Newsmaker




Monday, February 3, 1997

Name: Geraldine Kenui Bell
Age: 50
Education: Maui Community College
Occupation: Superintendent, Honaunau park
Hobbies: Aerobics, Hawaiian music

But her own pride as a Hawaiian gets a boost this month when she becomes the first native Hawaiian woman to be a national park superintendent.

And she'll be serving in one of the most Hawaiian of places, Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park in South Kona (often incorrectly called City of Refuge).

"It makes me feel great," she said.

She replaces Jerry Shimoda, who retired in September after 20 years there.

If all goes as planned, the park will become even more Hawaiian under Bell.

She wants to tear down three wooden structures between the visitor center and the sea. They're standing on archaeological sites which the park wants to restore, she said.

Bell was born in Puunene, Maui, where her father was a blacksmith with Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. Her husband, a retired Honolulu police sergeant, was born and raised in Waimea on the Big Island, so his wife's new job means going home for him.

Bell started her career as a secretary at Haleakala National Park on Maui, then moved into administration at the Honolulu office of the Park Service.

Her skills there extended beyond paperwork to the personal touch.

"She's been my guide and mentor," said Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Jim Martin, who said he has mixed feelings about Bell's promotion. It's the loss of a central office resource for himself, but an "incredible opportunity" for Honaunau, he said.

Bell will use her personal skills to go after money. Honaunau needs about $2 million to tear down the wooden structures, including the park's administration building, and build new facilities.

She's optimistic.

"Congress has been good to the National Park Service. We got a slight increase this year."