Read magazine - Hawaii Food Industry Assocation - HFIA

The Chair’s MessageBY ALAN Y. NAKAMURAA wonderful time…Each new year brings changes, challenges, andadventures. Just a couple of years ago, founderDick Botti realized his wish to retire from theHFIA. With the help of past chair Bonny Amemiya andinterim Executive Director Gary Hanagami, we wereable to successfully transition to a new era under theleadership of current Executive Director Lauren Zirbel.Exciting times lie ahead with membership expandingto new companies and individuals, each with their ownexperiences and philosophies.Alan Nakamura at the 2013 HFIA SocialOne of our primary goals is to provide help with legislativeissues under the guidance of our Government Relationsand Advocacy Committee, chaired by Vice Chair StanBrown. With input from members and lobbying efforts byLauren, we are able to voice industry opinions and supportbills that are beneficial to our industry and oppose billsthat are not. With the diversity of members that we have,including suppliers, a variety of retailers, and many associatemembers, we may not have unanimous support on everybill and ordinance, but we do try our best to move forwardin the best interests of the majority of our members. Onoccasion, we may need to abstain from voicing our viewsif we are divided on an issue. In any case, we appreciateand encourage members to express themselves and give usdirection on the multitude of important legislative issues andchanges which come up each year.The Made In Hawaii Festival is a major source of incomefor the HFIA and, under the guidance of Director AmyHammond, continues to grow and achieve success yearafter year. If at all possible, we would like our members tostrongly support this event and help to make it even moresuccessful and profitable in the years ahead.Our Social and Convention Committees (one and thesame) tirelessly volunteer their time each year to plan andimplement events that are fun, as well as opportunities forbusiness networking. We welcome new members to addfresh thoughts and resources to these committees, as thiswill help spread the workload and make the events moresuccessful. You will be sure to make new, wonderful, lifelongfriends. Your attendance and thoughtful sponsorshipsare most important in making the New Year’s Social andConvention successful and profitable for HFIA.Our annual golf tournament, chaired by lifetime D.O.G.(Director Of Golf ) Mike Kaya, is always a blast, andgolfers and hackers alike have a great time while raisingmuch-needed funds for HFIA. The participants andgenerous sponsors join together to make this an event tolook forward to each year.Lastly, while I will continue to have the honor of beingHFIA Chair through June—at which point I will confidentlypass the gavel to incoming Chair Stan Brown—I willbe doing so from the Tesoro corporate office in Texas. Mywife and I will move to San Antonio in early March but willreturn in June to attend the 2013 HFIA Convention andreunite with you all. This will be my first separation fromthe HFIA in about 30 years. I am saddened and will missyou. Fond memories, good times together…. But I hopeto return to Hawaii in five or six years, and, God willing, Imay be able to reestablish my connections with you all. Inthe meantime, I would like to personally ask each of you tostrongly support HFIA as you have in the past and help itto grow stronger and more influential than it has ever been.We owe it to our members, employees, and thousands ofconsumers to keep our food industry vibrant and strong.Thank you for your help and friendship over the years.Much aloha to all of you and best wishes for a successful 2013!AlanHAWAII RETAIL GROCER - SPRING 2013 3