Board of Directors

Tall, strong, and silent, James Nakagawa has the ability to provide a powerful beacon of light and sensible guidance through any adversity.  He enjoys cooking and has been featured on the television show Living In Paradise many years ago for his "fried rice".  He works hard and he plays hard.

Intentionally, or unintentionally, Karen Moriuchi sends the spirit of love and goodness into a room before she enters.  There is a certain unspoken, understood safety about being in her presence.  She is often found tending her garden and sharing its bounty with others.

Ted Dixon is known to be quite personable and cordial; he enjoys golfing and playing in charitable tournaments. The main reason he likes to golf is that it is something he and his wife both enjoy and can do together.

David L. Hammes, PhD is an avid marathon runner. He is also a professor of economics at UH Hilo who frequently expresses to colleagues his amazement that he can earn a living by talking to students about subjects that he loves.

Lito Asuncion’s many hobbies include photography, gardening, regular physical exercise and growing produce and fruits naturally. Friends and family enrich his soul and he is a deep supporter of programs and policies that effectively enhance the lives of underprivileged and disadvantaged populations.

Sidney Fuke is well known for his generosity and humility. He is a hard worker, a strong advocate for the many good causes he believes in; he is a good listener and always ready with a kind word.

Janice Higashi has a passion for working on meaningful projects and finds deep satisfaction in doing good for the community.  She loves to cook, bake, and create hand-dipped chocolates and other sweets for her friends.  She likes to garden, especially hydroponic veggies.  She also loves music, the performing arts, dancing and traveling.

Howard Higashi feels a deep connection to the community and always has a lot of gratitude for the opportunity to contribute and serve.  He enjoys flying to Honolulu once or twice month to visit his grown children, Michelle and Kevin.  While on O‘ahu he loves jogging around Ala Moana Park and through Waikiki on Saturday afternoons. 

Kerwin Iwamoto loves shoreline fishing and golfing.  He is soft spoken, easy going and never without an infectious smile.  Born in Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i he still has family that live in Wailua.

Elaine Johnson is meticulous about doing a good job in any undertaking and has no wish to be recognized for it. She is warmly responsive with a positive attitude, eager to praise others for their good deeds, no matter how small. She looks for, and brings out, the best in people.

Joseph Kamelamela is a graduate of Aiea High School and is affectionately known as ‘the Gentle Giant’.  He is an avid runner completing several local marathons within honorable time.  After coaching soccer in Hilo for 16 years, he decided to refocus his energy on being a Hospice of Hilo board member.

Nancy Lundblad, MD loves cooking, sports, sewing and reading.  She feels that reading opens new horizons, and it makes her consider the world from perspectives other than her own.  She learned to sew from her mother when she was four years old.  She has five older brothers who did a lot of sports, so she followed suit, feeling stiff and lazy if she sits around too much.  Cooking is something she and her husband both enjoy, which is great, since they both like to eat a lot, too.

Karen Maedo enjoys volunteering as it promotes listening to her “inner voice” that guides her to be a better person by helping others. Her temple is also near and dear to her heart.

Richard Newkold enjoys developing and cultivating friendships; he has an unusually large base of friends that he keeps in touch with despite separation of oceans and years.

Elegant and charming, Cynthia Sorenson is the epitome of kindness, warmth and sensitivity.  She is enjoying her first grandson, Parker Ka`eu`eu Sorenson Witt, born on February 3, 2010 weighing in at 7 pounds 10 oz, 20” long.