Aloha From the Rotary Club of Honolulu

President Tim Johns called the meeting to order and named the meeting’s participants.  Past District Governor Linda Coble presaged the day’s program by discussing The Power of One in England, a Rotarian who developed the concept of shelter boxes.  Thousands of these fully equipped “boxes” (that contain tents, fuel, utensils, etc.) are now helping the victims of the Haitian earthquake.  The Power of One is not to be underestimated.

Jim Lackey led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Dr. Kalani Brady led the club in the a cappella singing of “America the Beautiful”.  President Johns acknowledged and congratulated Bob and Susan Robinson, who are celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary.  Roland Lagareta reminded club members to sign up for Paul Harris Day, February 23^rd, and indicated that two more host organizations would be added next week.  Don Anderson reminded members of the importance of the Maile Hale foundation to our club.   He gave first-time Maile Hale awards to Wayne Judd and Cliff Cisco and honored Mitch D’Olier in absentia for his eighth Maile Hale award.  President Johns wished Brandon Morita a Happy Birthday, and Susan Doyle acknowledged visitors. 

After some fellowship time, Alice Tucker of our Rotary Treasure Program Committee described the qualifications of a Rotary Treasure and indicated that they are only designated when appropriately earned, sometimes not even annually.  The award is designed to be very special and to exemplify “The Power of One”.  Alice introduced club member Rick Towill to make the presentation to the recipient, his father Richard M. Towill.

Rick acknowledged the privilege he felt being asked to describe his father for this award by giving a donation to his Maile Hale account.  His father, who exemplifies the Rotary pledge of “service above self”, has 52 years (!!) of perfect attendance at Rotary.  Richard’s father before him, Roswell Towill, was also a Rotarian.  Rick introduced the special guests present for the occasion, Rab Guild, Richard’s lifetime friend since Hanahouli days, and Crystal Rose and Ian Towill, Rick’s wife and son.

Rick proceeded to tell the story of his father’s life and achievements with an accompanying PowerPoint presentation of family and business pictures.  Born September 29, 1929, in Kapaa, Kauai, his family moved to Honolulu at the top of Keeaumoku Street.  After attending Hanahouli, he began attending Punahou as a 7^th grader during the war years.  After graduation from Punahou, he earned a civil engineering degree from M.I.T.  and joined his father’s civil engineering company. A series of photos showed his growing up years (and, later in the presentation, the “growing up” of Oahu, as the various engineering projects were discussed.)   He joined Rotary in December of 1957 and became president of R.M. Towill in l963.  With his leadership, the company developed branches in Saigon, San Francisco and Yokohama, as well as Honolulu.  Annually he awarded hams and turkeys to his employees who had perfect attendance. Several employees had 18-year perfect attendance records.

Rick went on to describe the many, many projects that his father accomplished to better the life in Hawaii and the many diversified interests his father pursued.  The design and managing of the aerial photography necessary to plan projects was one of his special interests, projects such as developing the “couldn’t be done” Mt. Kaala Road.   The accompanying photos were very interesting as were the anecdotes (e.g., tumbling, persistent tractors).  Also among the significant projects of his company was the Reef Runway at Honolulu International Airport.  Although never used as such, it was designed to also serve the space shuttle as an alternate landing option.  He was very involved in composting from the Sand Island wastewater plant, a very productive and useful procedure that was later kyboshed by a Honolulu mayor.

His diverse interests and projects also involved the realm of the arts and plant biology.  In response to the bane of amplified music and the resulting loss of the beautiful sounds of Hawaiian music, Richard began the Ka Hemini Ana programs in 1983.  With the support of Charles K. L. Davis, Nona Beamer and Keola Beamer, these competitions of amateur Hawaiian music performers (sans amplification) have thrived and are in their 26^th year.  For the Frank Fasi Building, he designed a mobile of manhole covers and chains --- that has yet to be constructed.  He developed water lily gardens, cross-pollinated and developed a new ginger flower, and helped produce a manuscript about the Island of Lanai.

Richard has served and currently serves on many boards in Honolulu.  His many creative and diverse contributions to the community via his varied projects have been significant and have improved the quality of life.  Perhaps not of the same caliber of worthiness, albeit of humorous note, was his challenge to Hallmark with a greeting card describing the seven days of creation from a dog’s point of view.

A standing ovation greeted Richard as he rose to accept the Rotary Treasure designation. He humbly thanked the club for the honor.

After personally congratulating Richard Towill, President Johns announced the donation of the library book “The Giving Tree” to Kalihi Uka Elementary School and adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy White, Scribe