‘A year of opportunity’

LIHUE — Michelle Emura, new board chair of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, said 2019 was a great year for the business organization.

She has high expectations for next year, too.

“To all those in the room, let’s kick okole, together, in 2020,” she said during a short message at Thursday night’s annual general membership meeting.

A record crowd of nearly 600 attended the festive affair, “Jingle and Mingle,” at the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club.

Speeches were given, board members were sworn in and awards were presented, with many wearing Christmas-themed attire. But what marked the night was the holiday cheer, optimistic outlook and aloha led by Chamber President Mark Perriello.

He said 2020 was going to be “a year of opportunity for each of you as members of the chamber to really take advantage of all this organization has to offer. There’s so much more we could be doing for you.”

Thursday’s turnout was the largest in chamber history.

“That is a testament to each of you and the strength that you bring to each other,” Perriello said.

This year, the chamber signed up about 100 new members, which he said was “unheard of.”

Perriello deflected credit for the growth and pointed it at the crowd before him.

“It was each of you talking to your friends and peers in the community and getting them to see the value of this organization,” he said.

Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami gave a shout out to Hawaii Pacific Health and Wilcox Health, meeting sponsors.

He said Wilcox Medical Center is excellent at health care, but also goes above and beyond, promoting physical activity with many activities for keiki.

He reminded the crowd “how lucky we are to have a wonderful hospital system that not only takes care of their hospital, but they’re willing to partner with our state hospitals as well.”

Jen Chahanovich, Wilcox Health president and CEO, thanked the crowd, Wilcox board members, physicians and staff.

“It is our honor to take care of you when you need us,” she said.

Kawakami said Christmas is a time where he reflects on years past, and especially on his late parents, Charles and Arlene.

“And you know, with this job I oftentimes find myself, asking myself, ‘what would my dad do in this situation’ or ‘how would my mom handle it?’ The one big question that I get all the time, ‘How do you find time to do all these things and remain very happy and positive?’”

The mayor shared his answer.

“For one thing, I have a fabulous wife that I owe my life to, so thank you,” he said, looking toward his wife, Monica.

The other thing he did early in life, he said, was listen to his father.

“He would always tell me, ‘It’s very simple to run a good organization. You just make sure that you surround yourself with people that are smarter, that are more talented, that are more visionary and that are loyal,’” Kawakami said. “I was able to do that.”

This Christmas season, the mayor said, “the community has given me the best gift I could ever have asked for from a community, and that’s being loving, supportive and, most importantly, having the ability to come together.”

Everyone in the room, everyone on the island, he said, deserved a round of applause.

“I think the greatest gift I got this year is the opportunity to be your servant,” Kawakami said. “Merry Christmas, God bless and aloha.”

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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.