What are you reading?

I just finished "Pauahi" by George Kanahele, which provides a lot of background on Bernice Pauahi Bishop. ... I'm also reading "Kekuhaupio" by Stephen Desha. That's about an individual who was Kamehameha I's warrior, designated to take care of Kamehameha, and tells his story. ... I also always go through Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech at the Lincoln Memorial. My responsibilities here at First Hawaiian Bank and Kamehameha Schools — one enhances the other — everything has to be based on a vision. As I read through Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, it's so vivid. As I read back about Pauahi, she too had a vision for the Hawaiian community. And Kekuhaupio, he always intrigued me ... but in all three contexts they present a long-term perspective and a similar set of values. ...

How did you discover them?

I was raised around the Hawaiian culture from a very young age. Everyone I knew knew of Kekuhaupio. He was a strong person and very influential. ... That's what prompted me to read more about him ... "Pauahi" was given to me. The day I was selected as trustee, Chairman Ng said, you might want to read this book. ... It's intriguing to read about an individual at her young age, able to have the foresight, and to see what's come about as a result of her and her husband's willingness to make that happen.

Does reading about their values guide you through the wake of recent legal battles and your learning curve as a new trustee?

It does. ... All good leaders are values-based. So when I go back and look at examples of great leaders over time, not only restricted to here in Hawai'i, but all over the world, there are consistent traits of leadership. All leaders have to be humble, they have an aggressive side and are confident, but you recognize that your success is going to come through lifting up others. ... The challenges now force Kamehameha Schools to look at these values and embrace them. We're an educational organization but we're also here to care for the Hawaiian community as a whole.