Continuing a biannual tradition that started in 2000, BYU-Hawaii recognized five individuals on May 6 for their outstanding commitment to the communities and people surrounding the university.
In presenting the awards to Gladys Pualoa Ahuna, Sunday Mariteragi, Seiko Shiroma, Michael Payton and Fred Trotter, President Eric B. Shumway said, "These people are the people who have given their lives to bless this area, which in turn blesses the lives of our students."
Representatives from BYU-Hawaii as well as co-sponsors Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii Reserves, Inc. and the Laie Community Association, introduced each recipient at a banquet in the ballroom with citations of their accomplishments and services in the community:
* Ahuna, whose family has lived in Laie for seven generations, worked for many years in the post office, retiring as Laie Post Master. While her eight children were in school, she alternated serving in PTA at Laie Elementary and Kahuku High until all of them graduated. She was also involved with the Laie Community Association, the Ko'olauloa Neighborhood Board and Hawaiian civic clubs, helping found the Lanihuli Hawaiian Civic Club, which she still leads as president. After retiring in 1997, she and her second husband, "Uncle" Joe "Tarzan" Ahuna, served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand and the Cook Islands, then were called into the new Kona Temple presidency. Most recently they completed a one-year service mission at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
* Mariteragi, who was nicknamed "Sunday girl" because she was born on that day, was still in high school in 1963 when her aunt and the Polynesian Cultural Center's first kumu hula, Sally Wood Naluai, asked her to dance at the brand-new attraction. The rest is hula history as Mariteragi went on to graduate from the Church College of Hawaii, work with students at Kahuku High for the past 31 years and is teaching hula to the second generation of young girls in Ko'olauloa. Her halau, Napuananionapalionakoolau, has performed in many festivals, competitions, practices regularly at the PCC and plans to travel to London in 2007. Though she's threatened, "This will be my last year" several times, Aunty Sunday still has a passion to teach the principles of righteousness through hula.
* Seiko Shiroma, 82, moved to Kahuku when he was 12 and soon started work at the plantation as a field hand. Through the years he held a variety of increasingly responsible positions. When the plantation closed down, he worked several more years for the parent company, then worked for the company which converted the old sugar mill into a retail center, and for the State Department of Agriculture, helping set up an agricultural park program in Kahuku that local farmers still use. Shiroma served on the state Board of Education and was appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Though not a member at the time, he volunteered to help build the Kahuku United Methodist Church and later served on its board. He also played key roles in securing Kahuku village housing and the elderly housing units, served on the Kahuku Hospital, credit union and Kahuku Community Association boards, and worked for many years on the North Shore golfing program that benefits the Junior Golf program and the Kahuku and Waialua High School golf teams.
* Over 30 years ago at Kahuku High, Michael Payton started with just 12 students whose numbers have grown into thousands of marching band members. Through Mr. Payton's creativity, musicianship and precision routines, the Kahuku High marching band has won numerous awards and performed in Honolulu and across the country, in Japan, at the Rose Bowl, Disneyland, and was the first high school band to play at Epcot Center in Disney World. During his career, Payton has received numerous personal awards as well, including Windward District Teacher of the Year and Hawaii's "most favorite teacher." He has also taught special music classes at BYU-Hawaii, Kamehameha School, and conducted the 2003 Hawaii all-state band, largely anchored by Kahuku players, which marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Though he officially retired in 1995, Payton continues to help at Kahuku High and says this might be his last year working with the band.
* Fred Trotter, a Campbell Estate heir, was born on a sugar plantation and ever since has had the interests of the land and working people at heart. Before joining the Estate board of directors in 1971, Campbell served as manager of Kahuku Plantation Company and began his lifelong commitment to Ko'olauloa at that point, including encouraging financial support for Kahuku High. When the plantation closed, Trotter was instrumental in helping the former employees secure the unexpired leases on their homes, and later buy them in fee. He also worked with City and other agencies to secure the fire station, police substation and new elementary school for Kahuku. In addition Trotter has served on many business and civic boards and has been very active with the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation. More recently, Trotter and his wife, Valerie, operated Ko'olau Agricultural Company in Punalu'u which worked closely with students from local schools.
Speaking on behalf of the others, Ahuna said, "We are so honored to be recipients of these awards tonight. We would never be able to do anything without the support of our loved ones. Many things we had to do, they had to get involved with."
"We thank you for thanking us. Mahalo nui loa a pau," she added.
Trotter, who also spoke on behalf of all the recipients, shared some of his memories of working with Edward L. Clissold when early preparations to build the Polynesian Cultural Center were first underway.
Turning to his fellow recipients, he said, "This group, I call them doers. They saw something to do, and they did it. They really didn't need praise to do it."
"You and I cannot calculate how much good these five people have done," President Shumway responded. "How many lives they have touched, and how many meaningful experiences they have fostered. We will never forget what you have done."