Dr. Maya Soetoro with the College of Social Sciences at UH and with the Obama Foundation and Global Girls Alliance. Past Director for the Matsunaga Institute for Peace, instructor for UH in Peace Movement, Education and Conflict Management. Co-Founder of Ceeds of Peace, the Peace Studio and the Institute for Climate and Peace.
Ray Matsumiya is a leader in cross-cultural exchange and peacebuilding. He is a Director of Rotary Engagement at the Jubitz Peace Park in Melbourne and has worked with US State Department, UNESCO and Spanish Ministry of Foreign affairs in Japan, Spain, and middle Eastern and North African countries. Ray lives in Boston and is a member of the WE Rotary Club for International Peace with District 5000.
Dr. Kent Keith has authored 19 books including the Paradoxical Commandments which was first published in 1968 for student leaders. He was raised in six states, including Hawai’i and graduated from Roosevelt High School. He attended UH Manoa along with Harvard University, Oxford in England, Waseda in Tokyo and University of Southern California. He was the first graduate from a Hawai’i public school to be a Rhodes Scholar. He has worked in Hawai’i as a lawyer, in government and with the YMCA of Honolulu and internationally with Servant Leadership in the U.S. and Asia-Singapore. He was President of both Chaminade and Pacific Rim Christian Universities. Kent is a member of the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise and donated, Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments to all conference attendees.
Ambassador James Moriarty is a consultant for national security affairs and has been an Ambassador, Special Assistant to the President, and career diplomat. He has worked with Bangladesh, Yugoslavia, Nepal, China, Taiwan, and with East and South Asia. He is a Senior advisor to the Pacific Forum and consults with U.S. Government entities. He has recently joined the recently joined the Rotary Club of Pearl Harbor.
Faculty from Ke’elikolani Middle School in Honolulu represented Principal Joe Passantino to talk about the great relationship between this public school and the Rotary Club of Downtown Honolulu. The club meets weekly at the school for breakfast. They engage with students on the campus and support school supply drives, tutoring assistance, and help set an example of what people do in the community to work and help others. The school and Rotary have a special connection with Principal Joe and staff members often cooking breakfast for the Rotarians. Joe is a member of the Rotary Club of Downtown Honolulu.
Johrita Solari came to the conference as the Rotary International President’s Representative. She has served as International Vice President and Director and Vice Chair of the International Programs Committee and on the Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force. She has assisted with immunizations in Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan. Johrita is a member of the Rotary Club of Anaheim and a Past District Governor. She, along with her husband Bruce and daughter Gianna, were all able to join us. They own Solari Enterprises that provides quality affordable housing, and they work on global aid projects within their own family through Rotary.
For the first time in three years our District Conference was able to present Club Awards and Recognitions for the full Rotary Year at a conference. Many clubs were recognized and awards were presented for Youth, Club, Community, International and Vocational Service, Membership, Public Image and The Rotary Foundation. Congratulations to our Clubs of the Year!
During the conference we were able to recognize and honor the Club Presidents from this past 2025-2026 Rotary Year and the current Presidents and District Leadership Team for this 2026-2027 Rotary Year along with those Rotarians who have graduated from our “District Leadership Academy”. We also had a heartfelt moment to honor our fellow Rotarians that have left us with a Celebration of Life that followed our Interfaith/Peace Service.
Current Governor Benson introduced a new concept of E Ola Mau to be a Lifelong Rotarian. Over 60 Members were recognized for making that commitment during the conference with a small pin.
In addition to recognizing our District Conference, I want to Thank ALL of our D5000 Rotary members and clubs for the great work that was done this past year throughout Hawaii. I thank everyone for attending Zoom meetings, working hard to provide more services for our communities, to increase our membership, and to collect more funds for The Rotary Foundation. Because of the help of each individual Rotarian, our combined efforts provided for a GREAT YEAR in District 5000. We did Unite for Good with multiple service projects throughout Hawai’i and a Global Project to Micronesia. Our membership increased with the addition of our third Rotaract Club and a new Satellite Club. Plus, we exceeded our goals for donations to The Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus. It was an amazing year for me because I got to meet Rotarian throughout Hawaii and I know combined we can do all things! I thank all of you for supporting me this past year as your 2025-2026 District Governor and I look forward to a new year as we Create Lasting Change.
MAHALO,
Nancy Cabral
Past District Governor