Page 5 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - March 2, 2022

Vares-Lum: A Builder Of Bridges, Relationships
FROM PAGE 4
MARCH 2, 2022 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK 5
commissioned as a second lieutenant, entering active duty as a military intelligence officer. Her first of many overseas assignments was to Germany during the Cold War.
continues. “If we understand more, then maybe we’ll think of the possibilities rather than the limitations. I feel like having those relationships with amazing people that I’ ve got to work with over the years helped me to realize that I don’t need to limit myself in these boxes.”
Asia and what she calls “the blue continent” or the Pacific, as well as spoke on key issues including leadership and mentorship, and women, peace and security. Following her retirement last June, she assumed her posi- tion at East-West Center in January.
“It was East and West Germany when I was there and ... my first assignment was as a fire support intelligence officer for the 3rd Infantry Division Artillery unit. There were very few females back then,” she explains. “In the ’80s-’90s, there were many restrictions on women in terms of what kind of roles we could take. I worked as one of the few female officers in that unit, but it taught me a lot.”
n the years following, she came back to her island home to join the Hawai‘i National Guard, where she was a part of the 29th Infantry Brigade. In 2004, the unit was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom 3
Despite East-West Center’s male-dominated history, its newest president, Suzanne Vares-Lum, is quite comfortable being the first woman to lead the institution forward.
“In 1960, this center was born out of this era of post-World War II — which had sig- nificant consequences — Korean War and a buildup into the Vietnam War for the United States. It really was born out of this idea that the United States, Asia and the Pacific needed to understand one another more, and we could do this if there were more people-to-people relationships. If more people understood one another’s nations, cultures and how to ex- change, we could solve conflicts, historical grievances, challenges or crises together.”
At the inaugural ceremony, Vares-Lum received a lauhala mat that symbolizes “responsibility for a community that’s woven together by many strands, as well as a place where people can sit together to build a better world.” The event’s theme, meanwhile, was ka ulana ‘ana i ka piko (in weaving, you begin at the center).
Vares-Lum continued to advance — and break barriers — and eventually worked her way into leadership positions, never paying much attention to the barking dogs. She cred- its much of her success to the bridges she built along the way, perhaps foreshadowing the du- ties she would undertake decades later.
— the first time it was called upon for combat since Vietnam.
should do everything in our power to prevent using the element of national power in the mil- itary, and ensure that we’ve done all things possible — whether it’s dialogue, education or exchange — to ensure that we have that understanding.
At the core of her mission, Vares-Lum shared in her opening speech that she hopes to collectively accomplish combat- ing the effects of the pandemic and climate change; support effective governance, public accountability and human rights; and create new knowledge and foster new ideas to promote freedom, prosperity, peace and dignity.
“I had to work through understanding that I had something to contribute,” she says. “I built a network of friends, many of them male, that encouraged me. I had mentors that I sought out who were willing to see beyond the exterior or how I was born. They were able to see that I had something to offer and to help better the organization.
Thinking back on her time in the Middle East, Vares-Lum says, “In terms of a number, there were dozens of attacks a day across Iraq, and at least four to five times a week, we had indirect fire from rockets to Balad because we really didn’t have a very good strategy. As a result of that, the 29th Infantry Brigade lost 18 in that whole year of deployment. One was one of my own soldiers, Sgt. Deyson Cariaga. He was not even 21.”
“Being a daughter of this region, I felt like I could connect very well with our re- gional brothers and sisters, you could say,” says the ‘Aiea High School graduate.
“I think building relationships is key, which really brings me back to the (East-West) Cen- ter, right? By building relationships, you can have the courage to overcome what people think and the boxes that people want to put you in, or even cultural boxes that we want to put people in throughout the region,” she
“Somebody asked me, being the president of East-West Center — a place where it is neutral ground to have dialogues about issues that relate to the region — if having a military officer in this position seems counterintuitive. But, really, if we think about it, a military of- ficer who has seen the consequences and cost of war would say, just as I would say, that we
or the last segment of her military ca- reer, Vares-Lum moved on to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, where she cultivated key relationships locally, in
the barking dogs can muster.
By witnessing the ramifications of warfare firsthand, Vares-Lum offers a perspective to the center that it hasn’t quite seen before.
Staff members of East-West Center beam with nothing shy of admiration for Va- res-Lum, who’s known by most as Suzy, and explain how she’s “hit the ground running.” And when all has been said and done, there’s no doubt the feats Vares-Lum will carry out are going to be louder than any noise
# hawaiianrealty.com • hawaiianrealty.com • hawaiianrealty.com • hawaiianrealty.com • hawaiianrealty.com • hawaiianrealty.com #
hawaiianrealty.com 800-667-5028 ext. 8122
Denise S. Nakanishi
RB-17031, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRS
“Major Mom is a Major Difference”
Buying something under $25,000 (yes, it’s possible)? If so, the State requires the inclusion of a two
page form called a Plain Language Addendum.
Why $25,000? You got me! It’s been that way for
at least 32 years. Maybe it’s meant to educate an unsophisticated/novice buyer or perhaps it was instituted so long ago that $25,000 was the norm. One thing I do know is that even seasoned buyers and sellers will likely find something among the 74
in an offer and a purchase contract. As complete as the list may seem, there are a few terms NOT included that might be very important to your purchase. Ever notice/see the public announcements about completion of real estate in the classifieds? Commonly referred to as the “NOC” (pronounced knock), it’s meant to put sub-contractors on notice that they have 45 days to file a claim against the owner or contractor for monies still due them. When a home is sold prior to the expiration of the 45-day notice period, escrow and title may impose a waiting period especially if
a licensed contractor is not involved. There may be
a work-around, but you need to know to ask. Those buying new construction should always ask for a copy o f t h e N O C t o i n s u r e i t wa s p o s t e d . Wi t h o u t i t , y o u may find yourself faced with owing a sub-contractor. Within the body of the NOC is notice regarding the name of the general contractor or if the property was built with an owner-builder exemption. Remember, a home built with an owner-builder exception cannot be sold or leased for one year. Not clear if it’s a year from
posting of the notice or a year from final inspection. I vote final inspection. General contractors are required to warrant the home from one year from completion. There is no such requirement for an owner-builder, hence, the genesis of the one year holding period. Also, left undefined by statute (warranty is based on case law, not statute) is the date when the warranty should begin. Logically, beginning a warranty before occupancy doesn’t make any more sense than beginning your refrigerator warranty before you buy
it and yet most agents (and probably the contractor’s board) generally state the date is upon completion.... whatever that means. For this reason, it’s best to state your expectation in your purchase contract. So, now you know what you didn’t know you didn’t know and no matter how much your purchase, study a copy of the Plain Language Addendum but be sure ask your agent if there might be other terms you need to know that relate to your real estate transaction!
Blog forward at www.hawaiianrealtyhomes.com
STUFF YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU DIDN’T KNOW
s t t e e d d t t e e r r m ms s t t o o a a d d d d t t o o t t h h e e i i r r r r e e a a l l e e s s t t a a t t e e
a a b b o o u u t t c c o o m mm mo o n n e e l l e e m me e n n t t s s a a n n d d l l i i m mi i t t e e d d
common elements? Many states have doc stamps associated with a sale. In Hawaii, it’s a conveyance tax. What about a preliminary title report or risk of loss? It’s such a comprehensive list that many companies include it with all their purchase contracts...a good reminder that there’s a difference
l
l
i
i
s
v
v
o c c a a b b u u l l a a r r y y. . D D o o y y o o u u k k n n o o w w t t h h e e d d i i f f f f e e r r e e n n c c e e
between an amendment and an addendum or how real property differs from personal property? How
o
l majormom@ilhawaii.net
c
c
e
el
ll
9
93
36
6-5
51
10
00
0
Unique Farming Opportunity
NEW LISTING!
Ka‘u coffee area, 8.95ac, Cloud’s Rest, magical mountain views, near beach, golf & hiking
MLS #658476 $182K
FIND MY COLUMN EVERY SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. Watch “HAWAII LIFE” on HGTV!
h h a a w wa i a i a i n i a r e n a r l e t y a . c l o t y m . c • o h m a w • a i h i a a n w r e a a i l i t a y . n c o r e m a l t y . c o m
hawaiianrealty.com • hawaiianrealty.com