People Briefs
People Briefs
Patrina Dumaru, assistant director/environment at the Pacific Concerns Resource Center in Fiji, joined the launch in Sydney in February of a protest flotilla of seven yachts that is aiming to draw attention to the shipments of radioactive plutonium being transported through the Pacific to Japan for reprocessing. Dumaru said "the young generation will continue to fight (for a nuclear free Pacific) until it is realized."
Mobil Oil has named Abi Adigun as president and country manager of Mobil Oil Guam, Mobil Oil Micronesia and Mobil Oil Mariana Islands. Adigun joined Mobil in 1989 and until recently was vice president and sales manager for the three companies. He replaces Tim Glath who served in that position since 1996.
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BP Oil’s local manager, Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson was re-elected in January for the fourth year in a row as president of the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce. Also elected or re-elected were first vice president Minnie Tuia (Pacific Development Corp), second vice president Brant Judy (Amerika Samoa Bank), secretary/treasurer Alfonso Pete Galea’i (COS Samoa Packing) and Salaia Gabbard (Amerika Samoa Bank) as Chamber manager.
Marshall Islands Visitors Authority general manager Ben Graham was elected president of Majuro’s Chamber of Commerce in February. Also elected officers were College of the Marshall Islands teacher Don Hess as vice president, Bank of Hawaii’s Craig Kim as treasurer and Outrigger’s Bill Weza as secretary.
After 12 years serving as Executive Director of the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund, George Odom, 67, retired in February and returned to the U.S. mainland with many good memories. When Odom started, the Fund was $60 million but at the point of his departure the pension program with more than 3,000 members had reached $180 million.
Konisi Yabaki was recently appointed interim Minister for Tourism and Transport by Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, replacing Jone Koroitamana who was named chief executive for Airports Fiji Ltd.
Guam-based BankPacific president Philip Flores announced recently the appointment of Wanda P. Hendricks as a new vice president and controller. Hendricks has worked with the bank since 1992. Flores said she was promoted for "exceptional performance."
In February, Derek Y. Nakakura, president of Nakakura Construction Co. Ltd., a Hawaii-based general contracting firm, announced plans to expand the company’s services from its commercial construction focus to include custom residential building, home remodels and residential land development on all islands. During a 15-year merger with Tokyu Construction Co. Ltd. of Japan, Nakakura built the Sheraton Moana Hotel and the Windward Shopping Mall among other projects.
Robert McConnell, formerly Outrigger Marshall Islands Resort’s general manager and now GM of Outrigger’s Fiji property, was named GM of the year by Outrigger. Marshall Islands Resort food and beverage manager Bill Weza was honored with the President’s award for outstanding service.
Four years ago Outrigger Guam Resort general manager Dorsey Brady came to the island and was given an office that overlooked the site where a 21-story five star hotel would be built along Guam’s pristine Tumon Bay. During his stay on island he was elected as chairman of the Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association for two years while also overseeing the massive construction project. Perry Sorenson, chief operating officer for Outrigger Hotels and resorts, credits Brady with overseeing Outrigger Guam’s "move from construction to opening, to becoming one of the island’s most successful resorts." A unique thing that Brady developed was the localized island hospitality theme that incorporates the Chamorro culture. Brady will start a new post as general manager of the Outrigger Wailea Resort on Maui, which just completed a $25 million renovation that includes a Mandara Spa and water park. Outrigger Resort Guam’s Chamorro hospitality program will continue under the leadership of Laverne Salvador who is the Resort’s director of hospitality.
Governor Tauese Sunia appointed three traditional leaders — Se’ui La’au M., Talauega Letumu and Su’apa’ia E. Pereira — in February as associate judges to fill several vacancies at the High Court of American Samoa. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Se’ui is a cabinet member, Talauega a former lawmaker and currently a government employee and Suapaia is a ranking government employee. The vacancies were caused by the retirement of former Chief Associate Judge Tua’olo Fruean and Associate Judge Tauanu’u Faisiota who are now Senators. A third Associate Judge Afuola Kalasa resigned in the wake of the fake voter ID scandal.
—Contributors: Fili Sagapolutele, Eric Say, Giff Johnson
