Easter Seals Hawaii celebrated 70 years of providing exceptional, individualized, family-centered services to the community with an anniversary gala at Hawaii State Art Museum. Guests were treated to live entertainment, wine and craft beer stations, a silent auction filled with prize items and bites created by an all-star line up of Hawai‘i chefs: Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, Vikram Garg, Mark Noguchi, Lee Anne Wong, Colin Hazama, Jon Matsubara, Elmer Guzman and Chai Chaowasaree.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

Attendees to the fifth-annual Wish! Gala were whisked to a fairytale land upon entering the Once Upon a Wish event at Sheraton Waikiki. Hosts Howard Dashefsky, Ryan Kalei Tsuji and wish kid Violet Breille Spataro led guests through a program that included a wish reveal for Tyrell who wishes to be a chef and cook with Alan Wong, a levitation act by wish kid Leo, the musical stylings of Hot Club of Hulaville and a very special Jedi welcome for a wish mom.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

The opening of Honolulu Museum of Art’s Art in the Time of Chaos (on view through August 21) provided the perfect setting for the museum’s Director’s Dinner. Guests congregated in the Central Courtyard where they were treated to contemporary interpretation of a Chinese banquet dinner prepared by chefs William Chen of fresh BOX, Brandon Lee of The Pig & the Lady, Kevin Lee of PAI and Lee Anne Wong of Koko Head Café.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

Students, teachers and loyal supporters filled the Hawaii Ballrooms at Sheraton Waikiki for The St. Andrew’s School’s 10th annual Queen Emma Ball on May 11. This year, Lynn Fujimoto, DMD, John Jibinksy and Judy Pietsch were honored as extraordinary pillars of the Hawai‘i educational community. As always, the event was nothing less than spectacular as the honorees and attendees mingled over wine, a silent auction and students’ hula performances. All proceeds of the philanthropic celebration support Queen Emma’s vision of access to a quality education and The St. Andrew’s Schools.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

Eric Hannum makes MRIs less daunting with InVision Imaging.

Former UH Manoa football player Eric Hannum is on a mission to provide flawless service to all of his MRI clients at InVision (photo courtesy InVision).

InVision Imaging president Eric Hannum prides himself on being singularly focused. It’s a trait that earned him a scholarship on University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s football team as a place-kicker after starting as a walk-on in the 1990s.

“Being a field-goal kicker, I was very independent,” he recalls. “I had to be very self-motivated and operate as part of a team, yet independently.”

That same, fixated characteristic has made him not only a successful business owner but also one that can excel in his passion for helping others. After a successful career playing college ball, Hannum jumped into the healthcare industry, and the idea for InVision Imaging started to form. “I had a concept in my mind about combining the high-tech and high-touch approach,” he recalls. “I was obsessed with giving really great patient care.”

Again, with a singular-focus mindset in place, Hannum started planning.

It was that mentality that prevailed when Hannum decided to start InVision Imaging— the state’s first state-of-the-art 3T outpatient MRI facility—nine years ago. “With health-care, the patient is coming to you because something is not perfect,” he explains. With the technology, InVision is able to get high school athletes back on the ~ eld, assist in HIV research or help neurologists diagnose brain tumors—the company can be a part of the process that gets patients back on track.

InVision Imaging started with the best of the best in MRI technology—the 3T MRIs. The machines, touted by Hannum as the Ferrari of the MRI world, make for quicker procedures that offer better image resolution. Those familiar with MRI procedures know all too well the loud, almost bang ing noise emitted from the machine.

“You can’t get away from that loud knocking noise,” says Hannum of MRI machines. But instead of looking at the uncomfortable sound as something patients must just deal with, he found a way to improve the system.

“I knew that you could take this process and make it better,” he adds. “It’s really just about looking at everything from a customer or the patient’s perspective and how you can do all the little things for them to make it better.”

Eric with his wife, Fawn, and their daughters (L-R) Evie and Poppy (photo by Jimmy Freese).

InVision provides all patients with earplugs (and headphones that go over it) and the option to watch television while getting an MRI. Overall, the process is meant to help distract the patient from what can be a routine, yet scary, procedure.

However, the procedure is just one part of the overall InVision experience.

Hannum’s goal with the company was to make the entire process more comfortable for patients. ? e entirety of InVision Imaging’s décor is that of a day spa—soothing lighting and calming wallpaper almost makes one forget they are in a medical facility.

“I looked at everything from the lighting to the music we use, to the fresh orchids, and how we place the magazines and how InVision team members introduce themselves,” explains Hannum.

All patients are even given InVision socks to wear—an idea spurred by a customer suggestion that went straight to Hannum’s cell phone. He gives his personal cell number out to 1,000 patients a month for the sole purpose of ensuring each one has the best experience possible and welcomes comments on how to improve the process.

Full-time concierge experts sit in private waiting rooms—complete with beautiful fish tanks and comfortable lounge chairs—with all patients before the procedures to go over questions and concerns.

Hannum also recalls walking patients out to their cars after a scan with an umbrella as rain poured down, and using the company’s car service to drive elderly patients back home.

“InVision really is about doing something that is not ordinary,” says Hannum giving a service that is special.”

invisionhawaii.com

Aug. 5

MAUI ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER | 242.2787

Presented by MAPA Live, Jekyll & Hyde – The Musical brings the Robert Louis Stevenson classic tale to life with a hauntingly beautiful score. Aug 5-7 & 12-14. mauiarts.org

Aug. 25

KUMU KAHUA THEATRE | 536.4441

Uchiaaloha, a world premiere play by Lee A. Tonouchi, follows David Tamashiro, who doesn’t want to learn how to play the sanshin from his grandfatheruntil a pretty girl from Okinawa shows up. Through Oct. 1. kumukahua.org

Aug. 30

BLUE NOTE HAWAII | 777.4890

Ten-time Grammy Award-winner, Manhattan Transfer, brings its melodies to the Blue Note Hawaii stage. Vocal Group Hall of Fame members, the foursomeCheryl Bentyne, Alan Paul, Jains Siegel and Trist Curlessis renowned worldwide for its jazz-infused vocals. Through Sept. 4. bluenotehawaii.com

Sep. 3

KAHILU THEATRE | 885.6868

Drawing inspiration from musical styles that span the globe and various cultures, Pink Martini takes the Hawaii Island stage. The band, which features a dozen musicians, has played with more than 50 orchestras around the world and collaborated with the likes of Carol Channing, filmmaker Gus Van Zant and Hiroshi Wada, to name just a few. kahilutheatre.org

Sep. 15

MANOA VALLEY THEATRE | 988.6131

It Shoulda Been You, a musical comedy thats making its Hawaii premiere, is about a perfect wedding thats quickly becoming a perfect storm thanks to two overbearing mothers (ones Catholic, the others Jewish) and an ex-boyfriend who decides to show up. Through Oct. 2. manoavalleytheatre.com

Sep. 23

DIAMOND HEAD THEATRE | 733.0274

It’s the mid-80s and the miners strike dominates the mining town Billy calls home, but all he can think of is how to achieve his dream of dancing. Follow his story, in Billy Elliot the Musicalset to the music of Elton Johnas he journeys from the boxing ring to ballet class. Through Oct. 16. diamondheadtheatre.com

On View

HONOLULU MUSEUM OF ART | 532.8700

The American Scene Through Oct. 2

Plastic Fantastic? Extended through Oct. 3 at Spalding House

American Array Through Jan. 15, 2017

BISHOP MUSEUM | 847.3511

Journeys: Heritage of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Aug. 3-Jan. 29, 2017

BISHOP MUSEUM | 847.3511

Hawaii National Parks 2016 Centennial Aug. 28-Oct. 23

As Shangri La’s new executive director, Konrad Ng has big plans for the grand estate and beyond.

Konrad Ng has been driven by a passion to learn and discuss the intersection of art and culture and its effect on citizenship. His nearly two-decade career has seen him in academia and film, from Honolulu to Washington, D.C., and he’s gearing up for more important work as the new executive director of Shangri La, the magnificent former residence of heiress Doris Duke and now museum and center for Islamic art and culture near Diamond Head.

Ng, who was born in Canada to Malaysian immigrants, earned a bachelor’s degree from McGill University and master’s degree in cultural, social and political thought from the University of Victoria, both in Canada. After earning his master’s degree, he took a year off to care for his ailing father, but he also had an eye toward a doctorate degree. He wanted to explore culture and media and how it enriches citizenship.

“We tend to think of citizenship in terms of rights and duties and elections, but to me, we experience citizenship culturally,” Ng says. “Culture and in particular media, film, art and design play a big role.”

The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa had done research in that field, so he applied and was accepted into a doctorate program. At UH, he also met his wife, Maya Soetoro-Ng, who was also a Ph.D. student at the university. As a graduate assistant at the International Cultural Studies program, he shared an office with a mutual friend in the East-West Center on the Manoa campus. “Maya came into the doorway and it was just like a femme fatale, smoke machine and everything. I was smitten!”

The couple married in 2003 and now has two daughters, Suhaila and Savita. Oh, and his brother-in-law turned out to be Barack Obama.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

“I didn’t know that when we got married that I would have this extra chapter in American history,” Ng says. “To that I am so grateful because it’s been an extraordinary experience in my life.”

After graduating with a Ph.D. in political science, he became the first curator of film and video for the Honolulu Museum of Art—then called the Honolulu Academy of Arts— where he had a chance to work at a museum and pursue his love of film.

“I was interested in using this program to think about how communities who don’t otherwise find a place for themselves in popular culture or in national culture, like in museums, would turn to mediums like film,” he says.

Ng is a cinephile. He has movie memorabilia around his office, such as a Godzilla figurine on his coffee table and a Star Wars screensaver running on his computer. His favorite movie constantly changes, and he enjoys Hollywood summer blockbusters like Captain America: Civil War as much as films from cerebral filmmakers like Wong Kar-Wai and Jai Zhangke.

After his stint at the Honolulu Museum of Art, he served as an assistant professor at the Academy for Creative Media, UH’s then-new film program, focusing on critical studies. In 2009, he served as a visiting scholar at the Smithsonian Institution’s Asian Pacific American Program in Washington, D.C. As the semester wrapped up, the program’s previous director was retiring. The Smithsonian asked if he could fill in as the acting director since he had administrative background and museum experience.

The role was a good fit and he was offered the job to become the director of what is now called the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. The Washington-based position did require some sacrifice.

“Sometimes opportunities happen, and you have to take them, regardless of circumstances. This was one of them,” he says. His daughters were in school, and Maya was a professor at UH and it wouldn’t be feasible to uproot them.

“We talked about it and as a family we realized that the Smithsonian is not just a prestige museum, but it is a place of public service,” he says. “For me, as an Asian American there was no higher calling as it were to really think about the communities which have yet to feel embraced in the national patrimony in terms of being represented in our institutions of culture.”

He decided on a long commute between Washington and Honolulu, with his wife and daughters living in Hawai‘i most of the year, and the whole family spending summers at the nation’s capital.

In 2015, he was approached about the position at Shangri La. “I had to pinch myself. Wow! What an extraordinary opportunity.”

The mission of the Doris Duke Foundation on Islamic Art, which manages Shangri La, is to promote the study and understanding of Islamic arts and culture. While Shangri La is an impeccable site that can amaze visitors, Ng hopes the museum’s work goes beyond that.

“Museums are part of those engines of increasing and creating civic cultures, increasing and creating citizenship,” he says. “When we now go into a museum and we look at its collections and we see or listen to its program or see some of its work online, we have an expectation that these things also serve as moral compasses. They are not just narratives of heritage, but they point to what we need to invest ourselves in and to improve.”

With a few months on the job, he hopes Shangri La can be a place for discussion in the community, as well as nationally and beyond. But he also looks forward to enjoying his personal life.

“My daughters are getting older so watching them is amazing and heartbreaking because time goes so fast,” Ng says. “And this is where I probably sound like an old man, but I just spent the last few years missing out on a few things, doing work that was important, and I’m not going to let the next few years be the same. I’m still doing important stuff, thankfully here in Hawai‘i, but what I’d like to do is try to capture what I know will only be a one-time thing with my children.”

As an artist, art curator and consultant, Kelly Sueda is not wasting any time with his talents.

Whether it’s a gigantic outdoor sculpture in the middle of Ala Moana Center, or a selection of paintings that line the walls of Kapi‘olani Hospital, or permanent work on display at the Honolulu Museum of Art, it’s impossible to go far in Hawai‘i without seeing the lasting influence of local artist Kelly Sueda. Besides being a full-time painter himself, Sueda serves as an art curator and consultant for both private clients and massive organizations alike. His passion is connecting people to artwork.

“Sometimes you see art in public areas or hallways or lobbies and they’re just posters or mass-produced copies. But if I’m involved in curating or selecting artwork, I want to help build that collection,” says Sueda. “I like to mix pieces by blue chip artists from around the world with amazing work by great local artists from Hawai‘i; building a collection that’ll be important, long-lasting and also an investment.”

As a teenager, Sueda had an aptitude for the performing arts, graduating from Mid-Pacific Institute in 1991 with a focus on theater. But he had picked up painting as a hobby during his last semester in school and loved it. After graduating from the University of San Francisco with his BFA in 1995, his then-girlfriend (now-wife) Alexa encouraged him to organize an exhibition of his work. Over the course of an entire summer, Sueda created 42 paintings to hang in the Kirsch Gallery at Punahou School. He and his family invited everyone they knew, and more than 300 people turned out for the opening reception. The response was unbelievable: all but two of the paintings he had created for the exhibition sold. Six months later, Sueda would host another show at the former Queen Emma Gallery, which sold out completely.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

“All of a sudden, I had enough money to continue working as a painter.” Sueda says. “Alexa had one more year of college in San Francisco, so I moved to be with her. Eventually, I set up a studio over there and had one in Hawai‘i and worked on commissions, flying between both cities. Every year, we started a tradition of purchasing a piece of art together, to build our own collection.”

Sueda was already familiar with purchasing art; his father, local architect Lloyd Sueda, offered to buy him a car as a congratulation present after graduating college. Sueda asked if he could instead put the money towards purchasing art. At college, he had been exposed to up-and-coming artists and was interested in accumulating works that he loved. It was the perfect hobby for Sueda, pairing his own knowledge and appreciation of fine art with the opportunity to develop contacts in both the Hawai‘i and international art markets.

This hobby would pay off tenfold when a local commercial developer in Hawai‘i would later commission Sueda to complete a large painting for a new property. Recognizing his curatorial abilities, Sueda was invited to assemble the art for the entire development. Gregg Northrop, a friend of Sueda and owner of the largest art-consulting firm in Hawai‘i at the time, The Fine Art Associates, previewed the collection and was impressed. He happened to be looking to step away from his business at the time, and asked Sueda if he’d be interested in becoming owner of the Fine Art Associates. After some deliberation, Sueda agreed.

For close to seven years, Sueda operated the Fine Art Associates, buying art and curating collections for clients. But by 2010, he now had a son and a newborn daughter. Sueda was juggling being a father, a husband (whose wife was a full-time practicing physician), painter and business owner. He decided to leave the company to focus on his two passions: his family and art.

By the time this article goes to print, two of Sueda’s latest projects will be completed and on display. One of these is a series of massive permanent sculptures at Ala Moana Center. The other is a selection of more than 75 art pieces specially curated for the new intensive care building at Kapi‘olani Medical Center.

“For [Kapi‘olani], we commissioned local artist Mike Furuya to create a series of paintings with clouds that look like animals; hidden items like hot air balloons and rocketships in the images that the kids can explore. There’s a big mozaic coming together that features children’s artwork too,” Sueda says. “Some will be in the physical therapy and patient rooms, but many will be in the common areas and hallways so families can come in and take a look.”

His next project is one of his biggest to date: curating art for Park Lane Ala Moana. When the new residents of the luxury estate complex move into their new homes in early 2017, they’ll be in the presence of more than 330 unique pieces of artwork.

“It’s a project like no other in Honolulu,” says Sueda. “The art on display at Park Lane will be a mix of everything from photography; printmaking with woodblocks, etching, stone lithography, aquatint; sculptures of bronze, glass, wood; paintings and drawings on paper, canvas; and more. It’s going to be a world-class, museum-quality collection.”

Sueda was brought on the project in early 2014 and spent the past two years browsing, selecting, and curating this massive ensemble collection of work in collaboration with Park Lane developers.

A majority of the art will be located in the common areas, as well as Park Lane itself, a walkway that stretches from one side of Pi‘ikoi to Ala Moana Boulevard, leading to the complex. Sueda estimates that close to 60 percent of the artwork selected will be by local artists. The remaining 40 percent will comprise work created by internationally renowned artists including Jun Kaneko, John Buck, Richard Serra and Andy Warhol.

Sueda has managed to succeed not only as an artist, but as an art broker, businessman, and an entrepreneur. “I look to my dad as a big influence on me. He’s the hardest-working person I know,” says Sueda. “Growing up, I knew he was an architect, but I always thought of him as a businessman. It wasn’t until after I got out of college that I realized he was an artist who was doing something creative but still monetizing from it. I think he would’ve loved to have been a sculptor, but he had to provide for his family. He had to figure out how to get a job in the arts and make it work.”

Today, Sueda has finally found balance between his family, painting and curating art collections. His goal now is to coordinate art pieces that can reach an even larger audience, such as through the installation of artwork in public spaces. Just as how his own life has taken him across oceans and to businesses and clients through art, Sueda hopes to bring that world to others.

“It’s about that exposure to creativity. In Seattle and New York and other cities, you walk around and there are public sculptures and that’s incredible; to be able to walk down the street and be exposed to these different things,” Sueda says. “Hawai‘i has a little bit of that now, but we could push it even more. Imagine, someone can walk down the street, see artwork, and get inspired. And who knows what they can go on to do from there?”

Fireworks brightened the night sky to celebrate Independence Day, but all those present at Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu only had eyes for the newest jewel at Ko Olina. The opening party invited guests—whilst sipping specialty cocktails, of course—to meander through beachside food stations serving up everything from corn-on-the-cob and roast pork to prime rib and paella, in addition to a raw bar filled with fresh seafood.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

Global Ocean Club and Hawaii Yachts VIPs received the royal treatment during the Remy Martin Louis XIII Experience. The evening started with a sunset cruise aboard a luxury yacht from Ko Olina Marina. Once back on shore, the fête continued at Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu with an exclusive dinner prepared by chef Philippe Padovani. Legendary Hawai‘i entertainer Danny Kaleikini was on-hand to bless the evening and John Valentine provided the entertainment for the night.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

Friends and supporters of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i came together to celebrate the accomplishments of outgoing president and CEO Jerry Rauckhorst at its 2016 gala, A Delicious Evening with Jerry’s Ohana. Guests arrived at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel as the sun began to set, socializing as they looked onto the ocean before heading to the grand ballroom for a five-star dinner. The fundraising event donated all proceeds to helping fund Catholic Charities Hawai‘i’s programs and services.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

Over at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel & Resort, The Aloha Council and Boy Scouts of America applauded Bill Wilson at their 2016 Distinguished Person Dinner. More than 150 boy scouts, clad in their signature khaki uniform and 700-plus guests dressed in their best attire dined on an appetizing dinner as Wilson accepted the award for his continuous support and leadership in business, community service and beyond during his role as Chairman of the Board and President of Hawaiian Dredging Construction. With more than $614,000 raised, the benefit ended with a room full of joyous scouts and their supporters.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

A select group of Saks Fifth Avenue loyalists got a sneak peek at the store’s first-ever Hawai‘i location. The lucky few were whisked into the sleek confines of the International Market Place anchor where they were greeted by event hosts—Saks Fifth Avenue president, Marc Metrick and Shelley Tadaki Cramer, vice president and general manager. In addition to perusing the store’s luxurious offerings, guests were treated to delectable bites created by celeb chef Michael Mina (whose Stripsteak opened the same week, mere steps away from the elegant flagship).

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

This year’s Hawaii State Bar Association annual dinner was an evening filled with laughter, as the theme of the night was Motions, Mirth & Madness: A Roast to Honor CJ Ron Moon. The night featured a roast of Moon, the former Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i State Supreme Court, where distinguished guests honored Moon by “roasting” him with playful jokes and anecdotes to more than 400 guests before heading to a silent auction filled with wine and spirits, meals at O‘ahu’s top-rated restaurants and original artwork.

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

Oct. 1

DIAMOND HEAD THEATRE | 733.0274
Its the mid-80s and the miners strike dominates the mining town Billy calls home, but all he can think of is how to achieve his dream of dancing. Follow his story, in Billy Elliot The Musicalset to the music of Elton Johnas he journeys from the boxing ring to ballet class. Through Oct. 16. diamondheadtheatre.com

Air Supply celebrates 40 years of music with concerts on Oct. 13 at MACC and Oct. 14 at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena (photo © 2015 Michael Schoenfeld).

Oct. 13

MAUI ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER | 242.7469
Get Lost in Love with Air Supply as they make a return visit to the Aloha State. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell will share their greatest hits with such as All Out of Love, Making Love Out of Nothing At All and Sweet Dreams. Also at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena on Oct. 14, 800.474.4833. ticketmaster.com.

Oct. 14

HAWAII OPERA THEATRE | 596.7858
One of the most enduring romantic operas, La Boheme, opens HOTs 2016-2017 season. The Puccini opera has everythinga Paris setting, whirlwind romance and tragic ending. Through Oct. 18. hawaiiopera.org

Oct. 27

Hall & Oates performs at the Neal S. Blais-dell Arena on Oct. 27 (photo by Mick Rock).

NEAL S. BLAISDELL ARENA | 800.745.3000
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Daryl Hall and John Oates bring their soulful hits to Hawaii. The No. 1-selling duo in music history is known for hits such as Private Eyes, Sara Smile and Rich Girl. Special guest Henry Kapono will also take the stage. ticketmaster.com. Also at Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Oct. 29, 242.7469. mauiarts.org.

Nov. 3

KUMU KAHUA THEATRE | 536.4441
iHula, a world premiere play by Ryan Okinaka, follows the stories of four hula sisters and their kumu as they navigate what it means to be a hula dancer in this modern age. Through Dec. 4. kumukahua.org

Nov. 4

NEAL S. BLAISDELL ARENA | 768.5252
Award-winning musician and songwriter Sting returns for a solo show; The Police front man last performed here in 2008 as part of the legendary groups reunion tour. The celebrated composer, signer, actor, author and activist will perform some of his most popular hits. ticketmaster.com

Nov. 17

MANOA VALLEY THEATRE | 988.6131
The award-winning drama, The Elephant Man, is based on the life of John Merrick, a man who lived with rare skin and bone diseases in late19th-century London. It follows his life from his stint as a sideshow star to through his evolution to a favorite of the aristocracy and literati. Through Dec. 4. manoavalleytheatre.com

On View

Visions of Gothic Angels: Japanese Manga by Takaya Miou is on view at Honolulu Museum of Art until Jan. 15, 2017. Pictured: Miou, Takaya. After a Poem by Tsukamoto Kunio. 1998. Honolulu Museum of Art (photo courtesy Honolulu Museum of Art).

HONOLULU MUSEUM OF ART 532.8700 Visions of Gothic Angels: Japanese Manga by Takaya Miou Through Jan. 15, 2017

Charles Furneaux and the Sublime Through Mar. 12, 2017

BISHOP MUSEUM | 847.3511

Journeys: Heritage of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Through Jan. 29, 2017

SCHAEFER INTERNATIONAL GALLERY 242.7787 Hawaii National Parks 2016 Centennial Through Oct. 23

Saks Fifth Avenue GM Shelley Tadaki Cramer is happy to back in Hawaii (shot on-location at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa)

Shelley Tadaki Cramer comes home to helm the luxury retailers first-ever flagship in the state.

Quick glance at Shelley Tadaki Cramer reveals an effervescent glow that emanates not just from her choice of clothing and style, but also from her demeanor. As the new vice president and general manager for Saks Fifth Avenue Hawaiia role in which she is more than suited forshe is the embodiment of high fashion and island values, and in true local-girl fashion, Cramer’s easy-to-talk-to disposition welcomes everyone in the room and makes them feel like family.

Cramer, a born-and-raised island girl and Maryknoll School graduate, admittedly has two sides to her. On any given weekend, you can find her in shorts, a tank top and slippersI love to be casual, she addsbut for those days when she gets down to business, she sports some of her favorites such as Valentino and Proenza Schouler.

I definitely love to wear designer; thats something I think Ive always had. I definitely love fashion, Cramer says, pointing at her ensemble of a royal blue Alexander McQueen dress and Louis Vuitton shoes with dashing floral accents. The pairing of choice is powerful, yet welcoming; confident, yet approachable. Her haute couture mindset of what works and doesn’t is itself an innate talent. In a word, its effortless.

So, the fact that Cramer will be taking the lead with Saks Fifth Avenue Hawaiithe organizations first location in the state comes as no surprise. And aside from setting foundation for the conglomerate, which will be the flagship store for the newly renovated International Market Place, she’s most excited about her long-awaited return home.

For Cramer, the best things about coming back to the islands are not necessarily the staples one would consider. Yes, she enjoys the beaches and being outdoors to feel the warm Hawaiian sun hit her skin, and the local grinds she grew up with are calling her name. But mostly, she’s glad to be back with friends and family.

My girls (Juliette and Ava) are just loving being around grandma and grandpa and their cousins as much as possible, she says.

Although Cramer lived on the mainland for nearly two decades, she has always known there’s no place like home. It’s been a longing of mine to come home and raise my children here, she adds.

Although she got her fashion-retail start in Hawaii, Cramer also spent years on the mainland working for powerhouse fashion companies such as Max Mara Fashion Group, LVMH and Richemont.

Most recently, she was part of the Saks Fifth Avenue San Francisco merchandising management team, and although she loved her day-to-day work on the West Coast, when the opportunity came to open Saks Fifth Avenue in Waikiki she jumped at the chance.

I would love to develop the culture for this store as an aloha sprit-type of feeling, where everyone feels welcome, she says. This is what Hawaii is all about. I want that to filter throughout the entire store for customers.

Yajima gets a visit from her grandchildren at Hawaii Childrens Discovery Center in Kakaako.

As chairwoman of the Hawaii Childrens Discovery Center Board, Loretta Yajima takes the lead to help children all over the world succeed in a global society.

On a recent trip to inner Mongolia to help build childrens museums in China, Loretta Yajima was welcomed by the priest at the Daizhou Temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

The priest told Yajima, who is the chairwoman of the Hawaii Childrens Discovery Center Board, that she was only the fourth American that he had met during his 50-year tenure at the temple. When she inquired about the other three, he replied, President Richard Nixon, Michael Jordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Yajima says she told the priest she couldnt imagine why he would want to meet her since she wasnt famous like the other three.

He replied, The humanitarian heart is more important than fame, Yajima says.

It was a chicken-skin moment for Yajima, who is gearing up to bring the Asian Pacific Childrens Museum Conference to Honolulu on Oct. 19-21. Educators and museum professionals from Asia, Europe and the U.S. are expected to attend the event, which will be a bridge between East and West.

Yajima spending quality time with her five grandchildren (photo by Nathalie Walker).

The theme of the conference this year, Peace with the Heart of Aloha, was inspired by what is happening throughout the world today and, in response, what we as museum professionals and educators can do to prepare our next generation of world leaders for what is still a promising yet uncertain future, Yajima says.

Yajima says conference attendees will share stories, ideas and programs designed to help prepare children to become world leaders in a global society. Keynote speakers are Pono Shim, Jake Shimabukuro and Maya Soetoro-Ng, with more participants coming from across the U.S., Asia and Europe.

If we are to help todays young people be ready to live in an increasingly diverse, more complex and interdependent global society we must help them develop an understanding of themselves and others in a world without or beyond borders, she says.

Thats the kind of world Yajima remembers from her childhood. Her father, K. J. Luke, founded Hawaii National Bank, her mother Beatrice Lum Luke was a teacher, and numerous members of the family support many local community services efforts, including the Luke Center for Public Service at Punahou School.

Like her parents and successful siblings, Yajima isnt afraid of hard work and shes even more driven when her efforts benefit others, especially children. In her early twenties, she worked as a Head Start teacher in Kuhio Park Terrace. Yajima later worked at the University of Hawaii Lab School and Hanahouoli School. It was through her e˛ orts that the precursor to the Hawaii Childrens Discovery Center that opened in 1989 as a small storefront museum at Dole Pineapple Cannery.

Childrens Discovery Center Board members: Michael Pietsch, Arthur Tokin, Deborah Macer Chun, Loretta Yajima, Mark Fukunaga and Steven Ai (photo courtesy Loretta Yajima).

Her whole purpose now is the childrens museum and the family supports her, says elder brother Warren Luke. Our family really supports education and we think that early education is important because it helps to set the standards in the outlook of people.

Daughter Tiffany Yajima recalls hanabata days spent volunteering alongside her mother.

I can recall my mom lobbying the Legislature for a new facility located in Kakaako, and have memories of doing homework in committee hearings and sitting in the Capitol building late in the evening with her, my head in her lap, as we waited for key hearings and for her bill to get decked, says Tiffany Yajima, who grew up to be an attorney.

By 1998, Yajima raised the funds to relocate the museum to Kakaako and turn it into the 38,000-square-foot facility that it is today.

My mom dreams big dreams. She built a world-class childrens museum for Hawaii. She is helping to build childrens museums across China. Now she is organizing an international peace conference. There is no stopping her once she gets started, says Lara Siu, Yajimas daughter, The Nature Conservancys donor-relations manager.

Yajima is effective because she is a master at attracting loyal, talented volunteers and soliciting in-kind donations, says Art Tokin, who has served as treasurer of the Discovery Center since its pilot days.

Liane Usher, who has served as the Discovery Centers president since 2001, says her mothers passion for the center and for the children it serves is undeniable.

Spend a few minutes with her at the Discovery Center, her face lights up, her energy is electric and conversation flows freely. There is pure delight on her face as she sees families playing together at the center, Usher says.

Yajima teaching kids in preschool STEM class about constructing the Childrens Discovery Center (photo courtesy Loretta Yajima).

But Yajimas efforts on behalf of children extend beyond Hawaii. As Senior Advisor to the Children’s Museum Research Center in Beijing, Yajima saw the opening of the Laoniu Children’s Discovery Museum in Beijing last summer. A second museum is expected to open in Hohhot in 2017.

I was so grateful to be able to visit the museum with my son as one of the centers first international guests, and to celebrate and enjoy the achievement with my mom and family, Tiffany Yajima says. To grow up in such a place, and to know and be part of its history, is to experience cultural diversity at its richest and most intense level.

The inspiration for the Hawaiian Rainbows exhibit, which has a reproduction of the Wo On Store, stems from memories of Yajimas own culturally rich childhood.

She also has worked hard to ensure that Hawaiis children understand the role that aloha plays globally, says Discovery Center Board Vice-Chairman Michael A. Pietsch, who is president and CEO of Title Guaranty of Hawaii Inc.

The Your Rainbow World exhibit was developed to allow Hawaiis children to explore countries beyond their island shores. Pietsch says she is now developing museum peace programming, with themes like Peace in Me, Peace in My Community, Peace in Nature and Peace for all People.

While the peace conference, garden and programming are important to Yajima, really its the children who will enjoy them that have the focus of her heart, said Dana Nishiyama, who has worked for the Discovery Center since 2004.

Loretta is committed, no, driven to making a difference in childrens lives, one by one, Nishiyama says. What impresses me the most about her is her selflessnessshe is always putting others ahead of herself.

Michele Morris (left) and Ed Chevy (right) collaborate to deliver humor, expression and music in Chevys Honolulu Theatre of Youth show, Can You Hear My Hands?.

When Honolulu Theatre of Youth (HTY) artistic director Eric Johnson first thought about mounting a play in October for Halloween, his original idea involved staging stories by Edgar Allan Poe starring local entertainer Ed Chevy. I love Eds work, says Johnson. Hes one of the best actors here in Hawaii, and Ive seen him share Edgar Allan Poe stories beautifully as visual theater.

But as the two started talking, the idea for a play shifted from stories about Poe to ones about Ed Chevy himself. They developed Can You Hear My Hands?, a compilation of stories, songs and observations from Chevys remarkable life. Hell be on stage playing music, laughing, sharing past experiences, and teaching the audienceall without saying a word. Chevy is Deaf, has been since birth, but his inability to hear hasnt gotten in the way of becoming a nationally recognized traveling performer and educator. ˛ ats part of the story.

I learned about a performance tradition within the Deaf community that featured sketch comedy and storytelling, and so the play shifted to become more about that, as something for both Deaf and hearing audiences, a bit of an introduction to Deaf culture and American Sign Language, Johnson says.

Johnson, Chevy and Michele Morris, a hearing person who has worked creatively with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth for years as both a translator and interpreter for the Deaf, came together to conceptualize this new play from scratch, as an opportunity to connect with both hearing and Deaf audiences, of all ages. Sitting down at HTYs Tenney Theatre inside St. Andrews Priory in downtown Honolulu, the three have come together on a Monday afternoon to talk about the genesis of the play, Chevys journey and Deaf culture. For the purposes of this interview, Chevy is communicating with the help of Morris as interpreter, who has also been his longtime friend of close to 30 years.

Deaf people, what we have is visual art, body language and manual communication. Its really interesting to work with HTY on this, because now were putting the history of Deaf culture together, says Chevy. Eric and Michele have different perspectives and it really opens up a whole new world with new insights.

Growing up in a Deaf family, Chevy was able to learn about and appreciate Deaf culture from a young age. He was raised by parents who were rock stars in their respective industries; Chevys father was one of the founding members of the National Theatre for the Deaf and built airplanes during World War I. After the war, he built an airplane from scratch using a motor he bought from Howard Hughes, currently on display at the Virginia Aviation Museum in Richmond. Chevys mother was a flamenco dancer who performed around the country with Bob Hope at USO Shows, alongside then-unknown celebrities, including Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. When Helen Keller visited the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, where Chevys mother was attending, Keller asked about her career as a performer and what it felt like to dance. To show her, a man came in and helped to lift Keller up and move her around the space, with the guidance of Chevys mother. Helen was so inspired, she had never experienced anything like that before, Chevy says.

Chevy represents the combination of both his parents passions: performance and education. As a child, he remembers seeing Th e Who performing in concert in 1966, smashing guitars and destroying drums live on stage. The next day, he told his father he wanted to become a rock star. This was a band that wasnt just standing there playing instruments on stage, they were moving to the music, says Chevy. It really helped me understand that for the Deaf to appreciate music, they have to see it. They have to follow along with the acting and the rhythm.

Chevy attended the California School for the Deaf in Berkeley, where he met a guy playing the guitar at a party, Steve Longo. Later, when they both attended Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., Chevy and Longo met Bob Hiltermann, a drummer. Together, they formed Beethovens Nightmare, the worlds first all-Deaf rock band, traveling around the country to perform at both Deaf and hearing concerts several times a year. An educator as well, Chevy travels about four times a year by himself, teaching workshops about sign language and developing communication skills at Deaf schools in Mississippi, Maryland and Minnesota, among other cities.

Here in Hawaii, Can You Hear My Hands? is intended for hearing audiences, as a performance both educational and entertaining. After all, its not every day that you get to see a Deaf musician perform on stage with lights, sound and full costumes. Audiences will get to experience music the way Chevy does, with vibrations and seeing an electronic beat to maintain rhythm. Th eyll learn some American Sign Language, and will find that they already know quite a bit: Ever give a thumbs up to gesture approval? Or twirl a finger to your ear to indicate someone might be acting crazy? Th ats nonverbal communication, sign language.

Chevy plays guitar in his band, Beethovens Nightmare, the worlds first all-Deaf rock band (photo courtesy Chevy).

Its the perfect play for Hawaii because were already so used to meeting people from other cultures and appreciating the things about them, says Johnson. Even if someone isnt Chinese, for example, they might still go out with friends to celebrate Chinese New Year. Or theyll go to a Japanese bon dance. I love the idea of people, hearing or otherwise, being able to explore Deaf culture with the same kind of joy, curiosity and understanding.

Its an honor for me that someone from the Deaf community would want me involved with this type of performance. As an interpreter, Im just facilitating the conversation. But now, by being part of the production and actually up on the stage, its scary but exciting at the same time, says Michele Morris, who will not only be interpreting Ed Chevy for the audience, but also an integral part of the show itself. After the run of the show, Chevy and Morris, who also does significant Deaf translation and interpretation work, will take the costumes and various pieces for their own presentations and performances in the community.

Whenever I work with children, the most important thing I say is for them to find their rhythm. Our inner rhythm has a story to tell. Not necessarily music, but the rhythm of their own personal life; what time do you get up, have lunch, go to bed? Understanding the rhythm of their lives is very important for all of us to learn, in order to improve our senses of it. Chevy says. At the schools, like in this play, theyll learn finger spelling, mime, body movement, language and personal expression. And of course, theyll learn that Deaf people are really, really cool.

For more information on Can You Hear My Hands? visit htyweb.org.

Adoboloco founder Tim Parsons’ love for local flavors was the catalyst for his successful line of spicy sauces.

At the heart of every business is the desire to provide—to supply the communities that surround you with quality products that one day may become a household name; to ensure your family has enough to eat; to display a role-model persona that will one day act as a foundation for your children’s transition into adulthood.

And when all aspects of provision are present, the business can succeed beyond expectations. Th at concept is something Tim Parsons knows well. He has turned his business into a successful, profitable endeavor that benefits the community and educates his keiki on the ins and outs of owning a business.

Th e founder of the Adoboloco hot sauce brand got his culinary start in his mom’s kitchen, doing what 12-year-old boys do best—eating.

Adoboloco owner Tim Parsons continues to brainstorm new hot sauce concoctions with his wife and children at their home on Maui.

“Inspiration came from basically growing up and eating a lot of chicken and pork adobo,” he recalls. Mama Parsons also taught him how to create the iconic local dish, and during his time in Bend, Oregon, that trait truly came in handy.

But living on the Mainland also proved difficult for his adobo-loving palate. “Th ere was no Asian market or Filipino market,” he says. “So I started making more varieties of adobo and other foods.”

His passion for recreating Hawai’i’s local dishes led him to start adoboloco. com, which at the time was a blog platform for sharing adobo recipes from people all over the world. With so many variations on the dish, he was able to share and accumulate numerous recipes that reflect a hint of the tang and zest adobo possess.

An island boy at heart, Parsons returned home to Maui, where he and wife Summer started a family. Th ey began homeschooling their children, and one aspect of their education centered around an outdoor garden.

“The kids chose what they wanted to grow,” Parsons recalls. “We ended up with so many jalapeños. I couldn’t give them all away.”

[See image gallery at www.hiluxury.com]

With the wheels in his head turning, Parsons put together the sharp flavor of the peppers with the tart taste of adobo: “I had so many flavor profiles in my head,” he adds. “I made basically an adobo sauce, but it turned out to be a mild hot sauce variation.”

Th e immense positive responses from family members and friends eventually led him to brand and trademark Adoboloco in 2010.

“I didn’t want to start another business,” explains Parsons, who had a career as a freelance branding/design professional. “But my wife and I started talking, and we believed we could use it as part of the kids’ homeschooling, teaching them how to work in the business and learn to do everything.”

Th e family currently has a variety of trees and plants (of the non-chili pepper variety) on their property and utilize composting and permaculture methods for sustainable growing—something the Parsons kids are learning a lot about.

Th e schooling process was also an integral part for Tim and Summer, as neither had any background in food manufacturing. After countless hours and painstaking work, Adoboloco sold its first bottle of hot sauce at a swap meet in Maui.

Since then, Adoboloco has grown to include a variety of flavors in addition to

its Jalapeño Mild-Red and now includes Pineapple Habanero, Hamajang Smoked Ghost Pepper, Mangoes! Bumbye!, and Habanero. Ideas for new flavors always are in the works, and each goes through a rigorous (yet tasty) process.

“We’ll experiment,” says Parsons. “It usually ends up something coming out of just cooking at home with the family. We’ll make it, put it in a temporary bottle and leave it on the table to see how it goes…

“I wish I could just make products and bring them out as I think of them,” he adds. “I’m always coming up with ideas, and so are my wife and kids. We have to keep ourselves under control.”

Adoboloco owner Tim Parsons continues to brainstorm new hot sauce concoctions with his wife and children at their home on Maui.

adoboloco.com

PHOTOS COURTESY ADOBOLOCO

This year’s Sunset Jazz fundraiser for La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls was themed “A Celebration of America.” The evening was hosted by Shari Lynn and featured a tribute to the late Jimmy Borges by Mike Lewis Big Band, Honolulu Jazz Quartet, Kip Wilborn and Rocky Brown.

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