Koh owns a successful marketing company in bustling downtown Honolulu. The Moanalua resident is active in the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce, serves as the weekend anchorperson for KBFD-TV News and is a busy mother of two.
But on first making her acquaintance, some folks automatically blurt out, "So Janis, which hostess bar do you work at?"
(Sigh) Not very politically correct, is it?
Most Korean Americans try to take the stereotypes in stride. They know when a new ethnic group starts its climb up the political and socio-economic rungs of any ladder of power, there are bound to be slips. The key, then, is not to fall - or to fail.
On the contrary, those of Korean descent are getting quite used to the heights, thank you. Chief Justice Ronald Moon and City Councilmember Donna Kim lead the list of Korean-American luminaries in government, the judiciary and public service.
Tourism-wise, travelers from South Korea could be the new wave of Japanese visitors - if a visa waiver pilot project co-introduced by Dan Inouye in the Senate and Neil Abercrombie in the House gets the go-ahead. It will be an admitted tough sell, especially among congressional members who view non-haole foreigners (read immigrants) with suspicion.
Much easier for Koreans will be making their mark in Hawaii's private sector, and what better place to start than with its very own chamber of commerce.
In four years, when the century makes its heralded turn into 2000, the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce will also celebrate a significant anniversary - its golden 50th. Last week, when Daniel J.Y. Pyun was installed as the organization's 1996-1997 president, the Honolulu attorney shared the four simple yet heady goals of his term:
Drum up Korean investment in the islands via an investor's conference, scheduled for Nov. 14-16 of this year and particularly in construction and real estate.
Hawk Hawaii during a May 1997 trade mission to Korea as a great place to do business, especially in the fields of education, health, architecture and engineering.
Invest in the state's human resources by raising $100,000 to serve as a scholarship endowment for Korean-American students.
Organize a voter registration committee to identify issues that concern the Korean community, enlighten members about the voting procedure, register voters and, most important of all, get the vote out.
WHEN Pyun concluded his speech by telling the large gathering "we have set an ambitious agenda - but we will succeed," there was a respectful silence in the Hawaii Prince Ballroom. Even Frank DeLima couldn't have cajoled a laugh from that crowd.
That's because our fellow citizens of Korean descent are determined to become as successful here as their Asian brothers and sisters from Japan and China. And the Korean Chamber wants to lead the way, under the direction of Pyun, Vice President Adrian B. Choi of Dean Witter Reynolds, Treasurer Gregory S. Jay of KPMG Peat Marwick, and a secretary named Janis Eun-sun Koh.
P.S. She works on Bishop Street, not on Kapiolani Boulevard.