By Barry Villamil, President-Elect, Rotary Club of Pearlridge
Congratulations to Tom Coyne, President-Elect Rotary Club of Honolulu and club members for spearheading a very successful Honolulu Beer Festival fundraiser at the Bishop Museum’s Great Lawn on Saturday, June 22. It was a fun event attended by over 2000 participants. A portion of the proceeds from the Honolulu Beer Festival benefited the Rotary Club of Honolulu.
Several Hawaii District 5000 Rotary Clubs teamed up to man beer tents that featured dozens of Hawaii specialty beers. Rotary Club of Pearlridge Board member Randy Ching and me, Barry Villamil (2024-2025 President-Elect) represented our club and had an amazing time pouring two very popular beers, Mango Li Hing Mui and Ube Blue Bae. The Ube Blue Mae keg was the first to run out of beer in our tent at around 8:00pm.
The Honolulu Beer Festival was an amazing opportunity to support a fellow Hawaii Rotary District 5000 club in their fundraiser efforts that brought together Rotarians, island residents, businesses, and visitors to Hawaii for a fun time together while enjoying the Aloha spirit on the Great Lawn at Bishop Museum. First class beer selections, food, and entertainment complemented a well-run event.
As the night went on, the energy, inspiration, and camaraderie between Rotarians was overwhelming as we reunited with old friends while new friendships were born.
I have to say for Randy and me, what also made the event incredibly special was the friends we made from the community while serving beer throughout the four-hour event. Many of them wanted to know about the beer brands we were serving, which we had no idea but the beer name, and how everyone was complementing on how good it tasted as came up for a second round (we directed then to Google – Paradise Ciders).
They did ask us about Rotary, what is Rotary? We were ready, Rotary Club of Honolulu President-Elect Tom and his club provided cards with a QR code as well as QR codes provided on event posters throughout the event that connected directly to Rotary. Great Rotary branding tool and recruitment introduction for potential, future Hawaii Rotary District 5000 membership and supporters.
As I become President of the Rotary Club of Pearlridge on July 1, 2024, one of my top club goals for 2024-2025 is to connect with our Hawaii Rotary District 5000 clubs to collaborate together in the communities we serve through outreach projects and programs that collectively benefit each club via our unique partnerships and most importantly friendships that forever unite us as Hawaii and world changing Rotarians. Saturday’s Rotary Club of Honolulu, Honolulu Beer Festival Fundraiser is a testament to our commitment to working together as one towards a common goal.
The future looks bright for Hawaii Rotary District 5000 in 2024-2025 and beyond. When I attended PETS, President-Elect Training Seminar in February 2024 in Los Angeles, I spent three days with an outstanding group of President-Elect Rotarians from Hawaii.
Hawaii Rotary District 5000 President-Elect’s at PETS were engaging, smart, inspiring, and focused on building upon their experience, commitment, and leadership skills while leading their clubs as its President into the future. Their legacies will be partly defined by their heart and soul and success as a Rotarian President. We all agreed to work together and stay connected during 2024-2025 as Presidents.
Service Above Self
*My club, Rotary Club of Pearlridge meets Friday’s from 12:00pm-1:00pm at the Pearl City Shopping Center Conference Room Suite 110 located at 850 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782.
Photos and Video by Barry Villamil
