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Speaker for May 8, 2026
West Honolulu Rotary Foundation update at the 3/21 Assembly

Congratulations and deeply appreciation to CPA Ronald Young, our WHRF Chair, and CPA Walter Chang, who diligently dedicated over 100 hours to completing and filing the IRS Form 1023. Thanks to their hard work and commitment, our 501(c)(3) status—lost in August 2025—has been successfully reinstated WHRF Non-Profit Status as of the end of February 2026.

The West Honolulu Rotary Foundation was incorporated on May 16, 1983, marking over four decades of service and commitment to the community.

The original incorporators were members of the West Honolulu Rotary Club and included Past District Governors Albert Hastings (1965–66), Ralph Honda (1971–72), and Ronald Young (1990–91).

Albert Hastings made a significant philanthropic contribution of over $262,000 to establish a scholarship program, now known as the Al Hastings Fund in Sept 1983.

Ronald Young played a key role in forming the Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. He prepared and submitted the necessary documentation to the Internal Revenue Service, successfully securing tax-exempt status. The donation was structured as an endowment fund in Al Hastings' name to ensure long-term sustainability.

Lincoln Ishida, also a club member, drafted the original Charter of Incorporation and Bylaws. These documents, including Exhibits A and B, were filed with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and approved on May 16, 1983.

Today, Ronald Young remains the only living incorporator.  Lincoln Ishida, who authored the original Charter and Bylaws, are still available to monitor the compliance of the By-Law.  We are so fortune to have this 2 dedicated Rotarians to continue to practice the Rotary spirit "Service Above Self"

 

Congratulation to Wesley Fong and Gordon Au
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii named the Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 Recipient : Wesley Fong
 
Wes is an attorney and an adjunct professor teaching law and ethics at the University of HawaiiShidler School of Business, Travel Industry Management. He was a staff counsel for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and a former Hawaii state supervising deputy attorney general in charge of the tort litigation division and a Honolulu city senior deputy corporation counsel and the head of the trials division. He is a court appointed arbitrator. He also holds a real estate broker’s license.
 
He graduated from Punahou School, the University of Hawaii with a B.A. degree in political science and the University of Illinois School of Law with a JD degree. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General School, Command & General Staff College and U.S. Army War College.
 
A Vietnam veteran, he retired as a colonel, U.S. Army. He served as a captain in the Medical Service Corps in Vietnam and later served as the staff judge advocate, U.S. Army Pacific Reserves; deputy commander, Pacific Liaison Command; and the staff judge advocate, U.S. Army/ Japan. He was awarded the legion of merit, two bronze stars, two meritorious service medals, the Vietnamese cross of gallantry awarded by the Republic of Vietnam and combat medic badge.
 
Recently appointed by the governor as a commissioner on the Hawaii Sister State and International Partnership Commission, he is also the chair of Neighborhood Board 14. He has served as the chair of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission and vice chair of the Honolulu Liquor Commission.  His past community service includes president the Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Arthritis Foundation; Military Officers Association of America; Hawaii; Maryknoll School Advisory Board; Palolo Chinese Home; West Honolulu Rotary Club; Hawaii Chinese Civic Association; Mun Lun Chinese School; Chinatown Community Center Association; and See Dai Doo Society. He was also the vice chair of the Hawaii/Pacific Export Council, Department of Commerce and a director of Catholic Charities Hawaii.
 
Among his honors, he is the recipient of the national Jefferson Award for Public Servicethe Distinguished University of Hawaii Alumni Award; the Organization of Chinese American Award for community service; the Hawaii Chinese Civic Association Mandarin Award for community service and personal achievement; the Jaycees International Old Timers Award for community service; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars 50th Vietnam Anniversary Commemoration Medal (only 50 awarded in Hawaii) for military and community service.

           In regards to the Chamber, besides being a past president and engaged in many Chamber activities, from 2008 – 2018, on behalf of the Chamber, he coordinated and led the Hawaii Veterans Good will Delegations comprised of retired military generals and admirals, at the invitation of the China Association for International Friendly Contact, to foster a better friendship and understanding between China and the U.S. He also established the Chamber’s Chinatown Outreach Task Force that assisted the Chinatown merchants during the power outage in Chinatown and which has made significant major improvements in Chinatown to make it more safe and secure for our residents and tourists.
 
 
 
 
 
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii named Outstanding Business Person Award 2026 Recipient : Gordon Au
 
Gordon Au is a seasoned insurance professional with Finance Insurance and a dedicated Board Director of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. With decades of experience, he remains highly active in the property and casualty market, handling both commercial and personal lines, and is widely regarded as one of the most active senior Asian agents in Hawaii in generating new business.
 
Beyond his professional work, Gordon is deeply committed to community service. He volunteers monthly to support Mun Lun School and assists with landscaping work and also the same at Lobster King Restaurant. He is also a founding member of the Palolo Chinese Home's Annual Dynasty Golf Tournament, contributing to its long-standing success.
 
In addition to his insurance career, Gordon has maintained a strong interest in the stock market for over 20 years and was the winner of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Stock Contest in 2002. 
 
 
 
Upcoming Events
Vocational Speaker
May 08, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Speaker Liz Fujii
May 15, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Speaker Kaulana Park
May 22, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Speaker John Ham
May 29, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Speaker Jill Kappei
Jun 05, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Vocational Speaker
Jun 12, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Speaker America 250
Jun 19, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Installation Banquet
Jun 26, 2026
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
View entire list
Rotary Special Dates
Member Birthdays
Cecilia Fong
May 20
 
Dwight Amemiya
May 29
 
Join Date
Cleigh Pang
May 1, 1985
41 years
 
Michael Kato
May 30, 2007
19 years
 
Stories
Student Exchange Program
This year Student Exchange Program is closed and we have 2 students participation.  We will share more details with you later.
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Announcements 
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Our regular meetings are held at The Edge at 31 North Pauahi. We need a head count by Tuesday each week before the meeting, please sign up on the Google form CLICK HERE or via the emailed invite. Address : 31 North Pauahi Street, between Nuuanu and Smith, private room the the back, parking at Municipal lot at 1-35 N Beretania St.  Payment by credit card only. If you didn't sign up, please join us and get your food upfront in the restaurant.
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