2011-2012
The Pacific American Community Cultural Center (PACCC) Board of Directors/Trustees is comprised of twelve dedicated community members who volunteer their time, energy and vision to building a Charter School and Cultural Center in Southern California. Select a photo thumbnail to read more about each member.


 
Lono Kollars, President
Full name: Lono Kollars
Ethnicity: Hawaiian
Place of birth: Honolulu, Hawaii
Current residence: Moreno Valley, California
Current profession and title: Chief Multimedia Services, Defense Imagery Management Operations Center, Department of Defense
Education / degrees: Associates Degree in Applied Science, Community College of the Air Force, Syracuse University Military Photojournalism Program; Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program for Senior Executive Service; continued learning
Do you serve on other boards/committees? President, Kaleponi Advocates for Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaii Director, Pacific Island Community Council; Board Member, Mainland Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Vice President, Kaha I Ka Panoa Kaleponi Hawaiian Civic Club
Special / noteworthy accomplishments: U.S. Air Force Photojournalist
Favorite quote: `A`ohe hana nui ke alu `ia (No work is too large when done by all (Hawaiian proverb);
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead (1901-1978)
Anything else you’d like to add? Dedicated to preserving and furthering the Hawaiian culture; and serving the Hawaiian and Pacific Island communities.
 
Gary Shiroma, 1st Vice President
Full name: Gary Masato Shiroma
Ethnicity: Okinawan
Place of birth: Born in Honolulu, Hawaii & raised in Kalihi Valley
Current residence: Torrance, California
Current profession and title: Telecommunication Engineer/AT&T Mobility ASG DAS Engineer for the Los Angeles Market
Education / degrees: University of Hawaii & Electronics Institute/ Bachelor of Science
Special / noteworthy accomplishments: Worked for Hughes Aircraft Company back in 1987. Involved with the B2 Stealth Bomber for the Radar Systems Group & worked on Milstar, a military satellite for Desert Storm at the Space & Communication Group
Favorite quote: “Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit” (1960, W. Clement Stone & Napoleon HIll)
 
 
 
 
Rose Laolagi, 2nd Vice President
Full name: Rosemarie Oilau Laolagi
Ethnicity: Samoan
Place of birth: Born Ft. McPhearson, Atlanta, GA. Raised in Hawaii, Samoa and California
Current residence: Torrance, California
Current profession and title: Owner Nualani’s Polynesia; event coordinator/consultant, booking agent, dance instructor for Hermosa Beach Parks and Recreation Dept.
Do you serve on other boards/committees? Board member, Hawaiian Inter Club Council of Southern California; Board member, Pacific Islander Community Council
Special / noteworthy accomplishments: Four-year Co-host of the annual Pacific Islander Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA.; Entertainment Coordinator for the Aloha Days Surf Festival in Hermosa Beach; Featured on Fox 11 News
Favorite quote: “With God, all things are possible.”
Anything else you’d like to add? I am blessed to have the support of my husband Bill and my four children who work behind the scenes helping me in all that I do. It’s an honor to serve alongside my dedicated and committed Pacific Islander brothers and sisters who give so much of themselves all in the spirit of aloha. It is my prayer, my hope that our center will indeed be a showcase of who we are as a people. That we will promote pride and goodness in all that we do. That we can share our stories for generations to come …
 
Margaret Sanborn, 3rd Vice President
Full name: Margaret Kaaiohelo Sanborn
Ethnicity: Native Hawaiian
Place of birth: Honolulu, Hawai’i
Current residence: San Diego, California
Current profession and title: Education Executive Director
Education / degrees: Master of Science Education Comm. Psych
Do you serve on other boards/committees? Pacific American Education Scholastic Foundation; Pacific American Academy; Hui O Hawai’i of San Diego
Special / noteworthy accomplishments: Founded Pacific American Academy; Completed Degree at age 65/68
Favorite quote: “Life is unique by how you shape it.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
Heather Heleloa, Secretary
Full name: Heather Marice Kaonohimakaokalani Heleloa
Ethnicity: Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, Filipino
Place of birth: Anaheim, California
Current residence: Orange, California
Current profession and title: Owner of Heleloa.com
Education / Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts, Communications, California State University Fullerton
Special / noteworthy accomplishments: Heather served as the first intern in the Office of the Archivist (Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff) at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington DC.
Anything else you’d like to add? My hope for PACCC is that it will be a place of love, preservation and lifelong learning; a place where community elders can share with future generations the strength, beauty and grace of our rich cultures; and a center where Pacific Islanders and loved ones can gather, talk story, eat, play, dance, sing and celebrate together for many years to come.
 
 
 
 
Cheryl Henderson, Chief Financial Officer
Full name: Cherylann Henderson
Ethnicity: Hawaiian
Place of birth: Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Current residence: Carson, California
Current profession and title: California Department of Transportation, Senior Environmental Planner
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Keith Castro, Trustee
Full name: Keith Castro
Ethnicity: Chamoru
Place of birth: Guam
Current residence: Long Beach, California
Current profession and title: Consultant
Education / degrees: Masters of Business Administration, Keller Graduate School; BS in Computer Informations Systems
Do you serve on other boards/committees? Board member of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities; also a member of the first Pacific Islander fraternity, Tau Omega Alpha (TOA) which mentors Pacific Islander men in education and community service
Special / noteworthy accomplishments: Keith mentors high school and college students
 
 
 
 
 
Gil Ontai, Trustee
Full Name: “Gil” Lilbert Roy Kilipaka Ontai
Ethnicity: Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese
Place of birth: Honolulu, Hawai’i
Current residence: San Diego, California
Current profession and title: private practice architect/engineer, urban planner, college lecturer
Education/degrees: Bachelor of Arts, architecture, University of Hawai’i; Masters in Architecture, Washington University; Urban Economics, University of Missouri.
Do you serve on other boards/committees? State Commissioner with the CA Redistricting Commission; Board President of the Pacific American Academy Charter School; Board Director with the San Diego Neighborhood House Association
Special/noteworthy accomplishments: Past member of the San Diego Planning Commission; San Diego Downtown Redevelopment Agency; founding president of the San Diego Asian/Pacific Islander Business Association; received national awards for design of educational and affordable housing projects
Favorite quote: “Be happy, live long, and leave a thousand smiles”
Anything else you’d like to add? As president of Pacfici American Education and Scholastic Foundation, helped bring the Hokule’a Wa’a to San Diego on its first-ever historic voyage from Hawai’i to mainland; helped organize the first Pacific Islander Festival in San Diego; had the honor of teaching our Hawaiian kids in the Na Pua No’eau Program at the University of Hawai’i.
 
Ku’uipo Paulo, Trustee
Full name: Sharon Ku’uipo Kana’e-Paulo
Ethnicity: Native Hawaiian, with a smudge of Tahitian and Irish
Place of birth: Honolulu, O’ahu, Hawai’i
Current residence: Moreno Valley, California
Current profession and title: Commission Executive Assistant – City of Los Angeles – Department of Cultural Affairs Board of Commissioners
Education / Degree(s): Associates in Science
Do you serve on other boards/committees? President of the Hawaiian Inter-Club Council of Southern California; Tahitian Director on the Board of the Pacific Islander Community Council; President of Kaha I Ka Panoa Kaleponi Hawaiian Civic Club; Secretary on the Board of Kaleponi Advocates for Hawaiian Affairs.
Special / noteworthy accomplishments: A founder of the Hawaiian Community Center Association; a founder of the Pacific Islander Community Council; former member of the California State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Former member of the Census Bureau’s REAC Committee for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Favorite quote: “Just when a mother thinks her work is done, she becomes a grandmother.”
Anything else you’d like to add? I love community service. I am grateful for the talents that Ke Akua has given me and that ability I have to serve our Native Hawaiian people as well as ur greater Pacific Island ‘ohana.
 
Lokelani Reichert, Trustee
Full name: Lokelani Reichert
Ethnicity: Native Hawaiian, English, Filipino, Chinese
Place of birth: Honolulu, Hawai’i
Current residence: Anaheim, California
Current profession and title: Cosmetologist
Education / degrees: some college, Cosmetology degree
Do you serve on other boards/committees? Current President of Lei Hulu of California, Vice President for Ahahui `O Liliuokalani HCC, member of Hawai`i Daughters Guild, Director/Trustee of Pacific American Community Cultural Center
Special / noteworthy accomplishments: It is always satisfying to contribute to the Hawaiian community by sharing knowledge with aloha.
Favorite quote: For each forward step we take..may it be determined, with purpose, always aware of it’s surrounding, with loving and gentle commitment and may it be with Akua’s guidance.
 
 
 
Martha Wai’alae, Trustee
Full name: Martha Waialae
Ethnicity: English, French Canadian, some Indian
Place of birth: Proctor, Vermont
Current residence: Lomita, California
Current profession and title: Retired Accountant
Education / degrees: attended University of Vermont
Do you serve on other boards/committees? HICC- treasurer, Polynesian Society- treasurer, CDEA-treasurer, AM Federal Credit Union-Board of Directors, Secretary
Favorite quote: It is better to be sorry you did than sorry you didn’t.