director of Hawaiian Electric’s corporate communications department, and prior to entering the communications field, also held positions as director of HECO’s tax department and as a Certified Public Accountant for the international firm, Coopers & Lybrand (nka PricewaterhouseCoopers). She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Vice President – Awards
Linda Howe
Community Relations Manager
Alexander & Baldwin
822 Bishop Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Office: 808-525-6642
lhowe@abinc.com
Linda Howe is community relations manager for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., responsible for the administration of the A&B Foundation, which grants more than $1.5 million each year in Hawaii and on the West Coast. Along with other community programs, she is responsible for A&B’s monthly employee newsletter, institutional advertising, and media relations. Linda has been with A&B since 1992, had worked for Pacific Resources, Inc. for seven years and for Stryker Weiner Associates from 1983-1985.
Vice President-University Relations
Whitfield, James Ph.D.
Professor, College of Communication
Hawaii Pacific University
1132 Bishop Street, Suite 504-15 (FH 540-15)
Office Phone Number: 808-544-0824
Voice Mail: 808-544-0825
E-mail: jwhitfield@hpu.edu
James D. Whitfield has been a Professor of Communication at HPU from January 2003 to the present. Prior to joining HPU he was a professor of journalism at the University of Louisiana—Monroe. He also taught at Texas A&I, Texas Tech and Tarleton State. James was a journalist in South Texas and North Texas for several years before beginning his career in education. He also has public relations experience in Louisiana, directing several strategic communication campaigns for state agencies. He taught for the Institute for Shipboard Education's Semester at Sea program fall 2002 semester. Honors include election as Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism/Mass Communication Honor Society Advisor of the Year, 2002. He was a Fulbright scholar in China and Tibet in 2002 and was president of the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication in 2000 - 2001. He has a doctorate from Texas Tech University, a master of arts from the University of North Texas, and a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Vice President – Communications
Kris Tanahara
Vice President
Stryker Weiner & Yokota
737 Bishop Street, #2860
Honolulu, HI, 96813
Office: 523-8802, x23
tanahara@strykerweiner.com
Kris M. Tanahara is a vice president with Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations, Inc. She oversees the Corporate and Public Affairs Division, which provides communications support and strategic counsel to a wide array of clients including The Home Depot, AIG Hawaii, Honolulu Festival Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Kris has extensive experience in print and broadcast journalism and has worked for The Honolulu Advertiser in Hawaii, Voice of America in Fiji and The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Puget Sound.
Vice President – Communications
Keala Peters
Director of Communications & Donor Relations
Hawaii Pacific Health
55 Merchant Street, 26th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
Office: 808-535-7522
keala.peters@kapiolani.org
Keala Peters’ work focuses on Hawaii Pacific Health’s Philanthropy Communications. Keala leads the Philanthropy Department’s strategic communications effort which includes media relations, newsletters, digital and Kapi`olani Children’s Hospital’s 100 Years of Caring For Children Campaign in 2009. Prior to joining HPH, a non-profit healthcare system that includes Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women & Children; Kapi`olani Medical Center at Pali Momi; Straub Clinic & Hospital; and Wilcox Memorial Hospital, Keala was a Regional Marketing Manager with Nike, Inc for eight years. While with Nike, Keala developed the NIKETOWN 5k Run Series in Hawaii and later led its national expansion in 6 mainland US cities. Keala is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations & Journalism.
Vice President – Professional Development
Darcie Scharfenstein
Principal
DP Communications
540 Iolani Ave. #17
Honolulu, HI 96813
Office: 808-228-0211
darciescharfenstein@msn.com
Darcie Scharfenstein brings more than 14 years of experience in media, public relations, marketing, special events and community education to her clients. She develops and implements corporate communications and government affairs plans; public opinion campaigns; issues management; crisis communications; and integrated marketing initiatives. She is currently carrying forward a communications strategy for a $10 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to improve early education in Hawai‘i; and creating early education outreach programs in several Native Hawaiian communities across the state. Darcie has been extensively involved in the early learning community, having served on the Early Learning Task Force for the Hawai‘i State Legislature. She has also served as Director of Community Relations for the Hawaiian Humane Society -- a $5.1 million non-profit organization. While there, she was responsible for the organization’s stakeholder engagement, communications efforts, community outreach and education, advocacy and volunteer programs.
Darcie has worked as a print and broadcast journalist for media outlets around the globe, including the Institutional Investor and Clear Channel Communications.
Vice President -Web Communications
Andrea Maglasang
Communication Manager
Olomana Marketing LLC
220 S King St Ste 1190
Honolulu, HI 96813
Office: 808-550-0043 x33
andrea@pogas.com
Andrea Maglasang currently serves as Communication Manager for Olomana Marketing, an integrated marketing company that implements customized strategies to help clients grow their businesses. Prior to Olomana, Andrea worked in the Institutional Advancement Department at Chaminade University of Honolulu where she coordinated projects for multiple branches of development (foundation relations, major donor relations, alumni relations, communication and marketing). Prior to her work at Chaminade, Andrea served as Communication Analyst in Governor Linda Lingle's communication and public relations team. Andrea currently coaches and competes on a local triathlon team, where she serves as communication and marketing advisor. She holds a degree in Literature from the University of California Santa Cruz with a focus in Communication and Rhetoric. She graduated from the Hogan Entrepreneur Program at Chaminade University, and is currently enrolled in Chaminade's MBA program with a not-for-profit focus.
Vice President – Membership/Marketing
Lee Tokuhara
Senior Account Director
Bennet Group Strategic Communications
3300 A Pacific Heights Road
Honolulu, HI 96813
Office: 808-531-6087, ext. 5
lee@bennetgroup.com
Lee Tokuhara joined Bennet Group in 2005 and works with clients in several industries, including finance and banking, and real estate development. Community building and public policy are critical components to ensure successful campaigns for her land use development clients. Prior to joining Bennet Group, Lee worked in a variety of industries in Seattle and Hawaii, including high technology, health care, public education and non-profit and community work. Born and raised in Hawaii, she graduated from Gonzaga University with a BBA in marketing and a minor in international business. She earned her MBA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2005.
Vice President- Administration
Colleen Sotomura
Director of Institutional Advancement
Punahou School
1601 Punahou Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Office: 808-944-3578
csotomura@punahou.edu
Colleen Sotomura is the Director of Institutional Advancement for Punahou School. She oversees three administrative branches of the school: Alumni Relations, Communications (publications, web site, media relations) and Development (fundraising & donor stewardship). Being the largest independent, kindergarten through 12th grade school in the nation, Colleen and her Advancement Team provide “college-model” advancement services to 23,000 alumni world-wide and nearly 3,800 students and their families each year. Colleen’s dual career path includes both marketing, corporate communications and brand management as well as philanthropy. In the area of communications, she has held executive positions in the for-profit and non-profit sector managing national and statewide PR and advertising campaigns in Hawaii and on the mainland. Her real love is creating brand identity and marketing programs for state and national corporations. In the area of philanthropy, Colleen served as the Vice President of Marketing and Charitable Services for the Hawaii Community Foundation. In this role, she managed strategic communications programs emphasizing media partnerships. She was also responsible for the charitable operations of four neighbor island offices. Prior to coming to Hawaii, she was the Chief Operating & Communications Officer of the Sierra Health Foundation in Sacramento, California, one of the largest philanthropic health foundations in that state. She also worked with a large health care foundation, coordinating the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, a television documentary and other philanthropic programs. Colleen’s community service includes serving on the boards of the International Association of Business Communicators in Sacramento, CA; Junior League of Sacramento; Association of Fundraising Professionals, Aloha Chapter; and the Women’s Fund of Hawaii. She is a graduate and fellow of two national leadership institutes: the Women Leading Change Institute and the Asian Pacific Women’s Leadership Institute.
Past President
Steve Golden
VP - External Affairs
The Gas Company
745 Fort Street, 18th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
Office: 535-5913
sgolden@hawaiigas.com
Steve Golden directs The Gas Company's communications programs and environmental, health, safety and training programs. His responsibilities include corporate communications, employee communications, and government affairs and regulatory affairs. Previously, he managed the company’s sales, marketing and customer relations’ activities. Prior to joining The Gas Company, he served for seven years as a public policy analyst/advisor for state and county elected officials. Steve holds a master's degree in urban and regional planning and a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has served on the IABC-Hawaii board for six years.
IABC-Hawaii Senior Advisors
Arnold Kishi
Director – eGovernment
(Information & Communication)
State of Hawaii
Office: 586-1920, x326
akishi@hawaii.edu
Arnold is a member of the IABC Executive committee
Lance Tanaka
Government Relations Manager
Tesoro Hawaii Corporation
91-325 Komohana Street
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
Tel: (808) 547-3920
ltanaka@tsocorp.com
Lance is a member of the IABC Pacific Plains Regional board
Alan Tang
President & CEO
Olomana Marketing
220 S. King Street, #1190
Honolulu, HI, 96813
Office: 550-0043 ext 25
alan.tang@pogas.com
Alan is a member of the IABC Pacific Plains Regional board
