By Dr. Chuck Kelley
This is the fifth in a series of eight articles written by Outrigger’s executives in support of our Value of the Week program. Every other week, one of our company’s executives will introduce the value of the week and share what that value means to them. This week’s author is Dr. Chuck Kelley, Outrigger’s Vice President of KF Development, and this week’s Value of the Week is: ‘Ohana (Family) – We are family working together joyfully to attain our goals and aspirations. – Ka‘ipo Ho
‘Ohana is the Hawaiian word for “family.” In today’s Hawaii, the use of ‘ohana is not limited to a strict genetic lineage, but rather takes on a broader definition and includes many relationships, including friends and even coworkers. Here at Outrigger, ‘ohana is one of our core values, and one of the unique aspects of our family-owned and -operated company that distinguishes us from others.
When Roy and Estelle Kelley started Outrigger, they clearly cared for their employees. They did what they could to help during both good times and bad. They assisted many by not only providing work opportunities and a generous benefits package, but also by helping individuals through career challenges, difficult financial times, and even trying personal situations. For many years, they treated those who worked at Outrigger like members of their own immediate family. Even today, many of our long-time employees love to recount personal stories of how Roy and Estelle’s concern and generosity provided great aid in times of need. Their legacy of concern for our entire ‘ohana is still alive and well even as our company has gone through incredible growth and expansion. Our Human Resources department makes it a priority to do everything possible to help individual employees in need.
When we speak of ‘ohana at Outrigger, we also think of all the families working here to make this company successful. In the Kelley family line, we currently have six family members actively involved in the operating business – Dr. Richard Kelley, Jean Rolles, David Carey, Estelle Kelley, Bitsy Kelley, and myself. I am a third-generation family member. This summer, you may again see some of the fourth-generation Kelley family summer interns doing various jobs around Waikiki, learning the business from the bottom up.
The Kelleys are not the only multi-generational Outrigger family. Recently I was talking with Maintenance Manager Herbert Fernandez. I was reminded that his mother worked for many years in the Housekeeping department, and two of his sisters are former employees as well. Chuck Shishido, Vice President of Operations, also has family ties to Outrigger. His mother, Ruth T. Shishido, was a Room Attendant here for 21 years before retiring. Menrado Tolentino held the position of Graveyard Night Audit Supervisor for many years, and is still remembered well for his skills in solving difficult situations. Today he is retired, but you will still find his son Walter Tolentino, General Manager, and his daughter Beverly Fidel, Director of Revenue Management, OHANA, in the company.
Sisters Aileen Hill, Nora Weatherwax, and Puna Ortega worked the Front Desk in 1980—they were among five sisters working at Outrigger at the same time
When it comes to larger families working inside Outrigger, everyone immediately thinks of sisters Nora Weatherwax, General Manager, and Puna Ortega, Front Office Manager, who at one time had a total of five sisters working here at the same time! Nora’s daughter Kea Parker is a Guest Services Representative ,and Nora’s brother-in-law Jim Hill, serves as General Manager and Regional Director of Condo Operations.
We also have many husband-and-wife teams at Outrigger. Richard and Clara Han can be seen each night working together in Housekeeping. Ray Kanemori, Assistant General Manager, and his wife, Camille Kanemori, Guest Services Representative, are both Outrigger employees, as are Alan Naito, General Manager, and Lei Naito, Guest Services Representative. Another dedicated Outrigger couple is Archie Garcia, General Maintenance and Divina Garcia, Executive Housekeeper.
These four couples are not the only Outrigger employees who share both working and home lives. Unfortunately, there just isn’t space to individually list all the families who are part of our Outrigger ‘ohana. But there are a lot! The point being, we really are a family company that cherishes and supports our ‘ohana. We are family-owned and -operated, we treat each other like family every day, and we enjoy many wonderful family ties throughout the company.
