I was inducted into the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Shidler College of Business Hall of Honor this past Thursday evening.

The people I was inducted with are giants in industry. People would recognize them right off. I have no idea why I was nominated, but it must have to do with sustainability.

(On the stage, left to right) Vance Roley, Dean of the Shidler School of Business; Barbara Tanabe, Mistress of Ceremony; me, and David McClain, President of University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

We had been so busy that we didn’t realize the significance of this event until we arrived at the Hilton Ballroom and realized the company we were in. Connie Lau, the CEO of HEI, came by and gave me a lei. She had been in the audience when the Governor invited us to the alternate energy farm loan bill signing, where I gave a short, fun speech. About food security, I had said that it’s not rocket science: “If the farmer makes money, the farmer will farm.”

At the Hall of Honor induction ceremony, Chef Alan Wong and my former Finance Professor Stephen Dawson gave video testimony about me. Chef Alan said I was a down-to-earth person who even went to see the Governor in shorts. He also said that I was a visionary. All I know is that I have worn glasses since returning to school at UH. When I tried to sit at the back of the room, my usual place, I couldn’t see the blackboard, so I started sitting at the front of all my classes so I could see. I don’t know how Alan could have known about that!

Steve Dawson said that of the 150 or so finance students he taught that semester in the mid-70s, he remembered me clearly. Must be because I was kind of old for a college student. I took the long way around, having flunked out my first time in school, and then going to Vietnam and then back to school for a second try.

What made me happiest about this really prestigious award was that June was there to share it with me. Without her, none of what I do happens.