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Junior achievement business hall of fame; honorees

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Business Hall of Fame was established in 1990 by Junior Achievement of Hawaii and several other business organizations to honor the state's business leaders who, through their entrepreneurial and civic activities, have made enduring contributions to Hawaii's economy and community, and serve as inspirational role models for Hawaii's youth; and

WHEREAS, nearly 30 years ago, EDWARD T. FUKUDA, known simply as "Eddie" to all of Hilo, fulfilled a life-long dream of owning his own business by founding Kandi’s Snack Shop, a drive-in restaurant adjacent to his family’s service station; and

WHEREAS, through hard work, humility and perseverance, EDDIE FUKUDA started with just a few employees, and built Kandi’s into a thriving small business employing twenty-six people and countless students who contribute to Kandi’s island-wide reputation for friendly service, good food, generous helpings, and reasonable prices; and

WHEREAS, although EDDIE FUKUDA’s small drive-in generates over 600,000 dollars in annual sales, EDDIE is driven not by the bottom line, but by a desire to share the aloha spirit with his customers, employees and community through charitable contributions of time, money and food donations in support of worthy causes; and

WHEREAS, in the first year of Hawaii’s statehood, EDWARD J. HOGAN established Pleasant Travel Service, a retail travel agency serving Hawaii from the West Coast which now, as Pleasant Holidays, L.L.C., employs more than 1,700 people and generates 400 million dollars annually from travel services and hotel properties; and

WHEREAS, known as "Mr. Tourism Hawaii," ED HOGAN has not only created several successful businesses, but has generated thousands of visitor-industry jobs for Hawaii’s people by sending over four million visitors to our shores, thereby solidifying the bedrock of Hawaii’s economy which is the tourist industry; and

WHEREAS, in contributing to the betterment of Hawaii’s community, ED HOGAN formed the Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays Foundation, which grants annual scholarships and awards for the benefit of Hawaii’s people, sponsors many youth leadership programs, and commits substantial time and resources to fighting child abuse; and

WHEREAS, since 1972, FRANCIS S. ODA, has been the business leader and creative force behind Group 70 International, an architectural firm renowned for building designs which define Hawaii’s unique "sense of place"; and

WHEREAS, as Chairman and CEO of the state’s second-largest architectural firm, FRANCIS ODA runs a successful business which employs 50 people, generates annual revenues exceeding nine million dollars, and develops projects throughout the Pacific and Asia, including the design of three five-star Hawaii hotels and the city of Kapolei; and

WHEREAS, as an individual and as the head of Group 70, FRANCIS ODA makes substantial and long-term contributions of time, energy and resources to programs benefiting Hawaii’s youth and less fortunate, including the YMCA of Honolulu and the River of Life Mission, and has supported the educational and spiritual needs of Hawaii’s people through his leadership in the University of Hawaii’s School of Architecture and as pastor of the House of Prayer; and

WHEREAS, the late CHINN HO is being honored as a Legacy Laureate by Junior Achievement of Hawaii for being a pioneer in the state’s business community who charted a new course of entrepreneurship as the first Asian American to serve as a board member of a ‘Big Five’ company and as president of the Honolulu Stock Exchange; and

WHEREAS, as founder of the Capitol Investment Company in 1944, CHINN HO used his uncanny foresight, wisdom, courage and imagination to break through establishment prejudices and carve out a remarkable career in real estate development, agriculture, tourism, newspaper management and energy resources; and

WHEREAS, a devoted father and generous philanthropist, CHINN HO believed that a person could only be a success by contributing to the community and fostering mutual respect, integrity and compassion with all people; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, that this body hereby commends EDWARD T. FUKUDA, EDWARD J. HOGAN, FRANCIS S. ODA, and CHINN HO for their business success and community service to the people of Hawaii, congratulates them upon being recognized as members of the Junior Achievement Hawaii Business Hall of Fame, and extends to them its warmest ALOHA and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to EDWARD T. FUKUDA, EDWARD J. HOGAN, FRANCIS S. ODA, and the family of CHINN HO.