2005 Distinguished Alumni
Jerry Chang
State Representative Jerry Chang "local boy"
retains this title despite his chronological years and being the father of five children.
Jerry is keiki o ka aina, born of the land and raised in Hilo. He graduated from Hilo High School where he participated in a wide range of athletic activities, from that of a boxer to being the quarterback for the Hilo High School Vikings football team. Upon graduation from high school, Jerry enlisted in the military and served in the U.S. Army, Special Forces Green Beret unit, as a sergeant, medical specialist.
Jerry received his BA in Sociology in 1978 from UH Hilo. As a student, he participated in student government where he actively engaged the Hawai`i State Legislature as a student leader advocating for growth and the full development of UH Hilo as a quality institution serving the State of Hawai`i. As a State Representative for the past 17 years, he continues to nurture this passion and engage this objective.
Despite a demanding legislative schedule as the chair of the House Tourism and Culture Committee, Committees on Higher Education,
Agriculture, Economic Development and Business Concerns, Jerry takes the time to meet and work with UH Hilo students who are interested in
learning to participate in the civic and political process.
For enjoyment, Jerry is an avid rider of his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and every Christmas rides in the annual Toys for Tots campaign that allows Child and Family Services and other agencies to provide gifts to children in the community. Some of the other associations and civic organizations of which he is either a member or officer include: Big Island Substance Abuse Council; the Japanese, and Hawai`i Island Chambers of Commerce; the Home Health Advisory Board; Steadfast Housing (for mentally – ill adults); Hilo Lions Club; and the UH Hilo Bachelor of Science in Nursing Advisory Council.
Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran moved to Hawai`i in 1972, first settling in Kailua-Kona, then on the island of
Kauai. There he worked for Olokele Sugar Company until 1979, when he decided to return to the Big Island.
After relocating in Hilo, he enrolled at UH Hilo to finish his degree in political science that he had begun in the 70s, prior to his move to the islands. Completing this in 1983, Kelly continued at UH Hilo focusing on his interest in agriculture. In 1985 he received a BS in Tropical Crop Production from the College of Agriculture.
While studying at UH Hilo, Kelly obtained his real estate license. After graduation, he found that he was able to combine his knowledge of agriculture with his real estate business. His specialty niche of agricultural real estate sales grew because he was able to connect clients with the agricultural resources at UH Hilo and in the community.
The excellent education Kelly received at UH Hilo enabled him to easily transition to the business community on the Big Island. For this reason, he has always been willing to support UH Hilo endeavors as much as possible.
In the past years, Kelly has served two terms as President of the UH Hilo Vulcan Booster Club, sponsored numerous business student interns at his real estate company, Hilo Brokers, Ltd., and at his tennis business, the Waiakea Racquet Club. In the `90s, he formed a non-profit corporation, Hui Kako`o Kenika - the friends of tennis, whose mission is to raise money to support tennis activities in East Hawai`i. Through this nonprofit organization, numerous fund-raising tennis tournaments have been held where part of the proceeds are used to support the UH Hilo tennis team.
Dr. Cheryl Leialoha
Dr. Cheryl Leialoha's roots started on the Big
Island in Hilo. Born to a family of two other
siblings, Cheryl is the first in her family to pursue higher education. After attending Hilo High School, Cheryl studied biology at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo where she graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in
Biology.
As an undergraduate, Cheryl conducted basic research in cell biology under the auspices of the Biomedical Research Training Program. She worked closely with Drs. Don Hemmes, Dan Brown, Craig Severance, John Chan, and Leon Hallacher.
After graduation from UH Hilo, Cheryl enrolled in the Imi Ho'ola Program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu and received her medical degree in 1993. She then spent another four years at the University of Hawai`i Integrated OB/GYN Residency program where she received an award for the Most Outstanding Research presentation on "Uriscreen for detection of asymptomatic bacteria in pregnant women" in 1997.
After residency, Cheryl entered private practice and took time off to backpack in South America for six months. In 1998 she started the very successful Hawai`i Women's Healthcare unit, which now consists of two offices in Kapiolani and Waipahu on O`ahu, and has expanded to include four physicians. In 1999, Cheryl received an award for Outstanding Laparoscopic Surgeon from the University of Hawaii, Department of OB/GYN.
Cheryl and her husband, Oded Shapira, are the proud parents of Zachary Shapira, who arrived in June 2004.
Dr. Sneha Sood
Dr. Sneha Sood received her Bachelor of Arts in
Chemistry from the University of Hawai`i at Hilo in 1980. During her senior year at UH Hilo, she received a Rotary Foundation Scholarship from the Rotary Club of South Hilo. This allowed her to spend a year in England at Oxford University, studying Physiology.
After a year in England, she returned to John A. Burns School of Medicine, where she completed her medical degree in 1985. She then undertook a pediatric residency in the Integrated Residency Program at the University of Hawai`i and Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu where she eventually became Assistant Program Director and then followed as a Fellow in Neonatology at Kapiolani Medical Center and Tripler Army Medical Center.
Dr. Sood has been involved in her own private practice, has been a Staff Physician at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, and then Neonatologist at Kapiolani. She took some time off to be a senior lecturer in neonatology at Middlemore Hospital and National Women's Hospital at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and is presently back at Kapiolani Medical Center as a Neonatologist. She also serves as an assistant professor with the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Dr. Sood is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the American Medical Association. She has published widely and made numerous presentations at medical conferences on the effects of surfactants on the pulmonary system of neonatal individuals as they relate to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Dr. Sood's main projects at present are the development of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Services at Kapiolani Medical Center as well as the development of Neonatal Services on the Big Island.
Laura Figueira
Born in one of the small sugar communities on
the Big Island, Laura Figueira attended UH Hilo from 1968-1970 when it was only a two year school. She later transferred to UH Manoa to complete her BA degree in Psychology.
Laura will reference her years of schooling as being a wholesome and enriching experience. She is quick to point out that, "I've enjoyed each and every year of my formal education, but the time spent at UH Hilo was by far the most meaningful. I truly enjoyed the interaction with teachers that gave me so much more than textbooks alone ever could."
Laura currently lives with her family on O`ahu. She is married to Gary McCurdy and has two children, Sarah and Gabriel. She has been involved in various community service activities for the past 30 years. She is active in her North Shore community as a current board member and past President of the Haleiwa Arts Festival. Proud of her Portuguese ancestry, she works to preserve and promote that part of Hawai`i's history as a board member and past president of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce of Hawai`i and past president and current treasurer of the statewide Hawai`i Council on Portuguese Heritage.
After graduation from college, Laura worked at the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and briefly for the State Department of Health as a research statistician before accepting a job with then Congressman Cec Heftel. Currently, Laura is Senior Administrative Assistant to Senate President Robert Bunda.
Barry Taniguchi
2005 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDEE
Mr. Barry Taniguchi is truly a class act, and a tough one to follow. His passion to give back to the community, his involvement in the numerous service organizations throughout the State of Hawai`i, and his unconditional support to the University of Hawai`i are admirable and
irrevocably distinguished.
Barry has been a driving force in the activities of UH Hilo's Mauna Kea Management Board since its formation in October 2000. Born out of controversy, the Board, and the Office of Mauna Kea Management, have benefited immensely from his vision, attention to process and detail, and his steady, consistent approach to the issues surrounding our world-class mountain.
Additionally, Barry has long supported UH Hilo and UH Manoa through farsighted contributions of time, talent, and treasure. What is not yet widely known is that Barry has just made the first generous installment on a new endowment, which will benefit UH Hilo in perpetuity through support for faculty. Named in honor of Barry's grandparents, the Taniguchi Memorial Fund will establish UH Hilo's first permanent faculty endowment, thereby helping the campus to attract and retain the best teachers and scholars.
Perceptive and generous by nature, Barry has been a cornerstone of the Big Island's youth athletic programs. Respectfully, Barry, under the alias of KTA Superstores, has provided necessary "life support" to so many youth programs. Fortunately, the Vulcan program has been the recipient of his generosity year after year after year. In addition to annual donations, he was instrumental in establishing the "Rainbow Fever" and islandwide "Vulcan Fever" drives that annually produce scholarship funds for Vulcan Athletics.
Barry's years of countless and tireless service and contribution to the community have not gone unnoticed. In 1993, he was awarded a Public Service Award by the Hawai`i Society of CPAs and a Hawai`i District Award by the Business Education Partnership. In 1997, the Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Humanitarian of the Year Award. In 2003, he received the Hall of Honor award from the University of Hawai`i, College of Business Administration, and last year was the recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus from the University of Hawai`i Alumni Association.
Kanaka`ole - Kanahele Family
2005 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDEE
Collectively, the Kanaka`ole – Kanahele Family is one of Hilo's most distinguished and well-known Hawaiian cultural treasures. They have become highly respected and accomplished educators in their own rights.
Edith Kekuhikuhipu`uoneonaali`iokohala Kanaele Kenao Kanaka`ole taught at UH Hilo from 1973-1979 and helped toestablish the Hawaiian language and studies program. She began the first Hawaiian language program at Keaukaha Elementary School, which became the model for the
D.O.E. Kupuna program. Still honored for her
knowledge of hula and Hawaiian culture, Aunty
Edith was the noted Kumu Hula of Halau O Kekuhi, an honor passed to her by five generations of Kumu Hula in her family.
Pualani Kanaka`ole Kanahele joined her mother as a Hawaiian language lecturer at UH Hilo from 1974-1985. In 1992, Pua joined her husband, the late Edward Kanahele, Professor of History, as a faculty of Hawai`i Community College where she is currently Assistant Professor and Chair of the Humanities Division.
In 1990, following the death of her mother, Pua and her siblings established the Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation (EKF). They have established one of the first Hawaiian D.O.E. Charter Schools, Ke Ana La`ahana, in Keaukaha. Pua's sister, Nalani Kanaka`ole Zane graduated from UH Hilo (B.A. Art, 2001) and is a lecturer in Hawaiian Studies at Hawai`i Community College.
Other descendants of Aunty Edith who are alumni, faculty and staff of UH Hilo and Hawai`i Community College include Pua Kanahele's daughters, Kekuhi Kanahele-Frias and her husband, Dr. Taupouri Tangaro/Kaipo Frias, Huihui Kanahele-Mossman and her husband, Kala Mossman, Pua's grandson and Kekuhi's son, Kaumaka`iwa Kealiikanaka`ole, Lehua Veincent, Lei Kapono, Keone Chin, and numerous others.