Pali View Dec 28, 2025 (Dec. 29, 2025)

Aloha West Honolulu Rotary Club members.

I am representing our club as the HRYF Scholarship representative. All high school students applying for the HRYF scholarship need to submit their application and recommendation forms by 2/1/26. Interviews of these applicants will then need to be completed by 2/20/26. Please let me know if you are interested in joining me on the scholarship committee. I am looking for 3 volunteers. You can email me at jventura@fhb.com.

Mahalo!

Jeff Ventura

The Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation (HRYF), was founded by Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan during his year as the Rotary’s District Governor in Hawaii, 1976-1977. Its main objective is to provide scholarships for Hawaii youth to further their education after high school. Scholarship funds are provided from Rotarians, investments, gifts, individual donors, and interest from the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Grant. Each participating Hawaii District 5000 Rotary Club selects a deserving high school student to receive a scholarship to a 4-year college or university in Hawaii or on the U.S. Mainland to earn a baccalaureate degree. Scholarship Awards: For the 2025-2026 year, each participating Rotary Club will select a student to receive a $5,000 or $2,500 HRYF scholarship. From those students selected by the Rotary Clubs, an HRYF committee then selects one student attending a mainland university to receive a $10,000 Maurice J. Sullivan scholarship and another student attending a university in Hawaii to receive the $10,000 Joanna L. Sullivan scholarship. These two scholarships will be awarded instead of the $5,000 awarded by the individual Club.

Applications can be found on the HRYF website: https://www.hawaiirotaryyouthfoundation.org/sitepage/apply-now

April 24, 2026 DOE Honolulu School District speech Festival

Like in years past, WHR members have generously given of their time to serve as volunteer judges for the annual DOE Honolulu School District noncompetitive speech festival. Kids in grades 3 to 5 participate in various categories such as choral reading, poetry, interpretative reading, etc. This spring event will be held on Saturday, April 25, McKinley High, 7A (breakfast/instructions) to 10:30 followed by an awards ceremony.

Let Grace Fujiyoshi know if you are able to judge this event. Thank you for help.
<fujiyoshi.grace@gmail.com>

Speaker for January 9, 2026

Glen Suzuki was born in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, and is a proud graduate of Mid-Pacific Institute and Colorado State University. Traveling back and forth between Colorado and Hawaiʻi during his college years is where he first developed his love for travel.

After graduating from college, Glen returned home and began his career in banking. He worked for all three of Hawaiʻi’s major banks—Bank of Hawaiʻi, American Savings Bank, and First Hawaiian Bank—as a Corporate Trainer. In this role, he traveled extensively to bank branches throughout the state, further fueling his passion for travel. In his free time, Glen enjoys traveling to destinations around the world, collecting frequent flyer miles, and watching sports—especially professional sports.

In 2004, Glen decided to make a career change and entered the property management field, accepting a position with Certified Hawaiʻi. In 2016, he followed Kristi Hirota-Schmidt to Hawaiian Properties, where he currently serves as a Senior Property Manager.

Glen is married to his wife, Shana, a dietitian (although Glen admits he does not always follow her advice). They live in Mililani with their dog.

Kristi Hirota-Schmidt joined Hawaiian Properties, Ltd. in January 2016 and currently leads the company's marketing and advertising initiatives. Since her arrival, the company has more than doubled the number of properties under management, a testament to her dedication, commitment, and valuable contributions.

Prior to joining Hawaiian Properties, Kristi gained a decade of experience overseeing the sales and marketing division of one of Hawaii’s largest association management companies. As Vice President of Marketing, she directed sales and marketing efforts across Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, and the Big Island.

Kristi is completing the final days of her second two-year term (2024 and 2025) as President of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Hawaii Chapter, having previously served in the same role from 2020-2021, and serves as a Governing Councilor at IREM International. Her leadership experience also includes serving as President of the West Oahu Economic Development Association (WOEDA), President of the Rotary Club of West Honolulu and the West Honolulu Rotary Club Foundation, and Vice President of Membership for Toastmasters International. In recognition of her professional accomplishments, Kristi was named one of Hawaii's top young business leaders in Pacific Business News’ Forty Under 40 (2009).

Kristi has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children, as well as a Grief Facilitator for Kids Hurt Too. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Hawaii.

RI Convention in Taipei 2026 Invitation

2026 Rotary International Convention will take place in Taipei Taiwan, June 13-17, 2026. https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/about

Our Sister Club Taipei West is invitation us to a welcome dinner on June 15, and a golf outing on June 17, please RSVP to Terry Lo our Taipei Sister Club liaison.