Pearl City Neighborhood Board (PCNB) Chaiman Larry Veray served his community as a special guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Pearlridge (RCOP) lunch meeting held at the Pearl City Shopping Center conference on Friday, October 4, 2024. Mr. Veray has served as the PCNB Chairman for the past eight years and has been a board member of the PCNB for eighteen years. He has recently been appointed as Commissioner of the Neighborhood Board Commission for the City and County of Honolulu. Mr. Veray has lived in Pearl City for 34 years. He is also a decorated 24 year Navy Veteran (retired) and has recently retired as a U.S. Federal Contractor.
Mr. Veray spoke on Friday about top community issues affecting our Pearl City community that are currently being addressed and debated regarding homelessness, crime, speeding, fireworks, safety in around our schools. Mr. Veray is also the President of the non-profit organization Fronds of Sunset Memorial Cemetery and brought us all up to date with plans to secure the cemetery via a partnership with the State of Hawaii and private and community organizations. It is a big and ambitious project that will focus on clearing the homeless from the cemetery grounds, erecting security fences and gates, and securing additional funding for cemetery repairs and beautification projects that also involves support from community organizations and their volunteers.
PONI PU’UWAI – PURPLE HEART CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
Mr. Veray was also one of three community members to receive the Rotary Club of Pearlridge Poni Pu’uwai – Purple Heart Certificate of Recognition Award on Friday, October 4, 2024 that recognizes and honors individuals, businesses, and organizations:
“for their committed support and service to our Great Local & Military Communities of Aiea, Pearl City and Pearl Harbor”
Also recognized as Poni Pu’uwai – Purple Heart Certificate of Recognition recipients are Emily and Grant Kuraoka from ABC Corporation/Hawaiian Soap Factory. Emily and Grant are co-chairs for the Rotary Club of Pearlridge Annual Dictionary 5000 and Good Citizen Awards Program that delivers over 900 free dictionaries and 31 Good Citizen Awards to third graders and their teachers representing 15 public and private elementary schools in the Pearl City and Aiea communities. The RCOP Dictionary 5000 Program supports our Military dependent students with free dictionaries and Good Citizen Awards in several of the 15 schools in the program. Emily and Grant are the Heart and Soul of the program and have a great connected with the third graders and their teachers.
The Rotary Club Pearlridge Poni Pu’uwai – Purple Heart Certificate of Recognition Program is co-chaired by Dick Mosko, Clarenc De Lude, and Barry Villamil.
The Rotary Club of Pearlridge also welcomed special guest Ann Webb who was visiting from the Rotary Club of Bellevue (Washington). The RCOP and Ann also traded club banners. It was a great visit filled with Rotarian friendship and fellowship through the bond and spirit of Aloha.
Service Above Self
Videos and Photos by Barry Villamil
