THE INTERNATIONAL Women’s Forum has honored PBS Hawaii Chief Executive Leslie Wilcox with a 2013 Women Who Make A Difference Award. Wilcox was among eight international winners recognized Oct. 18 at the IWF’s annual global leadership conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. More than 1,500 women leaders from across the globe attended.
Diane Chang, president of Hawaii Women’s Forum, the local IWF affiliate, which nominated Wilcox for the award, said: "As president and CEO of Hawaii’s public television system and a previous longtime journalist with a public service bent, Leslie was the perfect nominee for an award recognizing highly respected women leaders who serve as role models for females of all ages. Leslie brings pride to the entire state by winning this international honor" …
MAJOR HONORS are coming up for retired Chief Judge James "Jim" Burns and his wife, Emme Tomimbang of local TV fame.
Burns, late University of Hawaii law professor Jon Van Dyke and state Supreme Court Justice Simeon Acoba will be honored tonight at a fundraising dinner at Waialae Country Club, starting at 5:30. The American Judicature Society Hawaii Chapter is recognizing their contributions to the Hawaii justice system. Puamana will perform.
Burns will receive the chapter’s lifetime achievement award that recognizes a career of his contributions to improving the justice system in the state, as well as serving as an inspiration to others. Van Dyke will be posthumously honored with the national Herbert Harley Award, named for the society’s founder and the premier state honor that can be bestowed on individuals who make outstanding efforts and contributions to improve the administration of justice in their state. Acoba is also being presented with a national award — the Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence. In his nomination letter, Hawaii Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald said, "Justice Acoba has been a sitting judge in Hawaii state courts for nearly 35 years and has served at every level of the state court system." The banquet is co-chaired by Ivan M. Lui-Kwan and Russell J. Lau. For more info email iluikwan@starnlaw.com or call 537-6100 …
"SHARING Memorable Moments with Emme & Friends," Nov. 9 at the FilCom Center grand ballroom in Waipahu, is turning into quite an extravaganza. Some of Hawaii’s top singers will perform, and dinner will be prepared by chefs Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, D.K. Kodama, Philippe Padovani and Paul Rivera. Sommelier is Roberto Viernes. There will be desirable silent auction selections, including a visit for two to a "Hawaii Five-0" set and an autographed photo of the stars. Sisters Robin Bernstein, Susan Mann and Lisa Freeman, daughters of original "Five-0" creator Lenny Freeman and his wife, Rose, are coming from California to pay tribute to Tomimbang. The sisters have invited former "Five-0" cast members Al Harrington, Jimmy Borges and Kimo Kahoano to join them. Dennis Chun, son of Kam Fong, who played the original Chin Ho Kelly, is in the invited group. Chun is in the new series.
The gala honors Tomimbang for her impact on Hawaii and its Filipino community and is a fundraiser for the Filipino Community Center. Willie K is headliner. "I’m the godmother of his daughter Lycettiana," Tomimbang said. Also singing will be Kristian Lei, Borges, Jasmine Trias, Jordan Segundo and others who have been on "Emme’s Island Moments" TV specials.
For more info and the $250 tickets, call 680-0451 or visit www.filcom.org …
