By Rachel Eakin (née Choy)
“…so much of what I needed to know in the world beyond my family in Hawaii, I learned from George.”
Royanne, on who had a strong impact on her
Serteens Alumna, and current Honolulu Sertoma Club VP of Membership, Rachel Eakin (née Choy) interviewed a group of stellar alumni, who will be making appearances throughout the next few editions of this Newsletter. Mahalo to Rae!
First up is none other than Royanne Doi (née Kashiwahara). Whether you know her as the person who taught you not to wear white after labor day, as a fierce and successful lawyer, or as your fellow Genuinely Enthusiastic Member, now is a great time to reminisce with this well-known Sertoman.
Rae: How did you first hear/learn about Serteens? Why did you choose to join Serteens?
Royanne: Back then, George came to the school personally to recruit for the club. I believe the counselors sent out an invitation and we would show up at some conference room. He talked about the benefits and I decided to check out the meeting.
Rae: What was your first impression of George? What did George say the benefits were?
Royanne: To be honest, I don’t remember. It must have been good enough for me to want to check it out.
Rae: What is your earliest memory in Serteens?
Royanne: George would ask a question of the month every meeting and whoever got the correct answer got a $10 bill. And then he would talk about our $100 brains.
Rae: How long were you a member? If you served as an officer or on a committee, which positions, and why?
Royanne: I was a genuinely enthusiastic member for 3 years and never held an office.
Rae: Who was your favorite advisor and why?
Royanne: George was the only advisor at my time so I choose him.
Rae: How many members were in the club during your time? Did you become an Advisor at some point?
Royanne: I don’t remember how many were in the club while I was a Serteen. I only remember 20 Serteens riding in a passenger van meant for 10. I was an advisor for only 2 years from 1989-1991 when I briefly came home to live in Hawaii – before I got married.
Rae: What did you realize about Serteens when you graduated?
Royanne: What I did NOT realize is that George would be in my life for 30 more years till he passed away in 2011.
Rae: How did George impact your life during those 30 years post-Serteens? Do you have some specific stories you’re comfortable sharing?
Royanne: I’m not willing to share those stories in writing at this time. I share a lot at KMC. I will say that 95% of my corporate success can be attributed to things I learned from George. Also, he and my Dad were the two most influential men in my life and they died within the same week of each other.
Rae: What were your favorite activities in Serteens?
Royanne: KMC, Appreciation Banquet, jacuzzi parties, Alumni Reunion Holiday party.
Rae: Where were these jacuzzi parties and why do we no longer have those?
Royanne: The jacuzzi parties were in George’s jacuzzi in his Aiea home. Ask Eric Sadoyama. He has some great stories. We stopped when George sold his Aiea house.
Rae: When were these Alumni Reunion Holiday parties, and how do we get them started back up again?
Royanne: Used to be during Christmas when all the former Serteens were back in Hawaii from the Mainland, we would all get together and hang out for an evening. It was so fun. I thought they still do them. You might ask Dave Tejada.
Rae: What were some memorable seminars or takeaway messages from Serteens?
Royanne: Fantasy Island.
Rae: My strongest memories of Fantasy Island involve you. That’s all I’ll say on that.
Royanne: Wow!! You must share the next time we see each other in person. You were always one of my special ones. I’m so happy to see you doing all this great work with the Honolulu Sertoma Club. Really, really happy.
Rae: What were some of your fondest memories with other Serteens, whether in club activities or outside of official activities?
Royanne: Warm fuzzies on barf bags, stargazing and howling at the moon, Pop-Tart picnic and deep conversations at KMC, ballroom dance lessons with handsome St. Louis seniors guys, getting sunburned at the fundraising car wash.
Rae: What did you and your Serteen friends do for fun?
Royanne: We used to have “progressive” dinner. We would all show up at someone’s house for appetizers, then jump in cars and drive to someone else’s house for main course and drive to another house for dessert. I shudder to think about the potential liabilities for a gang of kids driving around but it was fun.
Rae: Describe one or two Serteen Alumni who had a strong impact on you. Explain why they affected you so much.
Royanne: There are many special Serteens who have a special place in my heart because I met them when I was older as an advisor or KMC guest. (You know who you are!) Of course, all of the Serteens advisors who dedicate their time, talent and treasure to keeping the Serteens Club alive and thriving are also so very special to me. We have our inside jokes and they have been there for me in good times and bad. But I would have to say that George had the biggest impact on my life and my corporate success. I am the first corporate warrior in my family and so much of what I needed to know in the world beyond my family in Hawaii, I learned from George.
Rae: What were your goals, hopes and dreams while you were a Serteen member? Did those change while in Serteens?
Royanne: Before Serteens, I wanted to be a judge. Once I got to Serteens, I realized that I need to be a lawyer first. Serteens gave me the inspiration as a local public school grad, to consider going to school on the Mainland. So the plan became to go to college on the Mainland, and get into one of the top 10 public law schools in the country (because I would have to pay for it on my own). My goals didn’t change but they got more detailed while I was in Serteens.
Rae: How did Serteens prepare you for your career? For life in general?
Royanne: I had a planbook, a definite major purpose, a personal creed, a 10 years plan – all from George.
Rae: Do you see a difference between those who update their planbooks annually and those who never kept one up? What is your advice to Alumni who feel they have not reached their goals or who are not sure what they want to be doing in 10 years?
Royanne: Personally, I have seen a big difference in the ones who created a planbook in the first place. I know a lot of alumni who re-visit their planbook and get back on track over the years. I do have a caveat that I believe there are about 10% of the people who are what I would call “intellectual butterflies” or “career hippies” where they don’t have a plan and never really needed a plan. They are the fortunate few, who just wander through life, and they float from one experience to the next. They have amazing careers and unbelievable lives, very different from most people and curating a very special collection of skills. All seemingly done without much effort or planning. But those of you who are not part of these amazing 10% people, having a planbook is very helpful.
Rae: How do you think Serteens is different now compared to when you were a member?
Royanne: When I was a Serteen, George shared the planbook concept with me and only me. I thought that it was unfair for George to just choose one or two Serteens a year to mentor and get the benefit of this planbook idea. So eventually, I convinced him that he should share it with all Serteens. Only 2% of the 2% would probably finish, but it was up to each Serteen (and not just George’s whim) to decide to take this idea and run with it.
Rae: What advice do you have for current Serteens?
Royanne: A man who chooses not to read is at the same level as the man who cannot read. You have a choice to do the planbook or not. Do it.
Rae: What is one piece of advice you remember from George? Why is it so important to you personally?
Royanne: I have carried with me my entire life – 35 things that George told me. If you want to know, ask.
Rae: How do you want Alumni to contact you if they want to ask? Email?
Royanne: Email is roydoi@yahoo.com.
Rae: What advice do you have for other Serteen Alumni?
Royanne: For the older crowd who graduated before 1991, come back to the Serteen family and see what you are missing. There is a lot going on and you should be part of it.
Rae: What can Sertoma Officers do to help invite the pre-1991 Alumni back into the Serteen family?
Royanne: I have been meaning to do a Facebook search organized by high school and year of graduation. I’ve just been crazy busy this last month. Wanna help me?
Rae: What do you believe are the keys to success?
Royanne: Persist until you succeed. Greet this day with love in your heart and none upon whom you call can defend against its force.
Rae: What do you want most people to remember about you?
Royanne: I think I want it to be ballroom dancing with George and how to give great massages. But I bet it will be prom etiquette.
Rae: I remember you for Fantasy Island, ballroom dancing with George, and massages. Also, advice to carry a nice purse and wear nice shoes and jewelry because that’s how others will judge you when you are traveling or shopping.
Rae: Will you attend the Anniversary/Reunion events in person?
Royanne: Yes
Rae: Would you be interested in leading something with ballroom dancing or massages for the Anniversary/Reunion?
Royanne: Sure
Be sure to catch Royanne and other fantastic alumni at our upcoming Reunion event in 2023!