Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 5, 1 May 1993 — Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 [ADVERTISEMENT]

LEGACY ~^///^> ^niee Pa^V A Talk with Retiring Trustee "Matsy" T akahuki

Matsuo "Matsy" Takabuki is a Iegend. Betore he heeame a KS/BE trustee, he was a city eouneilman and a very successful businessman with Chinn Hos Capital Investment. And, like a lot of the things that happen with KS/BE, his appointment created a fīrestorm of controversy. It was criticized for heing "too political" and he was attacked for not being Hawaiian. But the truth of the matter is this: Jack Burns, then govemor and his politieal mentor, encouraged him to take the job because he knew Matsy "could do something to help." Tlie Estate was a different entity in those days. lt was land-rich and cash-poor. But all

Mr. lakahuki is thoughtful about KS/BE's present and future. He believes that today there are "more young and talented people on the staff than ever before." He thinks that both Jack Darvill and Mike Chun have done "superlative" jobs at the Schools. And what about that "firestorm" of controversy when he was first appointed? "Look, this job was offered to me and Jack Burns, Bert Kobayashi and Bill Richardson convinced me to take it. Believe it or not, it was a hnaneial sacrifice to heeome a tmstee. I was doing very well with Chinn Ho. But Jack, Bert and Bill all told me 'there are some things you just have to do' and this was one of them. I'm very glad I listened to them."

that was to change because Govemor Bums knew that Matsy lākahuki was a hnaneial genius, an incrediHy hard worker and :ealot abour education. "It's all there," says Matsy tixiay ahout KS/BE. "it's in good shape." And he continues, "We have a more liquid asset hase. We're redeploying our money to income-pro-ducing assets like Windward Mall and the Hawaii Kai Corporate Plaza. Plus we've got the appropriate manaee-

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His travel schedule has heen rigorous. Last October, for instance, found him in China, Hong Kong, Boston, New York and West Palm Beach. November was almost as had with trips to China, Japan, Boston and New York. Recounting his travels, he smiles that familiar smile and says, "I'm working like hell to put everything in plaee." And although he officially retired in Febmary, today, he's still "working like hell" on KS/BE business.

ment resources." What about the hnaneial future? Mr.Takabuki says, "we're moving ahead with Kakaako's redevelopment. And in addition, our Goldman Sachs investment provides us with tremendous asset management capabilities and sources of information and contacts we could gain no other way. It puts us on a level playing held with the biggest and the best investment tmsts like Duke and the MacArthur Foundation. And then there's the Paeihe Rim where we've invested in a Chinese bank and are working with C.B. Sung to create major investment opportunities on that side of the oeean."

Near the end of our time with him, Trustee Takabuki turns very serious. We're talking about the fact that he is Japanese-American presiding as a tmstee to a very Hawaiian tmst. Very softly but with great determination, he says, "this isn't a plaything, this isn't an ethnic thing, this is about who ean do the best job, who's willing to sacrifice, who really cares, forget the rest of it." We hear a story as we leave Tākabuki's offīce and walk through the tmstee's board room. One day, Tmstee Myron "Pinky" TTiompson said to no one in particular, "Matsy's as Hawaiian as anyone around here." lt is a fitting tribute to an extraordinary man.

Kamehameha Schools/Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate KS/BE sponsors this eolumn in the interest of helping people understand its role and mission.