Salutes
Advertiser Staff
City manager 'an inspiration'
City Managing Director Benjamin B. Lee, a Fellow to the American Institute of Architects, or FAIA, recently received the 2004 Ernest H. Hara, FAIA Distinguished Service Award from the University of Hawai'i School of Architecture.
Raymond Yeh, FAIA, dean of the School of Architecture, said the "award recognizes outstanding leadership in and service to the architecture profession in Hawai'i serving as an inspiration to others in the field."
Appointed in 1985 as the first architect to hold a Cabinet-level position in the Honolulu city government, Lee became managing director in 1998 and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the city. He serves as the principal adviser to Mayor Jeremy Harris on planning, design and land-use issues.
In accepting the award, Lee commented that his passion for design excellence, protection of the land and natural environment and commitment to improve the quality of life for our residents can be attributed to the late Vladimir Ossipoff, FAIA. Lee said Ossipoff was a good friend, mentor and his first employer after receiving his architecture degree from Arizona State University in 1967.
Lee received the Hawai'i Society Design Excellence Award for the planning of the city's West Loch Estates Affordable Housing Project in 1989 and was named Fellow to The American Institute of Architects in 1998.
Lee is the sixth recipient of this prestigious award since its inception in 1995.
Blind vendor's tenacity noted
Virgil Stinnet was recently honored by the Lions of Honolulu as the Blind Person of the Year. He was recognized for his tenacity in rehabilitating himself after becoming blind.
He is a graduate of Ho'opono training program and is now a licensed blind vendor at The Honolulu Advertiser.
He recently attended, along with Alan Harris, Debra Smith and Kendrick Ching, a Business Leadership and Service Training event in Orlando, Fla., organized by the National Association of Blind Vendors.
Kailua man gets friendship prize
Kailua resident Lewis Walters was recently awarded the Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award as the honorary consul of Germany at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel. The award was made in recognition of efforts on behalf of German-American relations and endeavors to foster and sustain friendship between Germany and the United States.
Walters has been the president of the German Benevolent Society of Honolulu for 26 years. The society provides thousands of dollars per year to local charities.
O'ahu seniors recognized
Award recipients at the 38th Annual Mayor's Senior Recognition Program were:
• Outstanding Male and Female Volunteers — Edward Yapyapan of the Senior Companion Program and Ellen Hyer of the Wahiawa Seniors Rainbow Club.
• Platinum Akamai Living Award winner — Barbie Paris, volunteer and leader of the Steptaculars.
• Gold Akamai Living Award winners — Lorraine Akana, committed to the Department of Parks and Recreation Senior Programs, and Kimi Masuda, advocate for the Hawaii Association for Young Adults and Coalition for Affordable Living and Long Term Care Services.
• Silver Akamai Living Award winners — So Pun Ku and volunteer Bertha Maunupau.
• Bronze Akamai Living Award winner — volunteer singer Bea Aquino.
