July 20, 2009
Contributed by Thomas Yoshida
Orphaned by the death of his mother at age 4, Micah attended Kamehameha Schools on financial assistance, went on to college and graduate school and has spent the last 6 1/2 years in service to our people. As the Director of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands since 2003, Micah has worked tirelessly to return Native Hawaiians to the 'āina. In that capacity, he has enthusiastically supported Kamehameha Schools in providing learning centers and preschools within new homestead developments. He is a master at creating strong communities and sees no hurdle that cannot be overcome. We look forward to the energy and experience he will bring as we further our Strategic Plan goals and extend Pauahi's reach deeper into our Native Hawaiian communities.
Micah was appointed Trustee on Friday afternoon by Probate Court Judge Colleen Hirai to a five-year term beginning September 1, 2009. Under an earlier ruling by Judge Hirai, Admiral Kihune will stay on as Trustee through August. We are grateful that Admiral will remain with us during this leadership transition.
It is impossible to capture in a few words what Admiral has contributed to Pauahi's legacy. He began his service here in February 1999 as a special purpose Trustee to resolve an ongoing audit by the Internal Revenue Service. As Chairman of the Interim Trustees, he negotiated a closing agreement with the IRS which allowed the Trust to move forward with restructured governance, a strategic plan and investment and spending policies that increased the amount spent on Education. He was a driving force behind our Hawai'i Island and Maui campuses, and has been a passionate advocate for increased service to our keiki and opi'o, especially those with highest need.
These are just some of the measurable manifestations of Admiral's service with us. However, it is Admiral's 'ano that will leave the most enduring impact. He has been a gracious and steadfast leader in our boardroom, serving with honesty, wisdom, judgment and heart. His leadership has been critical to the transformation of our trust from a Trustee-managed system to one governed and directed by Trustees and led by a CEO and executive management team in a way that is strategic and aligned with our mission. No journey is without challenges and missteps and over the last decade we have had our share, but with Admiral alongside us at the helm, we learned our lessons quickly and have greatly advanced our mission.
Admiral has set a standard for all of us to follow, and we are so very grateful.
Nou, e Micah, ka welina o ke aloha. A nou ho'i, e Admiral, ke aloha mau loa.
We are privileged to have such leadership with us.
Diane Plotts, Chairman
Corbett Kalama
J. Douglas Ing
Nainoa Thompson
Dee Jay Mailer, CEO
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
