Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 1, 1 January 1997 — From politics to canoeing — Rodenhurst provides backbone support [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

From politics to canoeing — Rodenhurst provides backbone support

by Deborah L. Ward In every family, in every organization there is someone who keeps track of things, knows what's going on and what needs to be done. Gladys Ewalani Rodenhurst, in a long career melding the secretarial profession, politics, Hawaiian affairs and family involvement, has eome to epitomize

this talent. A long-time member of Professional Secretaries International (Rodenhurst was named secretary of the year in 1986), Rodenhurst has been right-hand woman to many influential leaders in Hawai'i — David Bent, city urban renewal coordinator under Mayor Neal Blaisdell, DHHL deputy director John Thompson (under the Executive Director Dan Ainoa), HGEA executive director David

Trask, Senator Malama Solomon, Rep. Annelle Amaral, and Joan Yim, Democratic Party nahonal committeewoman. Her knowledge of government and departments was a valuable asset to employers, who sought her out even after she retired. Now she is aide to OHA Trustee Moses Keale, a part-time position she shares with daughter Holly Sardinha. Outside of her long professional career in government and politics, Rodenhurst and her husband Walter Rodenhurst, Jr. share in, and enjoy many civic activities. Both have long been active and wellknown members of the Hawaiian civic chib movement. She was a junior civic club member at age 18, then joined the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu. In 1967 they founded the King Kamehameha Hawaiian Civic Club with David and Pat Trask. Walter was the first charter president. Civic clubs are dedicated to perpetuation of

• Hawaiian culture, and to raise funds to provide scholarships for Hawaiian youth. With about 65 members, King Kamehameha Hawaiian civic club has many activities year-round to raise funds for scholarships for college-bound students, and for children attending the Kamehameha Schools' ExpIorations summer program. The club has won many trophies for floats entered in the annual King ^ Kamehameha Day parade.

When the Princess Ka'iulani Hawaiian Civic Club was formed in 1978 by young Hawaiians, Rodenhurst joined to encourage their efforts, and she still holds dual memberships. Daughter-in-law Rona Rosco Rodenhurst was first charter president of the club and taught Hawaiian language to club members at monthly meetings. The Rodenhursts are still active with the Aloha Week Festivals. He was president of the Aloha Festivities in 1979, chairman for

many years of the Moloka'i to O'ahu eanoe races and in 1980 was invited to go to Tahiti to teach Hawaiian eanoe races.

They were involved

in eanoe racing because it was an exciting sport that kept youths active through positive teamwork. She was secretary for Hawaii Canoe Racing Association for many years. Walter has also been active with the Lions club since 1961. They are long-time members of St.

Andrew's Cathedral, where she was a member of the Hawaiian choir.

With her characteristic warmth and good humor, Rodenhurst says, "Everything we were involved in, our kids were involved in too — Aloha Week, politics, civic club movement, canoeing. It was a family affair." Raised in Kalāwahine, and graduated from Roosevelt High School, Gladys Rodenhurst says, "We have tried to raise our children the way we were raised, with a good education," she says. "Our Hawaiian values are the same." Their children are grown, but the family remains close: son Walter "Rusty" Rodenhurst

III, whose wife Rona is OHA's Education Officer; daughter Tirrellyn Mahina Perreira; and Holly Ann Laua'e Sardinha. They have five granddaughters and one grandson. The oldest granddaughter is Brittney Kameleonalani Kapaona, who was a participant since

the first OHA Aha Opio Youth Legislature and who has been 'Aha 'Opio summer coordinator for the last two years.

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f Hapapa Momona is a new Ka Wai Ola O OHA feature showcasing people alallla from the Hawaiian community making a difference in the lives of others. Call 594-1980 with suggestions for future profiles. , uwpf

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