The Sunset Brief

Weekly President’s Update | Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset

 From the President’s Desk

 Thought of the Week:

"Service above self is not just a motto we speak—it’s the intentional ways we welcome, support, and lift up one another and our community every single day."

Aloha Sunset Rotarians,

We had a fantastic meeting this past Thursday, July 23rd, at the Waikiki Yacht Club!

Our guest speaker was Gianna Consalvo, Service and Engagement Specialist at Rotary International, who delivered a fascinating presentation on Rotary Fellowships.

•  Global Connections: We learned about over 100 international fellowships that unite Rotarians across the globe around shared hobbies, professions, and passions.  There is a wide variety of fellowships including wine, beer, travel, veterans, computer users, and magicians!

•  The Rotary Advantage: Gianna reminded us that one of the greatest benefits of being a Rotarian is the unique opportunity to build lifelong international friendships grounded in common interests—proving how big yet interconnected our Rotary family really is.

 For more information on joining a fellowship or even starting a new one, click here to explore Rotary Fellowships.

 Important Reminder: Schedule Update

•  NO MEETING THIS THURSDAY (JULY 30)

  Please note there will be no regular weekly meeting on Thursday, July 30th. We look forward to seeing everyone at our community service shift on Wednesday, July 29th, and at our Backyard Pool Party on Saturday, August 1st!

 Member Spotlight & Celebrations

•  Welcome Our Newest Member: Dr. Michele Wang!

  A very warm welcome to Dr. Michele Wang!

  • Background: Trained at UCSD, UCSF, Mount Sinai, and Columbia, Dr. Wang is a psychiatrist with extensive international global health experience in Peru and Belize.

  • Professional Highlights: Former Assistant Clinical Professor at UH Mānoa and Secretary for the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, specializing in trauma, young adults, and cross-cultural mental health.

  • Personal Hobbies: When she’s not working, she enjoys surfing, paddle boarding, painting, dance, yoga, horseback riding, and hiking with her dog.

  Please take a moment to give Dr. Wang a warm Sunset Rotary welcome when you see her next!

 Service in Action

•  Community Service Shift at The Pantry

  •  Date: Wednesday, July 29

  •  Location: The Pantry, 2522 Rose Street, Honolulu, HI

  •  Details: Join us for our recurring volunteer shift to help provide essential food assistance to local families.

  •  RSVP: Please RSVP directly to Mike Kass if you are able to attend and lend a helping hand!

 The Weekly Horizon & Club Events

•   District 5000 "Rotary Refresh" Webinar

  •  Date & Time: Saturday, August 1 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

  •  Details: If you're new to our club or just need a "Rotary Refresh," District 5000 is hosting a great webinar all about learning the Rotary basics!

  •  Zoom Link: Click here to join the Zoom session (9am - 10am)

•   Fellowship Backyard Pool Party, Potluck & Baby Shower!

  •  Date & Time: Saturday, August 1 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

•   RCHS International Trip: Fukuoka, Japan

  •  Dates: September 7 – 10, 2026

  •  Details: Join fellow RCHS members as we travel to Fukuoka, Japan to visit our new sister club, the Rotary Club of Fukuoka Josei! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience Japan alongside our fellow Rotarians. Highlights include a group dinner and a special ceremony on September 9th.

  •  Contact: For additional information or to join the delegation, please reach out to Kazu Inakoshi at kazuhitoinakoshi@gmail.com.

•  Memorial & Celebration of Life: Rich Zegar

  •  Date: Thursday, September 24

  •  Location: Waikiki Yacht Club

  •  Details: Please mark your calendars for a special memorial and celebration of life for longtime RCHS member Rich Zegar. As a steadfast member of our club, we look forward to coming together to honor and celebrate the life of this extraordinary member.

 Quick Reminders & Club Notes

•  Record-Breaking Fundraiser Success!

  We raised over $100K at our recent annual fundraiser at the Halekulani Hotel! This is an all-time high for our club and will ensure we can continue our vital local and global work in the year ahead. A heartfelt mahalo to everyone who donated, participated, and helped make this evening an overwhelming success!

   For great photos of this memorable evening, click here to view the album.