Page 4 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - July 27, 2022

4 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK JULY 27, 2022
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to be a voice for the neighbor islands as the state’s next lieutenant governor.
STORY BY
Hawai‘i Island Midweek staff
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Summertime reminds Sherry Menor-Mc- Namara of one of her
if they didn’t have a lot, they’ d give whatever was on their farm to those who needed it.”
to make sure all voices are heard.
favorite childhood memo- ries: visiting Grandpa Angelo and Grandma Paulina at their Pāhoa farm. She remembers the beautiful anthuriums and being surrounded by tanger- ine, mountain apple and ‘ulu trees — and how all of those living things were the culmi- nation of her grandparents’ hard work.
That’s the heart she wants to lead Hawai‘i with as the state’s next lieutenant gover- nor, and aspires to move one step closer after the prima- ries on Aug. 13.
“Sometimes decisions are too Honolulu centric,” she says. “I have a desire to make Hawai‘i a better place for all of us, and it’s the val- ues I grew up with that will help me do that. I’ve applied them to every job I’ve had.”
Never one to shirk hard work herself, a young Menor-McNamara would help crack macadamia nuts and then accompany her grandparents to town, where they’d sell the day’s wares to local families.
The Hilo native is the only nominee on the ticket who grew up on a neighbor is- land, and hopes to be a voice for the underrepresented if elected. And though she now calls O‘ahu home, her heart is and always will remain on Hawai‘i Island.
Lieutenant governor hopeful Sherry Menor-McNamara waves signs with the next generation of Hawai‘i’s leaders.
And that’s saying some- thing considering she’s worked at big-name com- panies like Sony Pictures Entertainment, Elton John Production and Estée Laud- er, as well as public service appointments in the office of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and the Executive Office of the President. Most re- cently, she’s brought those core values to her position
“They were so communi- ty-focused,” she says. “Even
“What I admire about Sherry is that she never for- got where she came from,” shares Waiākea High School classmate Neil Azevedo.
PHOTO COURTESY SHERRY4LG
“Even from small-kid time, we all knew that she would grow to be successful and make a difference for our
state. She understands our community because she was raised with us. She will fight for our community because
she is one of us.”
As a representative for
the entire state of Hawai‘i, Menor-McNamara wants
SEE PAGE 5