LETTERS 01/07

What our readers have to say

BUILDING GOOD CITIZENS

Hawaii Business [November 2006] “Editors Desktop” quotes Ron Taketa of the Hawaii Carpenter’s Union as saying that the main problem of recruitment of qualified workers for the construction trades is the influx of Generation Y who are described as self-confident and into instant gratification. He says that is due to parenting and a system that teaches to the test.

Interesting. What makes for a qualified worker as opposed to a productive worker? It would seem if given that choice, most would want a productive worker. I certainly would.

He blames parenting and school for workers who are not “qualified.” It would seem to me that neither parents nor government school, should be turning out qualified and/or productive carpenters. Instead they should be turning out graduates who read, write, do arithmetic well, and have good moral character including a sense of personal responsibility and accountability. Making those who are so inclined into carpenters should be the work of themselves, aided by the industry, the union and perhaps Community Colleges. I view Taketa’s beef as “bull.”

Richard O. Rowland, President
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Via email

FAMILY (BUSINESS) MATTERS

I was thumbing through old issues of magazines prior to discarding them and happened to re-read your article entitled, “Family Matters – How to avoid a family feud when dealing with family-business succession,” by Lisa Ro.

I want to congratulate Lisa on hitting the proverbial nail on its head! So many of our businesses here in Hawaii are either family owned or otherwise closely held. And many do not plan for the future, let alone consider ownership and management succession for their business. Hence the low survival rate of small businesses beyond the 2nd and 3rd generations.

Her parting quote from Dr. George S. Vozikis from the Family Owned Business Institute at the University of Tulsa, says it all, “We need to help family businesses thrive. These guys reinvest back to the city, back to their communities. That’s why it is the true backbone of the local community.”

Michael D. Miyahira, Owner
Business Strategies
Hilo, Hawaii
Via email

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Your [December 2006 “Nota Bene” on successful careers] was very encouraging to read especially when Colbert Matsumoto is one of our executives, here at Island Insurance. The qualities that you and Colbert put together are right on the money. I am one of those twenty/thirty year olds. I noticed there is one key ingredient, especially when it comes to my age group. That would be “vision.” I didn’t truly understand it until I started working at Island Insurance a few years ago. My successful friends have vision. They have the foresight to see where they want to be and what they picture their future to be.

The other two things that I wanted to add were “passion” and “inspiration.” These two I also truly learned while at Island Insurance. Our new president, John Schapperle, not only had a great vision for our company, but he also has these other two qualities. At one of our lunches, he mentioned that “no matter what we do in life, we should be passionate about it.” This then leads me to the other quality as John has inspired me with his vision and life philosophy. I believe that successful people have a way to inspire others.

Just my observations as I continue on my life journey.

Keith Murota
Personal Lines Underwriter
Island Insurance
Honolulu, Hawaii
Via email

CORRECTIONS: In our December 2006 Black Book, the incorrect photo ran with the biography of Keith J. Roberts, VP/Academics, Brigham Young University-Hawaii. Here is the correct photo. Hawaii Business regrets this error. Jimmy Forrest photographed Paul Loo for Hawaii Business’ December issue. We regret the omission of a photo credit.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAY BE SENT TO: Address: Hawaii Business 1000 Bishop St., Ste. 405 Honolulu, HI 96813 Fax: (808) 537-6455 E-mail: hbeditorial@pacificbasin.net All letters to the editor must include the writer's name, address (at least city or town, and state) and daytime and evening phone numbers. Writers should also disclose any relationship with the subject of their letter. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space and to use them in all electronic and print editions of Hawaii Business.

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