10 made a difference in Hawaii’s past year

LIKE them or not, the Star-Bulletin closes out each December paying recognition to the "Ten Who Made a Difference" in the past year. The most deserving are the military personnel who put themselves in harm's way in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Others achieve prominence by involvement in controversies, taking important roles in improving the islands' quality of life or attaining exceptional success in their endeavors. Those who made a difference in 2007, recognized in the Star-Bulletin over the past week and a half, are:

John Garibaldi, president and chief executive of the Hawaii Superferry, who fought through court battles and the Legislature for permission to bring interisland ferry service to Hawaii.

Isaac Hall, the Maui lawyer who led the successful legal battle against the Hawaii Superferry in the state Supreme Court, forcing it to obtain an exemption from the state Legislature in order to operate.

Deborah Zysman, executive director of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, which was successful in the enactment of a state law prohibiting smoking in all public places, including restaurants and malls.

Jennifer Kishimori, a founding member of CatFriends, a nonprofit organization that traps and neuters cats in an effort to humanely control Oahu's feral cat population.

Lea Ok Soon Hong, director of the Trust for Public Land's Hawaiian Islands Program, which helped more 30,000 acres of valuable conservation land from private to public ownership during the past year.

Jaimie Kahale, prevention educator for the Life Foundation, who counsels women who are HIV-positive, like herself, or are at high risk of contracting the virus that causes AIDS.

Moses Kalei Nahonoapiilani Haia III, staff attorney for the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp., who takes on large corporations and land developers to protect historic or cultural properties.

Mark Dunkerley, chairman and chief executive of Hawaiian Airlines, which won an $80 million award in federal court from Mesa Air Group for misusing confidential Hawaiian Airlines information.

Darryl Vincent of U.S. VETS Hawaii, site director of Paiolu Kaiaulu, the Waianae emergency shelter the state opened at the beginning of March.

Colt Brennan, University of Hawaii quarterback, third in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy after setting the NCAA career touchdown passes record with 131 and leading Hawaii to the year's only unbeaten record in major college football.