Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 3, 1 March 2011 — Inspired by Pauahi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Inspired by Pauahi

Janeen Olds welcomes kuleana as Kamehameha 8chools Trustee

ByTreenaShapiro The mission of Kamehameha Schools resonates with its newest trustee, corporate and real estate Attorney Janeen-Ann Ahulani 01ds. 01ds, 47, who replaces Trustee Nainoa Thompson, offers the Board of Trustees a unique perspective on the importance of providing Native Hawaiians with the educational foundation they need to thrive and compete in Hawai'i and beyond. As the daughter of a U.S. Army infantry officer, 01ds attended eight schools in five states before graduating from Radford High School. Her family life was nevertheless

"very Hawaiian," 01ds says. Both her parents had been born and raised in Hawai'i and passed the traditional values

they grew up with to their children, who were brought up to strive for excellence and give back to the community. "These values are similar to what Kamehameha Schools teaches their students," says 01ds, whose sons have both attended Kamehameha SEE 0LDS ON PAGE 25

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Janeen Olds

Trustee Janeen-Ann Olds was officially welcomed to the Kamehameha Schools 'ohana at a Feb. I ceremony at Kawaiaha'o Church, where she was ioined bv husband Richard B. Stack and their sons, Rvan and Adam. - Photo: Courtesv ofMichael Youna, Kamehameha Schools

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Continued from page 17 since kindergarten. 01ds and her siblings were held to high standards as their father's career took them to places where their culture set them apart. "Being Hawaiian was truly unique but never something we hid or were embarrassed about," 01ds said at her investiture ceremony on Feb. 1. "Our actions, aeeomplishments and character would be the first - and sometimes only - impression that others would have of the character of Hawaiian people." Born in Kailua, 01ds always considered Hawai'i her home. After completing her education at the University of Notre Dame and Boston Law School, 01ds returned to Hawai'i to begin her career and start a family with her husband, Richard Stack. She spent 20 years at the law firm Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda, leaving as Co-Managing Partner in 2008. Since then, she has been In-house Counsel at telecommunications company Waimana Enterprises. As one of the top corporate and real estate attomeys in Hawai'i, with nationally recognized

expertise in banking law, 01ds' professional background lends itself to her new role on the board of the $7.8 hillion tmst. Her passion for education and respect the vision and foresight of Princess Bemice Pauahi Bishop inspired her to pursue the post. "Pauahi, 130 years ago, recognized the challenges Native Hawaiians were having and would most likely continue to have and decided through her generosity to make that the focal point of her legacy," 01ds says. "The reason I sought this is to make sure actions going forward are consistent with the wishes of Pauahi, as far as education, and that the trust also remain viable and carry forth in perpetuity." The orientation period has been an exciting time for 01ds, who has been impressed with the dignity and respect she has seen in people working to fulfill Pauahi's vision. "It seems like everyone I meet here continues to have a passion for what they do, whieh is not necessarily what you see in every organization," she says. "It's very reassuring as to the potential of Kamehameha Schools." ■ Treena Shapiro, a freelance writer, is a former reporter for the Honolulu StarBulletin anel Honolulu Advertiser.