Alumni Class News
Humanitarian Richard Pinto ’83 with schoolchildren in the rainforest in Guatemala.
1980s n In May, Beneficial Financial Group agent and Kailua resident Rich Pinto ’83 took part in BFG’s second annual Service Expedition, a reward for its top financial professionals. Unlike most bonus programs, this bonus was a program of service. Rich spent two weeks in the Guatemalan village of Chimaxyat, population 160 and located deep in the rainforest. Rich helped the villagers complete a school they had begun last year, plant community gardens and construct ecological latrines for each of the 66 families in the village. “We have so much here in the United States, and yet we take much of it for granted,” Rich said. “Serving in a remote village in a third world country, you realize how blessed we are. It is very humbling.” n Geoffrey Ellazar, Jr. ’83 was promoted to the rank of Colonel at an April 30, 2009 promotion ceremony at Brooks City-Base, Texas. Col. Ellazar is the division chief for Acquisition and Contracting at the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment. He serves as the senior business advisor in a 640-person agency that executes $1.95 million in worldwide
construction and environmental contracts on an annual basis. He has deployed to Iraq twice, most recently as an expeditionary squadron commander. Geoffrey resides in San Antonio, Texas with wife Sharon and their three children.
Col. Geoffrey Ellazar, Jr. ’83 with mom Florence at promotion ceremony.
n Christina Wright-Ah Sam ’83 earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration entrepreneurial studies from Hawai‘i Pacific University in Honolulu in January 2009. She graduated with magna cum laude honors. Christina currently resides in Aurora, Colo. n Michelle “Bud” Nagamine ’86 has been named business development director, sports market for Outrigger Enterprises Group, responsible for all sports bookings for Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and ‘Ohana Hotels & Resorts. Michelle is head soccer coach for the Hawai‘i Pacific
University women’s team and the Kamehameha Kapälama girls varsity team as well as technical director of the Lë‘ahi Soccer Club. She is a seven-time ILH coach of the year, five-time Hawai‘i state coach of the year, and in 2007 named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s national high school coach of the year. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Santa Clara University in California.
n Jasmine Lloyd ’01 graduated on May 16, 2009 from University of the Pacific’s Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy. Dr. Jasmine Lloyd ‘01 Dr. Lloyd is currently employed as a pharmacist at Ordway Pharmacy located in Monterey, Calif.
n Layla Johnson Dedrick ’88 and William “Billy” Peiper ’96 were selected members of the Pacific Business News 2009 Class of Forty Under 40. They were honored at an awards ceremony in June at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Each year PBN honors 40 of Hawaii’s best and brightest young businessmen and businesswomen. Layla is owner of Bella Pietra: Bringing the Beauty of Stone to Life and Billy is a financial planner with Beneficial Financial Group in Honolulu.
n Shaun Palakiko ’02 is a front office supervisor with Embassy Suites Downtown in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Oregon State University.
1990s n Melonie Villanueva Stewart ’91 portrayed the role of Ka‘ahumanu in a play entitled “The Conversion of Ka‘ahumanu,” authored by Shaun Palakiko ’02 (right) and Benjamin Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl Calhoun ’00. of Honolulu. The play was presented by the Smithsonian n Ke‘öpü Reelitz ’02 received National Museum of the her juris doctorate from the American Indian in May 2009 and University of Arizona’s James held in the Rasmuson Theater in E. Rogers School of Law in Washington, D.C. May. Ke‘öpü completed her three n In December of 2008, Kawika years of work by also surprising Monfort Chang ’99 was named her family by performing manager of the year by Four a capella during the commenceSeasons Resort Hualälai in Kona. ment ceremony with a group of Kawika graduated from the law school students, staff and University of San Francisco with faculty called the Sisters In Law. a bachelor’s degree in business Reelitz was an active member and administration. officer of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) and the Asian America Law Students Association (AALSA). Ke‘öpü also worked in n B. Po‘okela Hanson ’01 the Pima County Attorney’s recently graduated with the Office in the Civil Division where Honolulu Fire Department’s 93rd she found a passion for employRecruitment Class in ceremonies ment law. She plans to take the at McCoy Pavilion. Illinois Bar and then hopefully move to Washington, D.C., to work in government policy.
2000s
n Singer Anuhea Jenkins ’03 is making major breakthroughs on national music charts. Her self-titled CD “Anuhea” is selling well in Hawai‘i and on the mainland, with “Big Deal” and “Right Love Wrong Time” popular song selections. Anuhea was recently named an iTunes Featured Artist and was ranked as high as No. 4 on the iTunes R&B Top Albums chart, No. 12 Po‘okela Hanson ’01 at HFD graduation ceremony with sister Po¯maika‘i Hansen ’04 and brother Pono Hansen ’07.
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From left: Ena Reelitz ’99, Steve Reelitz ’73, Ke‘o¯pu¯, Theresa Reelitz & Kalani Reelitz ’98.