Things I Do and Organizations I Belong To

Photo: License plate w/ ham radio call sign Amateur radio operator, holder of station license NH6PY since 1988.

Member of the Emergency Amateur Radio Club. Frequent volunteer providing communications support at events like parades and athletic events like charity walks and the Honolulu Marathon. These activities once put me on the front page of the newspaper, and got me on television several times.

Photo: Civil Defense ID card Member of Oʻahu RACES, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service; ARES, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service; and a registered Skywarn weather observer. These groups support agencies and organizations with communications services during emergencies. We participate in disaster exercises to practice and refine our procedures and techniques, and to test our equipment. We also provide logistical support during large-scale, multi-agency disaster drills.

Animated graphic: Amber magnet-mount rotating beacon Volunteer with the City & County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management (formerly the Oʻahu Civil Defense Agency) since 1985, and currently the Communications Officer for DEM District 7 (southeast Oʻahu, from Makiki to Makapuʻu). As a DEM volunteer, I attend regular training in disaster preparedness and response; respond to situations like severe weather conditions, tsunamis, and major power outages; participate in drills; assist in efforts to educate the public about disaster preparedness; and serve at DEM-supported community events. During an activation, I may monitor a situation and report observations; direct traffic, control access to hazardous areas, or assist with evacuation and sheltering; facilitate communications between district volunteers, RACES operators, and emergency managers; or provide other forms of assistance as needed. These groups I belong to complement and cooperate with each other. I've been interested in emergency preparedness for a long time. Over the years, I've come up with a few disaster volunteer preparation tips that may not be obvious.

Life member of the Sierra Club; certified outings leader, and volunteer with the Hawaiʻi chapter's High School Hikers program, which fosters environmental awareness and stewardship through hiking clubs in high schools and middle schools. I first became involved with the Sierra Club through the High School Hikers program while in the 9th grade.

Member of several professional organizations.

So if you want to know why I don't show up at your meeting or event, or serve on your committee or run for office in your club...

I am also a member (i.e. a paying supporter) of Hawaiʻi Public Radio and a fan of programming from National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and American Public Media. Programs that I listen to regularly (or at least try to) include Car Talk, A Prairie Home Companion, Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz, Fresh Air, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, and Radiolab.

I enjoy listening to jazz. Not only do good jazz musicians have mastery of their instruments, but they also know music so well that they can improvise all around a tune, and still make it sound good. And it can be a real treat to watch a live performance of a group of musicians playing off of each other. I also enjoy some rock, blues, soul, and a bit of country and folk.