A Global Affair 2008

On January 24, 2008, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council presented Jean E. Rolles and Aloha Medical Mission (AMM) with the Paul. S. Bachman Memorial Award for their distinguished contributions to the improvement of relations between the United States and its neighbors in Asia and the Pacific.

As a long-time benefactor, Jean E. Rolles has been instrumental in expanding PAAC’s high school program. She sponsored the winning WorldQuest team to compete at the national competition in Washington D.C. from 2003-2006. She has also awarded over $18,000 in high school travel scholarships to China, France and Japan since 2004 through the Punahou School’s summer study abroad program.

Governor Linda Lingle attended the dinner to present the award to Ms. Rolles. In her presentation she said, “Jean cares deeply about Hawaii and the world. She is an outstanding individual who is not just a citizen of Hawaii, but a citizen of the world … she is a true leader in our community who has helped young people have international experiences.”

The Governor also shared a story from her mission to the Philippines, about a woman who had been helped by the other deserving honoree, the Aloha Medical Mission.

AMM was founded in 1983 by members of the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii to provide free and voluntary medical, surgical, and other health-related services, supplies, and equipment to medically indigent areas of the Philippines, South-East Asia, and the Pacific. Their mission is to address the needs of people whose health is challenged by poverty and inadequate access to proper medical care - bringing hope and changing the lives of the people they serve. Over the past 25 years, they have served in 15 countries, seen over 200,000 patients, performed over 10,000 operations, recruited over 3,500 volunteers, and support three clinics, of which is the only free interim medical and dental clinic in Honolulu.
A Global Affair also served as an annual meeting. Executive Director Jill Takasaki Canfield gave guests a brief update on PAAC’s programs highlights from 2007, with acknowledgements of those who have made it possible to further PAAC’s mission. In her presentation, she commented on the significance global education stating, “In our increasingly interconnected world where one in six U.S. jobs is tied to international trade and most U.S. corporations expecting most of their growth in overseas markets, the demand for a workforce with international competence will only increase. They (students) must be prepared and globally competent, no matter what field or line of work they choose.”

A Global Affair Sponsors

The Limtiaco Company
PACMAR, Inc.
Outrigger Enterprises, Inc.
Frank Boas
Chaminade University
Hawaii National Bank
Imanaka Kudo & Fujimoto
Oceanic Time Warner Cable
Punahou School
Lt. Gen. Hank and Vivien Stackpole
Ambassador Charles Salmon

Special Mahalo
Emcee:
Roland Lagareta

Committee Co-Chairs:
Vivien Stackpole
Ruth Limtiaco

Committee Members:
Fumiko Halloran
ThanhLo Sananikone
Tom Chapman

Favors:
Big Island Candies

Entertainment:
Punahou School’s Keller Quartet

Flowers:
Watanabe Floral, Inc.
Thanh Lo Sanaikone

Prizes:
Aloha Airlines
Starbucks

Other Donations:
Ann Asakura
Gen. David Bramlett
Vicky Cayetano
Don Kim
Dr. Fujio Matsuda
Diane Peters-Nguyen
Shaunagh Robbins
Yoshiharu Satoh
Mark Torreano
Betty Vitousek