Modeled after the White House Fellows Program by its founder, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, fellows are chosen on the basis of a written application and personal interview conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of judges. The committee considers educational background; current career responsibilities, noting any special achievements as well as the comments of superiors; involvement in community activities; communication skills; and strength of character in evaluating the candidates. Individuals who are chosen have shown strong intellectual and leadership abilities in the early and mid-stages of their careers, and who have the potential to make significant contributions to the community in the future.

The Pacific Century Fellows Program will provide participants with direct contact with senior community, social, and government leaders. A goal of the program is to nurture relationships among individuals who are committed to exploring creative and constructive solutions to far-reaching challenges facing the state and nation.

Hannemann, a former White House Fellow, said, "With our ninth class of fellows participating in this unique executive leadership training program, we continue to build a cadre of bright, talented and energetic professionals who will make creative contributions to the betterment of our

state in the years to come. Many of our previous fellows already have gone on to make a positive impact in our community, and this class will be no different!"

Those selected this year include:

Sananda "Sandy" Baz, 33, Executive Director, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (Maui)

William Marcus Bowers, II, 43, Senior Watch Officer, Command Operations, U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Forces Pacific

Roderick L. Boyce, 38, Environmental Health Officer, United States Navy

Kristie K. Cruz Chang, 34, Deputy Attorney General, State Attorney General's Office

Katy Y. Chen, 36, Executive Director, PATCH – People Attentive to Children

Christopher Deuchar, 35, Founder & President, U.S. Pacific Development LLC

Dawn Matsuyama Dunbar, 35, Assistant Vice President/Corporate Communications Manager, American Savings Bank

Anthony D. Gaston, 40, Director of Engineering & Site Construction, Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii, Inc.

Asai Gilman, 40, Executive Director/President, Education-1st, Hawaii Inc.

Avelino "A.J." Halagao, 40, Manager – Legal Consultant, Westlaw Hawaii/Pacific Rim

Keith K. Hayashi, 39, Associate/Engineer, Herbert Chock & Associates, Inc;

Ross A. Kaneko, 39, Project Manager, CH2M Hill

Norman Wayne Karo, 34, Chief Operations Officer, Pipeline Communications and Technology, Inc.

Ken C. Kawahara, 37, Acting Branch Chief of Regulatory Control, Department of Environmental Services, C&C of Honolulu

Paul Komeiji, 44, President, Kuhana Associates, LLC

Jared I. Kuroiwa, 35, IT Manager, The School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene, University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Richanne T. Lam, 43, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley

Wendell K. Lee, 43, Partner, Accuity LLP

John T. Leong, 28, Partner/Owner, Pono Pacific, LLC

Kari S. Leong, 32, Co-founder, New Distinction Corp., dba Greater Good Radio, and DOE Teacher, Ka'ahumanu Elementary School

Jennifer Jose Lo, M.D., 32, Physician/Satellite Clinic Chief, Straub Clinic & Hospital

Meredith Low, 41, Retail Sales Manager, The Honolulu Advertiser

Dennis C. McElrath, 43, President/Owner, FOPCO, Inc.

Collin Miyamoto, 32, Vice President, Avalon Development Company

Brian Schatz, 34, CEO, Helping Hands Hawaii

James Takamine, 34, Assistant Vice President, Marketing Manager-Hawaii Island, American Savings Bank

Kevin H. Takamori, 42, Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations, University of Hawaii Foundation

Yvonne Yim, 43, Director of Administrative Services, Hospice Hawaii

Tara M. Young, 31, Senior Asset Manager, Kamehameha Schools

Darcie A. Yukimura, 28, Director of Communications, Saint Louis School