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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Aloha my fellow members,
Well, we’ve done it, friends—we’ve survived 2020. It was a challenging year to say the least—I never imagined on January 1 last year that I’d spend the next 12 months facing a global pandemic, having hundreds of Zoom meetings or finding other ways to engage with the world, but here we are.
2020 was challenging but yet fruitful and gave us a lot of opportunities to connect as well as become better, more creative and innovative. I hope you agree with me as you see how it impacted our Club, membership, service work and, importantly, our connection and friendship! There is no doubt that we've become stronger together!
With this message, let's courageously step up in 2021 and continue making the difference in our lives and our community and in the world!
With aloha,
Ary Radnaeva
2020 - 2021 President of the RCHS
UPCOMING COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
The Tree Planting service project is rescheduled for 2021! See the details below and sign up!
What: Each person will plant 10-15 trees. These trees will never be cut down or sold for profit.
How: Holes are pre-dug! Training, equipment, parking, and directions will be provided.
Please sign up by January 16th by emailing to our Club's President and Tree Planting Ambassador Ary at radnaeva.aryuna@gmail.com
UPCOMING MEETING - January 7th
Please join us for our weekly meeting on Zoom! Our usual informal happy (half) hour begins at 6:00 pm, and the bell rings at 6:30 pm to formally start the meeting.
Our speakers are Sam King II and James Stone Jr.
Samuel Wilder King II is a Native Hawaiian attorney born and raised on Oahu. Sam’s family has deep roots in Hawaii. Sam is descended from the chiefs of Maui and Oahu defeated by Kamehameha at the battle of Nuuanu. Sam’s family also served in the court of Liliuokalani and in the administration of the Provisional Government and the Republic of Hawaii. Sam’s grandfather was the legendary federal judge Samuel P. King, and his parents, Samuel P. King, Jr., and Adrienne King are both respect attorneys of long standing in Honolulu. Adrienne is an active Rotarian.
In addition to Sam’s deep family roots, he is also developing deep professional roots in Hawaii. After graduating from Punahou in 2002, Georgetown in 2006, and working in DC, Iraq and Afghanistan for a few years, Sam returned home to attend UH Law School, graduating Cum Laude in 2013. Sam clerked for Justice Richard W. Pollack, was an associate at Case Lombardi & Pettit, where he practiced real estate development law, and is now contracts attorney handling vendor contracts and commercial leases for a major health insurer in Hawaii.
Most relevant to TMT, Sam is the Executive Director of Imua TMT, a Native Hawaii-led group advocating for the construction of TMT on Mauna Kea.
James Mauliola Keaka Stone, Jr. Esq. is a native-Hawaiian attorney with 32 years of experience whose practice focuses upon the representation of real estate companies, trade associations, risk management and political consulting. He served as legislative staff in the Hawaii State Legislature and the U.S. Congress and has written fifteen certified real estate continuing education courses, over fifty risk management training seminars and well over a hundred articles covering a wide range of legal topics.
Regarding Hawaiian culture, Mr. Stone is an accomplished musician and hula practitioner who was trained by Winnona Kapuailohiamanonokalani Beamer and Henry Moikeha Pa. Mr. Stone has recorded five CDs and has been nominated for three Na Hoku Hanohano awards. In 2008, he won the "Hoku" for Album of the Year for, "Na Lani E Ha" as both co-producer and recording artist. Additionally, he was the President of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame from 2004-2016.
To join the meeting via Zoom, please follow this link:
Dial by your location: +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma).
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Albert Bediones writes:
I was born in Manila, the Philippines, the eldest of nine children. There would have been more of us but my folks, both Catholic, eventually figured out that the rhythm (and blues) contraceptive method (the only one approved by the church at that time)---didn’t always work.
My mother was a teacher and my father was a lawyer who wanted me to follow in his footsteps. I wanted to study business (I had heard too many lawyer jokes). As a compromise, I stayed an extra year in college and earned a bachelor of science in business administration degree as well as a bachelor of arts degree with history and political science as my majors, and eventually went to law school.
After earning my MBA (with a major in finance), aside from my full-time job, I taught Financial Management to college seniors at my alma mater. The university paid so little and I was driving a gas-guzzling car. I was spending more than I was making and it didn’t make any sense to teach---especially financial management.
I was fortunate (and had the good sense) to marry a wonderful young lady, Dolores, whose educational background included an economics degree (cum laude) and postgraduate studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. I know I could have done worse but I am certain I could not do any better.
Our son, Michael, is a graduate of Punahou (with honors, as he takes after his mother) and Tufts University. He earned his MBA from Georgetown University and works for the Rockefeller Group (the same firm that built the Rockefeller Center in New York). Our daughter, Amanda, went to Northeastern University and together with Dolores, they are the #1 real estate team at Locations LLC, one of the top real estate firms. They recently sold a $6.5M home in Kahala and we are now up to 3 square meals a day.
Many moons ago, I trained to be a reserve police officer. Interesting fact: Katherine Kealoha was in my class at the Police Academy---the 13th Reserves, and her husband---then a captain--- was one of our instructors. In answer to your question, no, he did not teach ethics.
I am currently a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley and still can’t believe they pay me to do this job. I am up at 6 am as I am licensed---and have clients---in several states with different time zones. I work 7 days a week and have wonderful clients. I am concerned about dying because my clients, who depend on me to handle their money, would kill me if I did.
I have been a Rotarian for 32 years with perfect attendance in 7 of those years. I was president of the Rotary Club of Pearlridge (1994-95), and that year, for the first time, we won the Club of the Year award as well as thirteen other awards, a record which has not been broken to date. My district governor was so pleased that he wrote me a big check to represent the district at the Rotary Convention in Nice, France.
After my year as club president, I served as Assistant Governor and then three years as the district’s International Service chair and I expanded the matching grants program, followed by 2 years as the district’s Awards chair. Under the old structure in 1998-99, I served as Lieutenant Governor. For the last 25 years, I have been---and currently am---the chair of a selection committee of the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation (HRYF).
My wife is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Kahala Sunrise; my son is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Downtown Pau Hana. Rotary can be contagious.
I collect vintage guitars mostly from the 40’s, 50’s and mid-60’s. I enjoy music, particularly songs that are evocative of the good old days.
I also collect watches. I like guns, and like Paul, my favorite is a Sig Sauer 226. I enjoy going to the shooting range out here in Hawaii Kai and encourage everyone to stay away from the area when I’m there as my aim isn’t so good anymore.
I play a variation of golf called “hit-and-hope” with a group that has grown larger over the years. We play on Sunday mornings and enjoy each other’s company and especially the trash talking.
As I head into the sunset of my life, I have come to the realization that material things will not be as important in my old age as cherished memories of wonderful times shared with family and friends.
I am reminded of someone who once said, “I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by circumstance but by our disposition.”
I can’t resist throwing in two more quotes from Lao Tzu which have guided me through life---one, “If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” And the other, “He who is contented is rich.”
And finally, I am convinced that success is when you look back on your life and most of the memories make you smile.
President Ary Radnaeva
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
“The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty.”
Samuel Wilder King II is a Native Hawaiian attorney born and raised on Oahu. Sam’s family has deep roots in Hawaii. Sam is descended from the chiefs of Maui and Oahu defeated by Kamehameha at the battle of Nuuanu. Sam’s family also served in the court of Liliuokalani and in the administration of the Provisional Government and the Republic of Hawaii. Sam’s grandfather was the legendary federal judge Samuel P. King, and his parents, Samuel P. King, Jr., and Adrienne King are both respect attorneys of long standing in Honolulu. Adrienne is an active Rotarian.
