Page 12 - MidWeek - Feb 23, 2022

12 MIDWEEK FEBRUARY 23, 2022
More than just being the first woman and Native Hawaiian ever appointed as president of East- West Center, Suzanne Vares-Lum is the right leader at a time when building relationships is key in the Indo-Pacific region.
on’t listen to the barking dogs.” That’s a piece of advice Suzanne Va-
hungry and vicious canines. If they were to stop for every sin- gle one, they would never reach their destination.
These words of wisdom have stuck with the Wahiawā-born Vares-Lum as she has surpassed what was once deemed far- fetched or even impossible.
tive Hawaiian female to become a U.S. Army general and, most recently, she’s the first woman and Native Hawaiian appointed president of East-West Center.
she earned degrees in journalism and education.
res-Lum received when she was seated at an all-female round- table some time ago. Said by a Mongolian parliamentarian, the story went on to explain how families in the East Asia country must be fairly nomadic given the region’s harsh weather patterns, and when traveling from place to place, they often encounter
“What she was really saying to the group of women was that if you listen to the chatter that says you can’t — or even your own internal voice that’s saying you can’t — you won’t get to where you’re going,” says Vares-Lum. “You have to listen to the more positive voices, not the barking dogs.”
She’s no stranger to being the only woman in the room, but with her courage, determination and altruism at the forefront of everything she does, she’s been named the “first” of a remark- ably long list of prestigious titles over her 34-year career. To name just a few, she was the first Na-
As she sits in her new office that overlooks the lush grounds of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Vares-Lum reflects on a time when she was a student walking these same sidewalks. It’s the place where she met her husband, Courtney — they share two daughters now — and where
While a career in writing piqued her interest for a period oftime—shewasontheKaLeo O Hawai‘i staff after all — Va- res-Lum decided to follow in her father’s mighty and brave foot- steps and pursue a life of service.
“I think what really impressed me was the World War II gener- ation, those who were willing to serve our country and stand up
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