A governor
in training
ALTHOUGH I'm not psychic, I CAN tell you the names of high school sophomores in Hawaii who will become outstanding student leaders in their senior year. This past weekend, their respective campuses nominated them to attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar at the University of Hawaii.
HOBY who? That's what I used to ask. I'd see that acronym often while judging contests for seniors like Sterling Scholars, Junior Miss and the Star-Bulletin Outstanding Achievement Awards.
Being named a HOBY ambassador means these 10th graders have incredibly high leadership potential. One of the following 15-year-olds is destined to become governor:
Jennifer Abadilla of Kealakehe, Joyce Agcaoli of Campbell, Travis Agustin of Iolani, Micah Ailetcher of Lahainaluna, Gerik Akamu of Ka'u, Gideon Aki of Assets, Daniel Aliksa of Baldwin, Michael Armstrong of Campbell.
David Bartosik of HBA, Micah Brown of Kailua.
Ian Cablay of University Lab, Debraliz Carolino of Hanalani, Randee Chang of Radford, Bopharuth Cheng of Waialua, Michael Chong of Kalaheo, Sara Cunningham of Hilo.
Cora Dung, Iolani.
Stacelynn Eli of Nanakuli, Camellia Emmsley of Hana, Kevin Enomoto of Aiea.
Jerrick Fabro of Waimea, Cara Ann Fletcher of Kaiser, Tauali Fonoti of St. Louis.
Maria Gacula of St. Joseph, Ryan Gibo of Radford, Joseph Graham of Waipahu.
Stephanie Hagio of Baldwin, Christine Hill of Moanalua, Randi Horikawa of HBA, Reina Horikawa of Mililani.
Jon Ishii of Kealakehe, Coty Ishitani of Waianae.
Zachery Javier, Lanakila Baptist.
Rodlyn Kaluhiwa of Pahoa, Kyle Karioka of Roosevelt, Abigal Kay of Lanakila Baptist, Leah Kekoa of Konawaena, Blaine Kelai of Academy of the Pacific, James Kepa of Kaimuki, Marc Koga of Kaiser, Chasen Komoto of Kauai, Lisa Konno of Sacred Hearts.
Amber Ladera of Seabury Hall, Justin Lee of Honokaa, Linda Lee of Roosevelt, Solomon Lee of Kahuku, Adrian Lock of King Kekaulike, Shanell Lopez of Pearl City.
Inthira Marks of St. Andrew's, Courtni Mason of Castle, Jessica Matsumoto of Maui, Barbara Matsumura of Honokaa, Darene Matsuoka of St. Andrew's, Kanoe Maunakea of Academy of the Pacific, Vaughn McCallum of Castle, Eslie Medallon of Farrington, Lars Mitsuda of Mid-Pacific, Justin Moschetti of St. Anthony, Keyralee Moses of Ka'u.
Kurt Nakamura of Hilo, Chad Noble-Tabiolo of Farrington.
Chelsea Ogata of Kaimuki, Jolie Okabe of Waiakea.
Fenton Palakiko Jr. of Nanakuli, Ruth Pedro of Kailua, Sterling Phillips of Pahoa, Megan Power of Kalaheo.
Maria Quidez, Leilehua.
Maria Rivera, Waipahu.
Fetia Solomon of Kapaa, Vanessa Sim of Maryknoll, Jame Souriyavongsa of Waianae.
Brennan Takayama of Waiakea, Justine Takamoto of Sacred Hearts, Jennifer Tambio of Waimea, Kui Tolentino of Damien, Tiare Toulon of Kauai, Christine Toyama of Aiea.
Kathleen Untalan of Lanai.
Asley Visaya of Waialua.
Tasha Walker of Assets, George White of Punahou, Sam Wilhelm of Hana.
Keilani Yang of Kahuku, Jennifer Young of St. Francis.
Xinting Zhang, Punahou.
To the parents of the aforementioned, umm, be especially nice to your kids. There's a future governor in your midst.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.
