VASH held its First Annual "Visitor Aloha Awards Appreciation Luncheon" on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 in the Molokai Room at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Here are a series of photos, along with the highlights of the events:

Also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation was former Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue (Pictured at right with VASH Board Member Joe Magaidi). Donohue was honored for his outstanding work with the Honolulu Police Dept. and for referring a large number of cases to the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii. Mr. Donohue also servers as a member of the Board of Directors for VASH.

The Other Certificate of Appreciation recipients were:

• Thomas W. Matthews - President, TradeWest, Inc.
• Paul Kosasa - President, ABC Stores
• Russell Chun - General Manager, Miramar at Waikiki
• Carol Pregill - President, Retail Merchants of Hawaii
• Baron Guss - President, Altres Staffing
• Charlian Wright - Former Corporate Marketing Director, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center/Pauahi Management Corp. (now with Aloha Festivals)
• Michael Nozaki - General Manager, American Airlines
• Sharon Weiner - Group Vice President - Business Development, DFS Hawaii
• Clyde Aikau - Eddie Aikau Foundation, C&K Beach Service, Inc.
• Lee Erwin - CPA, Managing Partner, Erwin, Au & Cabrinha, LLP
• Jessica Lani Rich - Former Chairperson of the Board for VASH
• Michael Miller - Sr. Vice President, Standard Parking
• Rex Johnson - President & CEO, Hawaii Tourism Authority
• David Carey - President & CEO, Outrigger Hotels
• Murray Towill - President, Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association
• Alan Tang - President & CEO, Olomana Marketing
• Peter Carlisle - Prosecuting Attorney, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney
• Don Girvan - General Manager, Planet Hollywood
• John Cushnie - General Manager, Ala Moana Hotel
• Terry Fowler - General Manager, Waikiki Beachcomber
• Bobbie Lau - Immediate Past President, Building Owner's & Manager's Association
• Elizabeth Lau - President, Building Owner's & Manager's Association
• Randall Ha - General Manager, Sheraton Waikiki

The keynote speaker for the afternoon was Honolulu City Prosecutor, Peter Carlisle (pictured at left), who told the group that Hawaii's reputation for safety must be protected and nurtured to avoid economic and social consequences. "Those things are going to happen, unfortunately, and we need to be the insurance," he said. His comments were the feature in the Honolulu Advertiser article about our Award Luncheon which can be read in full on The Honolulu Advertiser Website.

Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii Board member and President of the the Waikiki Improvement Association, Rick Egged, presented the General Fred Weyand Perpetual Award to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The award was accepted by Muriel Anderson, Director of Tourism Programs (both pictured at right). The Hawaii Tourism Authority is the primary source of funding for VASH. Without their contributions, VASH would not be able to assist the hundreds of visitors who experience times of adversity during their stay in Hawaii.

VASH Board Chair, Dr. Terence C. Wade (pictured at left, at the podium) addressed the luncheon guests. He again stressed the importance of the work that the Visitor Aloha Society does, and the continuing need for support from its staff, volunteers and generous donors. VASH staff members Lisa Fallau, Volunteer Coordinator (pictured at left, left rear) and Lindsay Yamauchi, Case Manager (pictured at left, right rear) assisted Dr. Wade with the presentation of the awards.

Dr. Terence C. Wade, VASH Board Chair presented the Chairman's Award to Outrigger Enterprises Vice-President of Community Relations, Jean E. Rolles (pictured at right with Dr. Wade). Outrigger Enterprises has generously provided the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii with a rent-free office for the past several years. We are truly grateful for their generosity.

VASH Board Chair, Dr. Terence C. Wade, also presented the Volunteer of The Year Award. The recipient was Denise Aiko Chinen (pictured at left with Dr. Wade). Aiko was honored for her outstanding work as a volunteer at the Visitor Aloha Society. She has been a VASH volunteer for the past two years and has handled over 60 cases. She does not shy away from even the most challenging and time-intensive ones. She has provided emotional support to victims and their families, follow-up assistance, Japanese language interpretation and has also helped in the office with various duties. She was presented with a beautiful Koa plaque and an all expense paid trip for two to Las Vegas, compliments of Vacations Hawaii.

Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii President and Executive Director, Jessica Lani Rich, presented the President's Award to The Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association for providing hotel accomodations for visitors who are victims of crime or adversity. Their generosity allows us to provide rooms for visitors who are forced to delay their return home or are unable to pay for their lodgings due to loss of credit cards and funds. Ernest Nishizaki, Chairman of the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association and Executive Vice-President & Chief Operation Officer of Kyo-Ya Conpany, Ltd, accepted the award (pictured at right with Jessica Lani Rich).

VASH Board member and President of the Hawaii Retail Merchants Association, Carol Pregill, presented the Hawaii Tourism Award to Olomana Marketing President Alan Tang (both pictured on left). Olomana Marketing was presented with the award for its outstanding work in the media. They produced a public service television program which included the mission and the work by the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii which highlighted the importance or our work with tourists.

VASH Board member, Jim Fulton, presented the Special Achievement and Recognition Award to the Honolulu Police Department for their diligence in informing visitors about the Visitor Aloha Society and in reporting cases to VASH. The award was accepted by Honolulu Police Deparment Deputy Chief, Paul Putzulu (pictured at right).

© Opening photo courtesy of Oahu Visitors Bureau