INtriguing INdividuals
What makes a person intriguing? Hawaii has a wealth of extraordinary personalities - entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers executives and philanthropists to name a few. In each issue we will highlight some of the most intriguing individuals in Hawaii, and you decide what makes them so admirable and special.
IWALANI TSEU
We all know that our island state of Hawai`i is rich in culture and spirit. Our unique environment is a “mixed plate” and locals express its uniqueness through hula, local “grinds” (food), Hawaiian studies, and most importantly, Aloha Spirit. Even though you may be just a curious onlooker seeking a tidbit from our island melting pot, there is a great deal of knowledge to acquire about Hawai`i’s native culture and etiquette. We learn the most from experienced “kumu” (teachers) that are passionate about Hawaii. Kumu hula are teachers of Hawaiian dance.
Performer, model, educator, choreographer, and judge, Iwalani Tseu is perhaps one of the best known and respected kumu hula in Hawai`i. Growing up on a sugar cane plantation in Honouliuli, Iwalani wore hand-me-downs and shared one bathroom with six siblings. No stranger to humility, she always strived for excellence. “I knew that I wanted more in life, and through music, song, and dance, that’s where I persevered in my talents,” says Iwalani. Today, a bronze hula statue is dedicated in her honor at Aloha Tower Marketplace. She has danced for kings and queens, wined and dined with the prince of Cambodia, and worn a mink coat in Monte Carlo. Iwalani, now 56, has performed around the globe from Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Tahiti, to Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Canada. She has judged numerous dance competitions and pageants, traveling the world for workshops and seminars that promote, preserve and perpetuate the culture of Hawaii.
A Filipino-Australian-French native of Hawaii, Iwalani considers herself “chop suey,” or diverse. “I’m always there promoting other cultures because it’s all part of Hawaii,” she says. In 1974, she founded Iwalani’s School of Dance, where the training includes etiquette from different ethnic cultures that migrated to Hawaii. “Unless we know where we come from, we don’t really have a direction to go or to grow.” In 1996, she expanded her school to Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan.
Last October, Iwalani was diagnosed with breast cancer. After extensive research, Iwalani initiated a health and wellness campaign to educate women of all ages. She organized Iwalani’s Foundation, where she dedicates herself to helping young women and men that have experienced extreme difficulties in life.
“I’ve been blessed, even with all of my hardships, because I have a huge, great testimony with hula dancing, traveling, education,” says Iwalani. “And now it’s my time to give back.”
ALEX MAEHARA
The strength of the human spirit is what inspires us all. Stories of those whose passion, persistence and unwavering desire led them to fight against all odds for the rights of the “little guy,” show us there are no limits. When you achieve victory by helping others, you realize that you’ve helped yourself. This concept was illustrated in the reality-based film, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts in the title role as a fervent, divorced mother of three children.
Our local, Asian version of Erin Brockovich is Alex Maehara, owner of Benefit Planners, a nine-year-old insurance brokerage firm that handles business insurance and employee benefits. Many years ago, Alex, also a single mom of three kids, had no background in insurance. When her Korean immigrant mother and son became very ill, she felt that regardless of her insurance coverage, no one really seemed to care to help her. She also felt that if she didn’t understand the details of her plan, she would not receive the full benefit of her policy. She began doing research and found herself aspiring to a career as an insurance broker, but no one would hire her without experience. A former model, she wasn’t taken seriously until she started her own company. The decision was the start of a journey that has led Alex to the point where she now represents literally every insurance carrier in the state, as well as many national carriers. Today, she handles nearly 400 accounts, most of which have been developed by referrals, like Cox Radio and Hakuyosha. Alex has a particular passion for assisting the elderly, providing them easy access to her cell phone at any time from their home or hospital room. “I started off trying to help myself, and it has developed into a really great business,” says Alex.
Soon after starting Benefit Planners, Alex realized that a lot of employers were having problems with staffing, insurance, and payroll. She decided to partner with Hawaii Payroll Services to better provide insurance, payroll, and employee rights for active business owners. Another new joint venture is with New Liberty, a company out of Newport which offers Allstate insurance plans with voluntary benefits and personalized hands-on service.
Although it was difficult in the beginning when Alex might have been lucky to make $50 in a month, she used her immense fervor just like Erin Brockovich to educate and enlighten herself in a male-dominated business until she found satisfaction for herself and others. “If you’re doing something that you really believe in and care about, good things just happen,” Alex says. Business success aside she’s still that avid mom and individual, traveling with her children three or four times a year, enjoying dancing, wining, and dining on her own, too.
DR. LAWRENCE TSEU
Have you ever had a toothache that makes you want to scream in pain?
If not, it’s probably because you make regular visits to one of Hawaii’s top dentists.
Practicing 44 years in the Ala Moana Building, general dentist Dr. Lawrence Tseu is a cousin of Intriguing Individual Iwalani Tseu.. Although he’s not specifically a cosmetic dentist, Dr. Tseu provides cosmetic finishes to fillings, caps, and crowns that make them appear quite natural.
This Kalihi boy began his education at Saint Louis School, completing undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University in Utah. Accepted into both medical and dental school, he decided on Northwestern University Dental School, where he was named one of the top 10 alumni in 2000. He first wanted to be a dentist when he was just twelve years old, after a friendly dentist at Palama Settlement stopped his tooth pain for only ten cents.
Dr. Tseu’s path to success has led him to serve as Director on the Boards of ten organizations, including the East-West Center Foundation, Bishop Museum, Hawaii Theatre Center, Palolo Chinese Home, Saint Louis School, University of Hawaii Culinary Arts School and the Salvation Army. He also serves on the Board of Regents and is a Fellow at University of Oxford. He is president of both Pacific Gateway Immigration Center and Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation.
This extremely involved individual still finds time to spend with his six children and thirteen grandchildren. Dr. Tseu, now 73, also finds time to enjoy his weekend hobbies, particularly raising koi. His five years spent in the U.S. Air Force as a young man has allowed him to still do some recreational flying as a pilot. A collector of gold coins and jade antiques, he also loves small game hunting. His trophy room is home to mountain lions, sheep, Billy goats, antelope, elk, and moose heads, and a bear rug.
This prestigious dentist is also a nationally certified body building judge, an honorary doctor for Olympic weight-lifting participants, and a judge for the Miss Hawaii Pageant.
Even more reasons we find him so INtriguing.
MALIKA DUDLEY
Driven by her passion for life, this young woman from Papaikou on the Big Island is on her way. Malika Dudley, an excellent, ambitious student, was high school valedictorian and Regents Scholar on the Dean’s list with a 4.0 GPA at the University of Hawaii, Hilo. She sought not only academic success but athletic success, as well. She was a junior Olympic Silver Medalist in Karate, ranked number one in two national tournaments, and holder of sixteen regional titles. Beyond all this, Malika won the 2005 Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant and was named Miss Congeniality at the National Pageant.
With so much already accomplished, and having finished a year officially representing the State of Hawaii at many functions and festivities, she looks forward to even more challenges. She has always been a good planner, but her options at age 24 are still open. While she no longer has a desire to study medicine, she was a pre-med student for three years before focusing on French studies. Now, she truly looks forward to being a full-time elementary French teacher in the fall at Le Jardin Academy. She also likes to mentor children, helping them find the right direction in life. As Miss Hawaii, she worked with HUGS (Help Understanding and Group Support). She truly believes that “the children are our future” and is a leader in the movement advocating a proactive approach to investing in “our” future through mentoring. “By working together to focus on one child at a time, we can and will change society for the better.”
A performer and motivational speaker at schools and functions across the state and nation, she was also Official Honorary Hostess for the State of Hawaii, flying to Japan four times to promote tourism. She looks forward to being involved in the entertainment industry after taking classes at the Academy of Film and Television. Her scholarship money earned through the Miss Hawaii Scholarship Program will be used to finish her Masters degree in Speech Communications at UH Manoa and to pursue another in Marketing.
Almost any one of her accomplishments would mark Malika as a personality of note. Her broad spectrum of ambitions makes her one of Hawaii’s more promising public figures, not only locally, but nationally and internationally, as well. It just couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Good luck, Malika!
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