Ambassadors of Aloha

It began in 2009.  This was the very first time I had heard of the US Navy’s Distinguished Visitors’ Embark program where a few fortunate, Hawaii-based personalities participated in an unforgetable adventure.  I dub this Class of 2009 as the Ambassadors of Aloha, paving the way for the rest who followed.  The Ambassadors of Aloha are:

• Ryan Ozawa
• NEENZ Faleafine
• Burt Lum
• Melissa Chang
• Nathan Kam
• Roxanne Darling

Fast forward to 2012. Thanks to Ambassadors of Aloha, the tenacious leadership of the Avere Group, and with the good graces of Guy, I’m getting the chance to experience operations of an aircraft carrier participating in RIMPAC 2012. Speechless…

Acknowledgement

My embarking to and from the USS Chester W. Nimitz CVN 68 aircraft carrier during RIMPAC 2012 was made possible via my nomination by Dennis Hall, founder of Avere Group LLC (www.averegroup.wordpress.com), through collaborative referral to him by Guy Kawasaki (www.GuyKawasaki.com) and L.P. “Neenz” Faleafine (www.Faleafine.com). Dennis Hall initially submitted my nomination to the Public Affairs Officer of the US Navy’s Third Fleet. The Public Affairs Officer then referred my nomination to the Office of Public Affairs, Commander, US Pacific Fleet. The US Pacific Fleet selected me for the Distinguished Visitors Program, inviting me to embark for about 24 hours during RIMPAC 2012.