Business Leaders Hawaii section

1. OCTOBER 22, 2010 SECTION B
Celebrating business that works
P L AT I N U M S P O N S O R GOLD SPONSORS
SUPPORTING SPONSORS

2. OCTOBER 22, 2010 pacificbusinessnews.com | PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS B9
Business Leader of the Year Finalist
Hospice exec seeks miracles amid the pain
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ “We have an incredible mission we in nursing administration at the Uni-
PBN CONTRIBUTOR are so passionate about,” Zeri said. “In versity of Maryland in Baltimore, also
K enneth Zeri shows how much he
cares when he flashes a warm
smile and takes a few seconds to
call attention to a breathtaking orange
sunrise. Even though he looks at death
the toughest times, that passion fueled
our fire to keep going.”
Outside the office, he is serving his
third year as president of Kokua Mau,
the statewide hospice and palliative
is a clinical associate instructor at the
University of Hawaii John A. Burns
School of Medicine.
When he’s not busy working, he enjoys
computers, reading and listening to Ha-
daily as the president and chief profes- care association. One of his accomplish- waii Public Radio. His volunteer work
sional officer of Hospice Hawaii, he says ments has been rallying others to pass includes the Rotary Club of Honolulu,
that out of pain and suffering miracles a law called Physician Orders for Life Aloha United Way and serving as a
,
can emerge. Sustaining Treatment (POLST). church choir director.
One such miracle occurred when Zeri “This law enables people to have their He also loves to cook — he has been
visited the home of a patient’s family . end-of-life wishes heard and respected tweaking an apple pie recipe for the
The father, who had been hospitalized in the home and community as well past 25 years. A silent auction item
for a month, was brought home shortly as the hospital,” said Elizabeth Char, in Hospice Hawaii’s annual Na Hoa
before he died. With the help of Hospice a doctor. “It is useful for EMS and 911 Malama fundraiser on Nov. 6 will be a
Hawaii, the grieving daughter was able first responders and in the emergency dinner for four that Zeri will prepare.
to keep her promise to her dad that she department, hospital, care homes and He urges people to donate to Hospice
would bring him home. hospice settings.” Hawaii.
“It was a day’s work for us but it was Zeri is a past president of the Hospice He credits his family, staff and patients
a lifetime of a memory of that promise and Palliative Nurses Association and for keeping him humble, and for teaching
that was kept,” Zeri said. “That is good a candidate for the Western Region di- him about life.
stuff. My job is to be sure there are the rector’s position on the national board “We get to see that life is not supposed
resources, tools, training and passion.” TINA YUEN of The National Hospice and Palliative to be about that I’ve forgotten to take out
The former Navy nurse’s bucket list Hospice Hawaii President Kenneth Care Organization, where he presently the garbage or the fights over $20,” he
for work sets the bar high for inspiring Zeri says his job is to provide “re- serves on several committees. said. “Life is supposed to be about love,
others on how to give “rest-of-life” care sources, tools, training and passion” Internationally he fosters a learning
, relationships, and purpose that make the
in hospice locally and internationally . to those who care for the terminally ill. exchange and sister relationship with difference in the world. The fact of the
He’s making progress at crossing things Pallium Hospice in Tokyo and Banksia matter is, there is beauty to be enjoyed
off the list with the support of Hospice visual geek turned the organization Palliative Care Services in Melbourne, in life, and the simplicity of things like
Hawaii’s staff of 90 employees and 150 around during financially challenging Australia. the ocean. We are all interconnected,
volunteers. The self-proclaimed audio- times by zeroing in on its core values. Zeri, who earned a graduate degree and we affect each other’s lives.”

3. OCTOBER 22, 2010 pacificbusinessnews.com | PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS B17
Best in Business Finalists
‘Green’ architects practice what they preach
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ designs featured a big bed, flush toilet and hot showers,
T
PBN CONTRIBUTOR which were inspired in part by White’s wife’s idea of
he offices of Philip K. White & Associates Ltd. a good camping trip. The electricity came from solar
Architects and Planners are full of examples of panels. Running water went through the sink, shower
the company’s design mantra of being green by and a composting toilet.
working with the environment. The company’s vast portfolio also consists of private
Bamboo wood floors, Eucalyptus woodwork and re- homes and commercial projects as diverse as the Hawaii
cycled plastic are integrated throughout. Maritime Center and the Oceanic Time-Warner Cable
“We always try to do things right and well,” said Presi- Building.
dent Philip White. “Whether it is right for the community, White credits Higa with focusing on marketing and
right for the environment, or right for the employees — project management so that he is free to direct the archi-
those are the things we strive for.” tecture arena, which generated $1.3 million in revenue
On the firm’s roof deck, employees rolled up their sleeves to in the past fiscal year.
put plants in pots and grow a vegetable garden. The outdoor “We are always brainstorming with each other on how
dining set and barbecue grill give the deck a touch of home. we can move forward and do things,” Higa added.
“This is pretty cool because it allows our clients to come White and Higa say the firm’s small staff of seven
by and they see some of the things that we have done and
, makes a great team — employees attend a team-building
how it is doing,” said Vice President Terine K. Higa. “It weekend retreat each year. Also, for the past year, em-
gives them an idea of what they can do.” ployees have worked 80 hours over nine working days,
The transformation that 40 S. School Street has undergone allowing them to have every other Friday off. The office
is noticeable — it had stood empty for about five years and is closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day And, in
.
was overrun by graffiti when the architects moved in about keeping with the green theme and team-building activi-
three years ago. Now, a florist and interior design retail ties, employees decorate the office Christmas tree with
store present an attractive storefront for the Leadership in ornaments they make themselves from recycled office
Energy and Environmental Design Silver-certified building. supplies such as an igloo of white computer keys, and a
The reason Philip K. White & Associates does things reindeer made from an old light bulb.
green is two-fold. “The power of design has an effect on the community ,”
“One is for the community White explained. “And
,” White said. “For us as architects we take that responsibil-
the other is for ourselves. We always try to do things that ity very seriously .”
work with the environment, so they ventilate well, and The company’s community service includes employees
TINA YUEN maximize natural light.” pitching in with design services and building days for
Philip White says his architectural firm embraces The company created campsites at Molokai Ranch in Habitat for Humanity Other community service work
.
environmentally friendly practices for both the the 1990s that were called tentalos because they were includes having helped Kawaihao Church for the past 25
community and its own employees. made of sturdy-canvas tent material. The award-winning years, and serving on several nonprofit boards.
Drive-in keeps local touch as it modernizes
BY CURTIS LUM Ifuku retired and Ayako preparing to retire, Gusukuma
T
PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS was asked to help lead the company in 1995.
o an outsider, little has changed at Rainbow The Ifukus’ philosophy was to serve large portions
Drive-In since Seiju and Ayako Ifuku opened the of “simple food” at a reasonable price, and it was Gu-
restaurant in Kapahulu in 1961. sukuma’s goal to stay true to their mission. Gusukuma
The popular plate lunch items are the same, long- had worked for a major airline for 20 years up until then.
time employees greet customers with a smile, the small “It was never my intention to change Rainbow Drive-In,
outdoor dining area is packed and the parking lot is so it was an easy thing to step into,” he said. “What I did
always jammed with cars. try to do was modernize it from a business standpoint.
But behind the scenes, owner Jim Gusukuma has been Up until that time, Rainbow Drive-In was basically a
busy keeping up with changes in technology and the mom-and-pop, real small-family business. Bringing my
economy as well as the eating habits of his customers. background in corporate structure helped move Rainbow
Since taking over operations from his in-laws in 1995, Drive-In from mom-and-pop into small-size corporation.”
he has worked to diversify the company and create a Rainbow Drive-In was featured this past summer on
Rainbow Drive-In brand. the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” which
“What we’re trying to do is hang on to our product and Gusukuma said brought the eatery much-needed expo-
our food, meaning that we should do what people expect sure at a time when businesses locally were struggling.
from us,” Gusukuma said. “In the back, we restructured “That helped a lot,” he said. “This summer, we no-
the company we have logo wear, we modernized our cash-
, ticed a spike.”
register system, accounting practices and purchasing, With the success of the business and a hard-working
in order to keep up.” staff, Gusukuma is able to get involved in community
Despite the recent recession, Rainbow Drive-In has and charitable events. He and his wife, Sherie, head
been profitable in at least two of the past four years. the Ifuku Family Foundation, which provides at least
Gusukuma said he’s proud of the fact that he did not $30,000 annually in scholarships and grants.
have to lay off any of his 44 employees. Rainbow Drive-In also is a partner with Help, Under-
Seiju Ifuku, Gusukuma’s father-in-law, learned to standing & Group Support (HUGS), which helps families
cook while in the Army serving with the famed 100th of seriously ill children. Gusukuma has donated meals
Battalion, 442nd Infantry during World War II. After and trophies and his employees have volunteered to
the war, Ifuku worked at the old Kapiolani Drive-In, take part in HUGS’ events.
now the site of the Wailana Coffee Shop in Waikiki. “It’s important to note that Jimmy is never standing
The Ifukus decided to go out on their own and opened on the sidelines supervising, he is right there alongside
Kalakaua Drive-In at the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard his staff cooking and serving meals with a smile,” said
and Kalakaua Avenue. In 1961, they moved to Kapahulu and Donna Witsell, HUGS’ executive director. “This top-down
opened Rainbow Drive-In, which featured $1 barbecue steak approach to volunteerism is to be admired and honored. TINA YUEN
plate lunches, 25-cent hamburgers and 14-cent french fries. Not every business can or will commit to this level of Jim Gusukuma has modernized Rainbow Drive-In’s
In the early 1970s, Harvey Iwamura, who married one care and generosity .” business practices while preserving the local flavor
of the Ifuku daughters, joined the company With Seiju
. clum@bizjournals.com | 955-8001 that has made it popular for almost a half-century.

4. B24 PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS | pacificbusinessnews.com OCTOBER 22, 2010
Community Spirit Award Finalists
Dow AgroSciences gives at grass-roots level
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ a year ago, wasted no time getting in-
P
PBN CONTRIBUTOR volved with the local residents. Staff-
itching in to help its Neighbor Is- ers judged a science Olympiad where
land communities comes naturally middle-school students had a limited
for Dow AgroSciences. time to put a project together and share
It gives presentations to groups about their findings at the symposium.
agricultural biotechnology It judges
. “We hope to see these kids as they
science fairs. It sponsors events. It even continue to grow and continue to further
donated two outrigger canoes to one of their education,” said Thomas Scagnoli,
the local paddling groups. site leader on Kauai. “They will come
Dow Agrosciences, headquartered back and be interested in companies like
in Indianapolis, is a wholly owned sub- Dow to come find a long-term career. It
sidiary of the Dow Chemical Company , is good to be on the front side of that.”
specializing in agricultural chemicals, After the Olympiad was complete, the
seeds and biotechnology It has opera-
. staff jumped in to enlist more schools to
tions on Molokai and Kauai. participate in the next event.
Its sponsorships are all part of con- Another example of the firm’s com-
necting with the communities in which mitment to service is the ripple effect
it does business. of sponsoring Molokai Middle School
“It is a long tradition of rural people COURTESY: DOW AGROSCIENCES seventh-grade science teacher Jennifer
helping their neighbors,” said Dave The Farm Fair is among many activities that Dow AgroSciences employees get Ainoa so she could attend the week-long
Gilliland, Dow AgroSciences Hawaii involved in. The Dow Chemical subsidiary has operations on Kauai and Molokai. Ecological Studies Smithsonian Science
research manager and site leader on Education Academy in Washington, D.C.
Molokai. “It happens at the grass-roots Dow AgroSciences did this,” Gilliland or off the clock. For example, during an When she returned, she shared what she
level probably more than any other said. “Yet again there was recognition agricultural farm fair nearly everyone learned, and her students rode on her
level.” that we had been involved in a very good volunteered on their own time to set up wave of enthusiasm to start a Native
Why paddling? Dow AgroSciences way It was a beautiful thing.”
. and break down. Hawaiian forest project.
Project Manager Adolph Helm and his The canoe club circumnavigated the “They were all thankful for having the Other community efforts include
sons created Aka Kukui o Molokai in 90 miles around Molokai, raising aware- opportunity to outreach and help the Akaula Middle School, the Ag Chal-
2002, which focuses on community ser- ness and appreciation of the island’s community Helm recalled. “Because
,” lenge at the Hawaii State Fair, Hawaii
vice in addition to traditional regattas. resources. the island is small, in some shape or Farm Bureau Foundation, Kauai Fili-
The canoe halau held a traditional bless- The company has 60 full-time employ- form, in some way they have helped a pino Chamber of Commerce and the
ing with a potluck paina in 2006. ees, and at least 60 part-time workers on friend or family member on this island.” Kauai Economic Development Board
“There was no recognition visible that Molokai and Kauai — all eager to help on The Kauai operation, which launched Ag Conference.
Community spirit gets personal at Farmers
BY JANIS L. MAGIN for volunteer work.
F
PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS “What we found is, if we engage them
armers Insurance Hawaii employ- they start doing more and start doing it
ees marked the company’s 55th on their own time,” Saito said.
anniversary last spring by plant- Employees last month contributed to
ing 55 plants, shrubs and trees at Dole Farmers’ Drive Out Hunger in Hawaii
Middle School. campaign, working with partners such
The school also was marking its 55th as Lex Brodie’s Tire, Brake and Wheel
anniversary and more than 55 Farmers
, Co., Napa Auto Parts, the University of
employees teamed up with 55 students Hawaii’s athletics department and the
and teachers to help beautify the Kalihi Boy Scouts to put together a program
campus. to collect food and monetary donations
The event was such a success that for the River of Life Mission, Lanakila
it was recently repeated on Kauai, in Pacific’s Meals on Wheels and the Ha-
partnership with the Grand Hyatt Kauai. waii Foodbank.
“One of the employees has an account The employees surpassed their fund-
on Kauai and someone said ‘it would be raising goal of $18,000, Saito said.
nice if someone did that at my child’s “We’ll be matching what the employ-
school,’” said Farmers Insurance Hawaii ees raised,” she said.
President Michele Saito. Farmers’ community assistance goes
The company has been involved with beyond volunteering and raising money .
the community since it began as Ha- Lanakila Pacific began a business
waii Insurance Consultants in 1955 and COURTESY: FARMERS INSURANCE relationship with the company eight
continued as AIG Hawaii, which was Farmers Insurance Hawaii President Michele Saito joins Kapolei Middle School years ago when no other insurance car-
purchased by Farmers Insurance Group students at a Hot Spots event to promote traffic safety. rier was willing to carry the nonprofit’s
of Companies last year. workers’ compensation insurance. Early
One of its most successful endeavors Police Department talk to the classes. attention of Farmers Hawaii’s parent on, Farmers provided guidance in de-
is a traffic safety program called Hot In the past year and a half, 1,700 vol- company which recently used the tem-
, veloping a safety program for Lanakila
Spots, which enlists Farmers employees unteers have participated in events at plate for an event in Delaware. that helped reduce its workers’ comp
to wave signs outside public schools. 17 schools. While the company supports nonprofit rates by 66 percent, said Marian Tsuji,
The program, which was started eight Farmers used to choose a school for a organizations monetarily its nearly 300
, Lanakila’s president and CEO.
years ago, identified 50 “hot spots” on Hot Spot program, but then the program employees are also involved in volunteer- “This is very significant, because
Oahu where schools have traffic safety got really popular, Saito said. ing their time and efforts with a number Lanakila Pacific’s Workforce Resources
issues. “Now it’s grown a life of its own,” she of different organizations. It has been program trains adults with physical and
Farmers employees also produced a said, adding that schools are calling the working this year to enhance employee cognitive challenges,” she said.
booklet to teach children about traffic company to request events. involvement with the community Em- .
safety while members of the Honolulu
, The Hawaii program also caught the ployees also are given time off each year jmagin@bizjournals.com | 955-8041

5. OCTOBER 22, 2010 pacificbusinessnews.com | PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS B25
Community Spirit Award Finalist
TINA YUEN
Kraft employees, from left, Kristina Lee, Will Young and Margo Worrell sort pro-
duce and other items at Hawaii Foodbank’s warehouse. Kraft sponsors the Ha-
waii Foodbank’s annual holiday giving program.
Making a difference is
part of Kraft’s culture
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ and athletic endeavors is also part of
Share
THE HOLIDAY*
PBN CONTRIBUTOR Kraft’s focus. With support from its staff
K raft Foods Hawaii, known for
brands such as Jell-O, Trident,
Nabisco and Oscar Mayer, cel-
ebrates “Make a Delicious Difference
Week” in October around the world. In
of 50, Kraft Foods Hawaii’s Shop and
Score program with Times Supermar-
kets, now in its 10th year, gives Adidas
sports equipment to area high schools.
This year, Maui and Kauai participated
Hawaii, making a difference takes place for the first time since Times acquired
more often than just a week. Star Markets. The cashiers ask custom-
The food company donated $185,000 to ers which high school they want the
the Hawaii Foodbank last year because points from Kraft products go to. Each
fighting hunger is one of its favorite product, including Ritz Crackers, Capri
causes. Sun, Lunchables and Wheat Thins, are
“It is the retailers and the customers worth one point. At the end, points are
that shop that really put this together,” added up, and each school gets a percent-
said Gerald Shintaku, Kraft Foods Ha- age of the prize.
waii customer business manager. “You “All the schools get behind it,” Shin-
can’t put a value on being able to achieve taku said. “Athletics is important to keep
those numbers.” young adults focused in positive areas.
Those numbers came from the com- We have good support from other food
pany’s Check Out Hunger program, sponsors, too.”
which runs during the holiday season The company’s Kokua I Na Kula fund-
from November to January At the check
. raising effort, now in its 16th year, allows
stands, customers are given the chance customers to buy Kraft products at KTA
to donate. stores on the Big Island to help elemen-
“Every year there is always some kind tary schools, which get a percentage of
of global tragedy that has occurred,” $100,000 to use as they wish. To earn more
Shintaku said. “And yet, the people in points, this year students are designing
Hawaii find it in their means.” an aloha print that will be judged by
Polly Kauahi, director of development fashion professionals, and the design
for Hawaii Foodbank, acknowledged will be made into a quilt to be donated
Kraft’s many fundraising projects. to the needy .
“Operations would be a lot less effi- Other community service projects in-
cient without our state-of-the-art fork- clude volunteering with Junior Achieve-
lifts named Macaroni and Cheese, which ment and sponsoring a show at Diamond
were a gift from Kraft,” Kauahi said. Head Theatre. Other good-neighbor
In addition to fighting hunger on efforts include helping the Kraft Keiki
the local level, Kraft is participating Great Aloha Run and Circus, Straub’s
in the national Huddle to Fight Hun- Kid Fest and the 4-H Club.
ger Program, which helps the Feeding “A corporation plays a big role in what
America charity. A customer will get the the community does,” Shintaku said.
chance to be part of The Kraft Hunger “Even more so in Hawaii, you see a lot
Bowl football game in San Francisco of companies getting involved in com-
on Jan. 9. munity events. I think it is the whole
Nourishing children in their academic spirit of ohana and family .”