L&L Drive-Inn president honored for volunteer efforts
Advertiser Staff
Eddie Flores Jr. received the 2002 Governor's Kilohana Award for Outstanding Volunteerism recently.
The award honors individuals and groups that help improve the lives of others in their communities and throughout the state through volunteer service.
Flores, the president of the L&L Drive-Inn chain, was instrumental in raising $14.2 million and building the Filipino Community Center, the largest such center outside the Philippines. The 50,000-square-foot structure is expected to become a center of influence in the Waipahu community.
Under the umbrella of the FilCom Center, Flores initiated Hawai'i's first Filipino Fiesta and Parade in 1993.
He also helped develop FilCom's Hanapbuhay (livelihood) Hawai'i project, a micro-enterprise development program that helps entrepreneurs launch small businesses.
• Chris Conybeare, a faculty and media specialist for the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu, has been elected vice president of the executive board of the World Association of Press Councils.
"I see my activity as supporting the WAPC's goal of seeking to promote freedom of expression and its corollary, freedom of the media, as basic human rights," said Conybeare. "I look forward to meeting the challenges of advancing this cause."
• Windward Mall has announced its 15-member 2002 Windward Mall Teen Board.
The members are teens who live on the Windward side, maintain a GPA of 2.5 or better, demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism and are willing to commit 10 hours per month to the program.
Selected were: Angela Nabua, Kawehionalani Mossman and Heather Amodo of Castle High School; Monalisa Cabahug, Kamilynn Holler and Nicole Hamada of Kalaheo High School; Taylor Fernandez and Leah Fukuyama of Sacred Hearts Academy; Sarah Gilbert and Avery Kimball of Kailua High School; Charanie Hunter, Chelsey-Lynn Seto and Kellie Wedemeyer of King Intermediate; Chelsea Yasuda of Hawaii Baptist Academy and Paige Ishida of Punahou.
• The Reverend Takie Okumura Family Fund has awarded $15,000 to Friends of the Future to support the presentation of Earl's Garage activities in schools and the development of new curricula for the program.
The Waimea-based program uses "hands-on, minds-in" activities to transform the mystery of science and technology into fun, eye-opening experiences for children ages 7 and up. The no-fee program is fully supported by grants and cash and in-kind donations.
• Newly elected members of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu's board of directors are:
Glenn Inouye, chair; Nita Williams, chair-elect; Jan Kuromoto, treasurer; Bonnie Freitas, secretary; Sharon Otagaki, program services chair; Neal Yokota, public relations/recruitment chair; J.P. Damon, resource development chair; Tim Ho, immediate past chair; new directors Richard Lau, Debra Yoshino and Stephanie Tom; and returning directors Sam Choy, John Fink, Wes Fujimoto, Stephanie Gonsalves, Russell Gifford, James Lee, Eric Miyasaki, Karen Robertshaw, Gary Lee, Chuck McCrary, Michael Murakoshi, Brian Nakashima, Gordon Smith, Sheila Sumida, Henry Sumida and Patricia Tam.
