Page 7 - MidWeek - Oct 6 2021

OCTOBER 6, 2021 MIDWEEK 7
A Longtime Public Servant Who Still Inspires
Dear Darah,
I’ m so happy that a dear friend like you has embarked on a new chap- ter in her life with this column. I’m happier still that I can sa- lute another dear friend, Ann Kobayashi, who has served a lifetime commitment to our state and community with dedication and integrity.
Governor of Hawai‘i and Ho- nolulu Mayor, respectively (1994-2002); and state senator (1980-94).
but I would like to share Ann’s lifetime commitment. Now, after retiring from more than two decades of public ser- vice, she continues to serve on many boards and commis- sions, and she does this with the same integrity, empathy, energy and love she has shared all her life.
life’s ups and downs as a can- cer survivor — she is a quiet but vicious fighter. It can be said that one’s worth is often- times measured by the number of friends one has, and Ann cannot begin to count these friends that love and admire her. Mahalo nui, Ann.
Karen Shishido Nu‘uanu
Dear Karen,
Thank you for this beau- tiful acknowledgement of a woman who really does it all. Ann Kobayashi has served the people of Ha- wai‘i and continues to be an inspiration to so many. She attributes her love for wanting to make our world a better place to her up- bringing. She says, “Even though I’ m retired now, I still work for nonprofits as a volunteer. My parents brought me up this way. Ev- ery day I have food on the table and a house to live in, and this is my way of giving back to the community and the state.
“I love Hawai‘i and I want it to be a good place
to live in, and I want every- one to respect each other. There are a lot of contro- versies, but there shouldn’t be hate — there should be aloha. What motivates me is I love Hawai‘i and I want to keep it a good place to live. And I read MidWeek all the time!”
It would take more than a column to recognize all of Ann’s accomplishments and public/private offices that she has held or been elected to, some of which are: City and County Councilmember and chair (2002-20); special and executive assistant to the
I know most people tend to recognize someone who has done something personal or extraordinary in recent times,
Karen Shishido with Ann Kobayashi PHOTO COURTESY KAREN SHISHIDO
Email letters to Darah at mahalonuiwithdarah@ gmail.com. Include your name, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of the person you’ re thanking so she can contact him or her.
Ann’s leadership and pub- lic commitment has been honored many times over: YWCA 2012 Leader Lun- cheon Honoree; recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun; God Rays with Rosette from the Japanese govern- ment; Japanese Women’s Society Foundation board of directors; United Japanese Society of Hawai‘i board of directors — the list goes on.
Ann has also conquered
Mahalo nui, Ann Ko- bayashi, for leading by ex- ample and being a positive influence in this place we call home.
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