Photo Gallery - January 2026
Liz Fujii from Palehua.org spoke to us about the power of Palehua.
We welcome 2 new members! Professor Ni Zhang, from the University of Hawaii and Major Tom Stambaugh, from the Salvation Army. Welcome!
Kelly gets a Ruby Paul Harris
Robert awarded another Paul Harris |
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Photo Gallery November 2025
Journey from Hell - founder Vinny Marino's book about his story and the birth and philosophy of Habilitat. a MUST read for all organizations.
pointing out the improvements, with newly repaired pier in background. Done in-house by Habilitat crews. The maintenance and upkeep on the property by Habilitat students and staff is excellent.
President Gina making plans on partnering with Habilitat. Watch out Hawaii, we make get a network for food security and a viable Honolulu Sunrise fundraiser by working with Habilitat! |
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GENKI BALLS! Ala Wai - In a 2-part event, Honolulu Sunrise Rotarians joined other Rotarians and volunteers making Genki Balls, and throwing them into the Ala Wai. These super balls made with EM-1 are known to provide a biological cleansing to polluted water via very special probiotics that eat pathogens and create an amazing balance to an ecosystem. Project volunteer kudos to Tyler Furukawa & Karyn Lee.
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Mock Interviews March 2022 Honolulu - Honolulu Sunrise Rotarians assisted with mock interviews at McKinely High School - Our members from vocations of engineering and banking participated in connecting with students to help them prepare for future job interviews.
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Eric Schiff Joins Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise Honolulu - Sponsored by our Membership Chair, Joe Ferraro, Eric took the oath of a new Rotarian - supporting our broad vision of Promoting Peace, Fighting Disease, Providing Clean Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Saving Mothers & Children, Supporting Education, Growing Local Economies, and Protecting the Environment.Welcome Eric, and we look forward to having you as a member! |
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Roosevelt High School Interact Descends on HEEIA FISHPONDHeeia, Oahu - The Roosevelt High School Interact Club - chaperoned by Honolulu Sunrise's Ryan Char worked on an incredible service project: cleaning the fishpond of invasives! Volunteering for this project helps restore our traditional Hawaiian fishponds as a model for other fishponds as well as rebuilding our lost Hawaiian cultural practices of keeping and maintaining these valuable assets to our island's sustainability and food security. Thank you Roosevelt Interact Club and Honolulu Sunrise's Youth Service Committee!    |
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President David Mozdren Steps Up for COVIDHonolulu - In a strong move for Rotary HonSun, Dave Mozdren stepped up in July 2020 to captain the club as it makes its way through COVID. The year 2020 has not been easy, but new creative ways of meeting have happened. And it is even attracting new members! This year's highlights include the Honolulu mayor's race, and we invited both candidates Amemiya and Blangiardi to speak at our meetings. This is Dave Mozdren's 2nd Presidency as the veteran officer, board member, and District 5000 Chair of the Rotary Foundation Committee makes moves to steer our club through these very change-driven times. Thanks, Dave for being our courageous leader!
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Welcome to the Rotary Club of Honolulu SunrisePower Your PurposeThe best leaders in Honolulu don't just build businesses—they build communities. At Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise, we're professionals who turn morning coffee into meaningful change. Join us to grow your impact, expand your network, and make every sunrise count. Rotarians are People of Action. STEP 1) Click this video and learn more about what Rotarians do in their communities. STEP 2) Contact our club and attend one of our meetings. STEP 3) Become a Rotarian and turn your community into Superheroes  |
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28JAN2019 - Business and Brand through a Camera LensHale Takazawa shares a story: A Rotary club decides to recruit retirees - a change of direction from trying to recruit young Rotarians...why? To build a wisdom network. Younger people who are wisdom seekers will be the ones to join that Rotary Club! Not because the club seeks them - but because they are attracted to the wisdom of retirees (a sea of knowledge and professional expertise). **** Howard J. Wolff visits as the first of our new Gameplan Series - Formerly the Chief Marketing Officer of Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo (WATG), Howard is now an independent consultant - sharing his business building magic with businesses all over the world. Howard's talk is about lessons in Marketing using the metaphor of photography. What amazing stories and bits of wisdom. Thank you Howard, for launching the HonSun Gameplan Series. |
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07JAN2019 - A New City of HonoluluCoach Rich Whipple shares a challenge: To look back at the people who inspire us to be superhuman. Remember those who had a key influence in our lives... And then get in touch with them. Reach out to them, say hello. Thank them, and check up on them! Don't let life go by without contacting these very important people in your lives. **** Dawn has a great idea of collecting Rotarian Magazines, and leaving them in offices, salons, and other places where we go each day. A brilliant idea to spread the brand of Rotary. **** Harrison Rue - City and County of Honolulu - Community Building and TOD (Transit Oriented Design) Administrator came to speak with us about what the city is doing with rail, Biki Bikes, and many other services coming to our city that will truly make it more liveable. The vision he paints for us is like having a brand-new city! So much of the city will be accessible by rail, walking, and biking! It's going to change our city so significantly that we will have whole new neighborhoods to discover, work and play in. What an exciting future we have in store! Thanks Mr. Rue for your tireless contribution to our city! |
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01AUG2018-IT'S (NOT ALWAYS) LONELY AT THE TOP - A VISIT FROM SEAN TADAKIRob Hail shares about death as one of the most important teachers of life. He talks about what steve Jobs said how thinking that you will die, makes you remember that you actually have something to lose... namely time. Every moment is just so, so precious. "The connections we make in the course of a life--maybe that's what heaven is.." -Fred Rogers (Mister Roger's neighborhood) I feel monotony and death to be almost the same thing." "What we have done for ourselves dies with us, what we have done for others and the world is and remains immortal." - Albert Pike **** Former member Sean Tadaki, President of EO Hawaii shared his experiences about building a business in Hawaii, and how EO (the Entrepreneurs Organization) Hawaii changed his life... and business! His Commercial real estate brokerage has grown into a powerhouse in Hawaii - Of which he gives credit to a sub-group of EO members who gather each month to share their best and worst of life - each helps the other shoulder the pain, and celebrate the victories. The interesting thing about this group is that they give no advice... They are only allowed to share experiences. These real-life stories are shared and communicated to help build business, and to teach and steer EO cohorts from repeating the same mistakes. Wow, what a great system we all could use in speaking with our teams and families. Thanks Sean for visiting and sharing your story with us! |
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24SEP2018-District Gov. Win Schoneman Arrives!Rotary District 5000 (Hawaii) Governor, Win Schoneman arrives to share the vision for year 2018-19. Win shared his Rotary story of his travels to Romania, where he experienced a Rotary experience that transformed him from a member about to quit to a super-hero Rotarian. It's a story we can all relate to, and it provides a new perspective on solving new world issues. Bringing it back home to Hawaii, Win is focused on building vibrant clubs, building membership within our clubs using entrepreneurial and creative ideas, as well as taking on the specter of trafficking in our islands. It's a long tough road, but Hawaii is ground zero as an international node of trafficking, and it's high time we did something about it! Thank you Governor Win for inspiring us! |
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17SEP2018-CLUB ASSEMBLY WITH PRESIDENT RYANPresident Ryan had a lot to share while kicking off some of the goals of his presidential year. Our Committee chairs got to share some of their ideas and goals for the coming year. Good news was shared with record grant money coming in from Rotary International...meaning that we need to work hard to find some really great projects to spend it on! |
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10SEP2018 - THE RETURN OF GOVERNOR ABERCROMBIEKara Kusunoki visits with us. The new Director of Read To Me International is transforming the organization into a 21st century powerhouse where it can reach people to show them the skills and importance of reading aloud. Mike Doss shares an inspiration about his father's firm wisdom of discipline tempered with patience and love. He understood the power of corporal punishment can be forgotten, but a story lasts a lifetime....particularly an embarrassing one! ******** Governor Abercrombie SPEAKS! Voters have displayed dismay and disgust with the political process of electing our politicians. Voter turnout dwindling with no end in sight! Governor Abercrombie graces the Sunrise Rotarians with a solution that could turn it around. A Constitutional Amendment! Wow! The discussion kept members way past our meeting finish as Rotarians really listened and heard the message of diversifying government. Thank you Gov. Abercrombie! |
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27AUG2018-SURFING SAVES SOULSJan Taketa inspires us with reminding us about the idea of "kokua". Kokua shows at the Kahauiki project. Kokua for Senator John McCain. Kokua in Jan's neighborhood as they prepped neighbors for hurricane Lane. Kokua at RYSE who took in an extra 20 kids before the storm hit. The kids were sleeping in bushes. Kokua is what superheroes do. Does surfing actually help? Connie Sizemore from Surfrider Spirit Sessions showed us how surf lessons save people's lives. It brings people from the brink of suicide. Removes the binds of autism. It teaches resilience, and the habit to get back up after a wipeout.....Grit. All prerequisites necessary for superhero training. Thanks for sharing with us, Connie! www.surfspirit.org |
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20AUG2018 - CSPAN COMES ALIVE!Wendy inspires us all as she shares a personal story of her first son leaving for college, going from birth to starting college, and dealing with feelings of excitement, pride, and an empty nest. It's more than an accomplishment. It is the birth of a new superhero. C-SPAN is on a 50-state tour. They brought their amazing technicolor dream bus to the Pacific Club just so we could tour it! Wow! Did you know that C-SPAN can be used as a resource to search and download testimony of nearly everything that goes on in Congress? The entire thing - not clipped and edited... but the real, complete footage of every long-winded speech ever made by every elected official and some self-proclaimed ones too. And you can even get transcripts as well! Special thanks to Jenae Green and Shannon Augustus from C-SPAN!
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13AUG2018- SAVING LIVES IN HAWAIIIchi Sekimitsu gives an inspiration: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are POWERFUL beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that scares us most. Make manifest the glory of God that is within us. When we are liberated from our own fear... Our presence automatically liberates others. Do not be afraid to let your light shine.... Ichi reminds us to send in our Bio's so that we can share our talents. Gregg Stueber spoke with us about his long career with the Honolulu Fire Department Search and Rescue team. He has many stories of rescue, and well as recovery. Yes - that's right... humans caught in bad situations. He speaks about environmental and situational awareness... Something many of us don't have... particularly when travelling away from our home. There will be more to come from this amazing Superhero - who we look forward to having Gregg someday teach us how to read nature so that she helps us instead of harms us. |
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06AUG2018 - Superheroes from Sendai & Atago Rotary VistsOur good friends from the Atago Rotary in Tokyo joined us with their group of Blind Students from the city of Sendai. We just came off a weekend of camping. Can you imagine blind students learning to make leis, dancing the hula, and going body-boarding at Bellows!? Believe it! It happened, and these guys are nothing short of miraculous. Serious super-heroes in our midst today.
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30July2018 - The Famed Kahauiki VillageDawn gives a great pitch for our email signatures and letting people know you're a Rotarian! Ichi makes a solid pitch to fill in our survey forms so we can share our talents. Kirk Hovious - a one-man inspirational team who is the tip of the Rotary spear in working on the Kahauiki Project. Kirk came to speak with us about the project. How it started, and how it continues with the project getting ready for Phase II. |
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23JULY2018 - A Visit from the Honolulu ZooGeorge Moyer gives an amazing inspiration... where are our Heroes? Clara Daily w/ sign-language to chat with a blind/deaf man on a plane. The divers who saved the Thai soccer team from flooded caves -esp. the one who gave his life, and the 72 medal of Honor recipients, men who believed the task was too important to leave to others. Kindness is doing something for someone else not because they can't - but because you CAN.... This is Rotary. Mary Benson gets her own gavel. Jan Taketa presents an UNSUNG HERO award to Deborah Smith from YO! House. Dean Sakamoto presents and UNSUNG HERO award to Terry Bateman from the Waikiki Yacht Club. Terry couldn't make the meeting, but sent us his own video! Linda Santos from the Honolulu Zoo graces us with a very interesting talk about what's new at the zoo! Last plans before our blind students from Japan arrive for camping. |
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16July2018 - YWCA visitsRyan's 2nd meeting of the new 2018-19 year had a wonderful inspiration from President-Elect Linda Santos. She spoke about potatoes, eggs, and coffee - all boiled, and how they turned out after adversity (the boiling water) . Strong becomes soft, fragile becomes hard, and others transform. We were then treated to a talk from Cecilia Fong from the YWCA about its many programs and ways that they help our community. Always new great things at the YWCA! |
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Eric Kaler Prepares for the District 5000 Governor Position in 2020Superhero Moment! Eric Kaler selected to take the reigns as District 5000 Governor in 2019-2020. This picture exemplifies his style: calm balanced focused CONGRATULATIONS ERIC! Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise's first District Governor Elect!
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President Ryan Char Inducted and ready for the new Rotary Year 2018-19Honolulu - President Ryan Char was inducted at the July 9 meeting taking the torch from Past President Mary Benson. Congratulations to the new board and thank you to the 2017-18 board under Mary's leadership.  Ryan Char and fiancee Taryn |
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Ryan Char gets the 2018-19 Board Ready2018-19 BE THE INSPIRATION  Wendy Shewalter studies the year-ahead calendar with new plans for the Youth Service Committee.
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Dictionaries Delivered!
Honolulu- Following our Monday morning Rotary Club meeting on September 11, Linda Santos, Carolyn Hiatt, Dave Mozdren, John Ball delivered Dictionaries to the third grade classes at Royal Elementary. Rotarians explained what Rotary is, how to use a Dictionary and some of the interesting parts of these Dictionaries including the English Language's longest word - over 1900 letters long! It was very meaningful for the Rotarians to see the smiles on the 3rd graders' faces and some of the children hugging their Dictionaries.
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Japan Blind School and Atago Rotary visit Honolulu Sunrise |
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Unsung Heroes Vocational Awardee |
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"...unexpected magic" - A Benefit for Read To Me InternationalOn Saturday, October 17, Read To Me International held their annual fundraiser at Kapi'olani Community College’s Ka 'Ikena Dining Room. The sold out event included a silent auction, live entertainment, a wine pull, and dinner prepared by Chef David Miyamoto and the students of the KCC Culinary Institute of the Pacific. Proceeds from this event provides resources that support the many wonderful programs offered by Read To Me, such as workshops and presentations for educators and parents, hosting read alouds and growing their leeward coast program that fosters a new level of communication and confidence for participating families. Members from the Rotary of Honolulu Sunrise Club were in attendance and assisted with the live auction of scrumptious desserts!
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"...unexpected magic""...unexpected magic" - a benefit for read to me international On Saturday, October 17, Read To Me International held their annual fundraiser at Kapiolani Community College’s Ka Ikena Dining Room. The sold out event included a silent auction, live entertainment, a wine pull, and dinner prepared by Chef David Miyamoto and the students of the KCC Culinary Institute of the Pacific. Proceeds from this event provides resources that support the many wonderful programs offered by Read To Me, such as workshops and presentations for educators and parents, hosting read alouds and growing their leeward coast program that fosters a new level of communication and confidence for participating families. Members from the Rotary of Honolulu Sunrise Club were in attendance and assisted with the live auction of scrumptious desserts! |
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New Member Orientation at Big City DinerAt a bright and early 7 am on Friday October 16th, our new members met for their new member orientation at Big City Diner!! Welcome to our new members that were able to attend this event Jadence Goya, Virgil Stinnett, Katie Keim, Jimmy Rymer, and Megan Takagi.
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Dutch Lunch- Ethopian Love On October 15th, our club sponsored a wonderful Dutch Lunch at Ethiopian Love Restaurant. Five of our Honolulu Sunrise Rotarians attended along with 3 guests. The food was delicious, and the group got a summary of member Joe Ferraro's presentation given that morning to a senior group. Our Honolulu Sunrise Club may get a special presentation by Joe on the structure his firm built in Antarctica.
Check out our pictures of the delicious food and the great group!
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Travel Opportunity: Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa in November 2015We want to let you know about an upcoming trip to Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa in November 2015 to participate in a polio immunization exercise, attend the 10th Annual West Africa Project Fair, and engage in a hands-on work project. Follow the story link for detailed trip information. There is a limited amount of space and expect this trip to be filled in the next week or two. |
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Teacher School Supplies Delivery- Fall of 2015 In August, just before the start of the school year, our club member Wendy Goodenow delivered nearly $1,000 worth of teacher school supplies to Royal School!
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Ethnic Dinner garners rave reviews
 Rijo restaurant and event organizer Betty Berni got nothing but rave reviews for the Ethnic Dinner on Friday March 13.
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New Member Orientation
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Breakfast is Brain FoodEvery week, the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise brings you informative speakers on issues that are affecting our community, from homelessness and human services to business and education. Come and enjoy breakfast, make friends and stay informed.
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Recent Announcements and EventsFebruary was a busy month. Check it out.
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Main InfoWelcome to the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise
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Welcome to Our New WebsiteAloha and welcome to the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise. We're currently transitioning to a Club Runner site, so forgive our imperfections. We're working to get everything up to speed as quickly as possible, but if you have any tips/recommendations in the meantime please let us know!
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This Week at Honolulu Sunrise
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President Eric Hit the Ground RunningTalk about an exciting first month (plus) with new president Eric Kaler. Just take a look at what has been happening.
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Masa's Midweek Volunteers Clean Kapiolani ParkMasa, Bill, Carolyn and I met across the Diamond Head Tennis courts, and made a wide swath around the park. We were pleasantly surprised when Mark Sperry took a break from his workout session at the Elks club and joined us in the trash pickup.
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