Now accepting nominations for

2024 Outstanding Women Leaders of the Year

nomination period : July 1, 2024 -September 30, 2024

We are now accepting nominations for the OWL Outstanding Woman Leaders of the Year Awards. In keeping with OWL's original purpose of bringing together the public and private sectors, we will present 2 awardees, one in the public sector and one in the private sector. Criteria to be honored includes excellent leadership in one’s profession, in community service, and as a role model for other women. The OWL Woman of the Year nominee’s must be an OWL member in good standing for the calendar year in which the award is given. In order to nominate someone, that person must ALSO be a member in good standing for the calendar year (2024). Deadline to nominate is September 30, 2024.

 

2023 Outstanding Women Leaders of the Year

Lynn Araki-Regan OWL Outstanding Woman of the Year Public Sector 

Lynn is a stalwart example of a woman who has led a multi-faceted legal and solopreneur career with passion, extended herself to numerous civic and cultural groups and has risen as a leader in her chosen field of government service.

Lynn graduated from H.P. Baldwin High School on Maui and obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Santa Clara University. She received her law degree from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, where she served as Technical Editor of its Law Review, and received the American Jurisprudence Award for Best Advanced Legal Writing, and was the second place winner in the 1995 California Bankruptcy Journal National Writing Competition.

Lynn has over 20 years of experience in high level leadership positions, such as Grand Jury Counsel for the Circuit Court, County of Maui Budget Director, Chief of Staff for the Maui County Mayor’s Office, State of Hawaii Department of Transportation First Deputy Director, as well as in her current position as Branch Chief for the State Department of Taxation. As impressive as her work experience is, Lynn’s commitment to helping the community is just as exceptional. 

She has volunteered as a Board member for the Maui Humane Society, Kapiolani Health Foundation, Wailuku Hongwanji Mission, Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce , J. Walter Cameron Center, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, Hospice Maui, and the Hawaii State Bar Association. Lynn is a current Executive Board Member for Aloha Council Boy Scouts of America, Club Growth Director for Toastmasters International, President of the United Japanese Society of Hawaii and has just completed her term as President of the Kiwanis Club of Honolulu. She has been a member of Kiwanis International since 1996, and has participated and led countless community service projects.  Her passion and commitment to helping others, her selflessness and generosity towards not only her family, friends, colleagues and the community, but to any individual that is in need of assistance is unmatched. 

Kathy Perkins OWL Outstanding Woman of the Year Private Sector

Kathy Perkins, a doTERRA GOLD level Wellness Coach, is a Certified Essential Oil Specialist and is certified in AromaTouchTechnique Massage. Since joining doTERRA in 2015, she has built and leads a team of over 250 wellness advocates from across the US. Knowledge is power and she lives by the mantra: "The greatest medicine of all, is to teach people how not to need it.” As a lifelong learner, she is dedicated to learning about holistic health and is working on an additional certification from the Essential Oil Institute. In addition to graduating from the University of Hawaii Manoa with two bachelor’s degrees, she is also a graduate of the Bank Administration Institute-Graduate School of Retail Banking and the Pacific Century Fellows Program.

Kathy’s professional career in the business industry includes executive level experience in sales, customer service, marketing, and product development. She has over 20 years in the financial services industry where she has been recognized for leading her team to record sales and retention goals as well as Branch of the Year award.

During her time as Vice President of Membership at the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the organization was a finalist for the US Chamber’s national membership retention award. Volunteer work at St. Andrew’s Priory School led to 8 years at the school; as the Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations, then as the high school’s Career Coach.

Kathy has been involved in her community for decades. She has served in leadership positions on various non-profit boards and committees such as the Junior League of Honolulu, Hawaii Women’s Business Center, Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii, YWCA of Honolulu, St. Andrew’s Priory School Parent Teacher Fellowship and Rotary Club of Pearlridge and of course the Organization of Women Leaders.

Another passion of Kathy’s is as a crafter, working with needlework and fabric. She continues to sew lap blankets and scrub caps for local hospitals and during the pandemic, she sewed face masks for her family and friends, and community centers. Family is the most important thing to Kathy, and she cherishes the time spent with them, which includes weekly excursions with her ‘super senior’ mom.
 

 

2022 Outstanding Women Leaders of the Year

Tracey Bender OWL Outstanding Woman of the Year Public Sector

Tracey Bender is the Director of Development at Special Olympics Hawaii. Vivacious, dynamic, generous, and a dedicated professional all describe Tracey Bender.  But most of all she is humble, with a twinkle in her eye and always a big smile.

As Director of Programs and Special Events for the Special Olympics Hawaii, she develops recreation, sports education, social programs and special events for individuals and groups with and without disabilities.  Juggling different phases of not one event, but SEVEN major large fundraising events EVERY YEAR, she manages to “pull” them all off with what appears to be a breeze.  We all know that behind the scenes there is no such thing as a breeze, usually it is a hurricane. 

She is an energetic and effective public speaker that can motivate anyone to a call for action.  Formerly involved with the PTA, in her spare time, she is now coach, facilitator, and mentor to many of the athletes, not to mention successfully raising two boys of her own.  After all of this, she NEVER misses an OWL meeting.  Acknowledging Tracey would truly be recognizing all those, that work silently and successfully behind the scenes with grace, that deserve monumental distinction.

Deborah Uemura (Nakashima) OWL Outstanding Woman of the Year Private Sector

Deborah “Deb” Uemura (Nakashima) is an advocate for the underserved and has dedicated her career to helping others. Deb is currently a private contractor currently serving as the Program Manager for Work for Warriors Hawaii (formerly Pathways). 

Her advocacy to bring more awareness in Hawaii on the issues of pay-equity, anti-discrimination, and fair treatment stems from a long career in education that culminated into the work she does today. For 35 years, Deb has worked with individuals, families, and organizations on key educational and career programs. At the University level, she has created numerous college bound programming projects, led departments for student career development, has worked deeply in fund development operations and is best known for her work in the many college student service programs.

In 2016, she worked with key military leaders to create the Pathways Hiring and Retention Program (now Work for Warriors Hawaii) to support the Hawaii Army National Guard. She is responsible for the implementation and management of the career services program that focuses on the employment and retention of our Hawaii Guardsmen and women while also serving members of the other Reserve Components. The program has grown to include career development, placement and assistance to Hawaii Army National Guard members and their spouses and family members. 

With the national labor shortage at its peak, she continues to rally employers to connect with a key workforce program that serves part-time military (Guardsmen/Reservists) and those entering the workforce who have been challenged by life’s circumstances. She serves as a volunteer to the State Workforce Development Council’s Employer Engagement and Veterans Affairs committees and is a volunteer coordinator for the Employers Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) program of Hawaii. 

Her passions are numerous, and her civic work is woven deep in our community. Being a long-time resident of the State, Deb has contributed her management and community building and connecting skills across the board for State run programs, education, non-profit, and for-profit.

She is a member in good standing for the Organization of Women Leaders (OWL) and a long-time volunteer for the YWCA Oahu and The Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii Spalding Clubhouse. Her passion to connect people in positive ways has her working with many National and Oahu based organizations, individuals, families, and groups providing career and college services. She has taught communications and career skills at the university level and continues to teach in the community. 

Deb is a Certified Federal Job Search Trainer and Federal Career Coach and currently holds her Veterans at Work certification through the Society of Human Resource Managers Foundation. Member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the National Career Development Association, and NACADA - the Global Community for Academic Advising. 

Deb Nakashima has been a business consultant for 10 years, and prior to her current program management role supporting the HING, she held leadership positions with Hawaii Pacific Health as the Operations Manager, Philanthropy. She had a long term and progressive career with Hawaii Pacific

2021 Outstanding Women Leaders of the Year

Joy Kimura OWL Outstanding Woman of the Year Public Sector

Joy Kimura is the Government Affairs and Compliance Director at Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET). In this capacity, she advocates on issues such as affordable housing, construction, development, and renewable energy. Joy also conducts compliance investigations with government agencies and the Department of Labor on wage theft. Joy works very hard at Hawaii LECET to support including more women in Hawaii's construction industry.

Prior to this, Joy worked in several governmental positions including Legislative Assistant to the Hawaii Senate President; Assistant to the Executive Director of the Public Land Development Corporation at the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Economic Development Specialist at the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Legislative staff to Congressman Neil Abercrombie, U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C.; Assistant Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Washington D.C. Office; and Investigator with the U.S. Federal Probation Office.

In conjunction with the YWCA's Fernhurst Program, Joy assisted women that have transitioned into society after being incarcerated by helping them overcome barriers to employment and has actively encouraged them to consider careers in the construction industry. She was instrumental in connecting the Executive Director of the Oahu Workforce Development Board with officials at the California Prison Industry Authority and Hawaii State Department of Public Safety, where career training programs for women inmates are now being created.

Joy established the Society of Professional Advocates (SPA), a registered 501c3 entity, with the State's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. SPA encourages advocacy efforts that are strategic, yet support respectful discourse. Joy lived in Asia for 10 years, where she owned an educational business in Japan. She is a graduate of National Taiwan University’s International Chinese Language Program, and was the Global Marketing Manager for the internet-telecom company that created and patented Voice Over IP technology. Joy is also fluent in the Japanese and Mandarin Chinese languages.

In addition to OWL, Joy is a member of the following organizations: 

Kristine Altwies OWL Outstanding Woman of the Year Private Sector

Kristine Altwies is the executive director and CEO of Hawaii International Child (HIC) – aka A Family Tree, a licensed adoption agency here in Hawaii.  Kristine holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and is (slowly) working on her MBA in non-profit/public/organizational management. She is also a Pacific Century Fellow and joined the ranks of Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40.

When Kristine learned about HIC, it had run into trouble and was in the process of permanently closing its doors. Kristine asked if she could get involved. She saw HIC’s challenges as opportunities, and thus began building successful adoption programs in China and Russia. With Kristine at the helm, HIC placed more than 3,000 children into homes here in Hawaii and across the United States. Her success has been fueled by her ability to skillfully maneuver through a labyrinth of legal, social, and political systems and the ability to fearlessly tap into resources.  These accomplishments are testament to the vast and intricate web of connections, relationships, and resources Kristine has built over the years. Despite her numerous accomplishments, Kristine has never forgotten the humble beginnings and roots from which today’s A Family Tree was born. 

Kristine’s open and courageous heart is no better exemplified than in her own blended family.  An adoptive parent herself, Kristine knows firsthand all the work and emotions that go into adoption. In 2009, she decided to open her own home—and heart—to an infant daughter from China. Several years later, Kristine met an 11-year-old boy from China who needed an emergency family placement. She felt an instant connection, and moved ahead to adopt, thus growing her family to a total of five children. Regardless of how a child enters your life as a parent, the emotions are equally strong,” she says. “I love them with the same intensity, and I feel just as committed and just as surprised by each one, on a daily basis.” Kristine has learned and managed all of the emotions of building a family in which diversity is not always accepted or celebrated. As her personal journey attests, Kristine is the epitome of absolute credibility, genuine compassion, and unconditional love.

Kristine’s love for and dedication to her family and work helped pave the way for her involvement in community service. Kristine has spearheaded several important events for the adoption community, including an annual trolley ride through downtown Honolulu to see the Honolulu City Lights and an annual Moon Festival get-together for adoptees and their families during the Lunar New Year to celebrate cultural ties. She also mentors young professionals who aspire to serve the adoption community and speaks regularly about her personal adoption journey and opportunities to promote family wellness. HIC also relies heavily on community volunteers, whom Kristine personally oversees.