She's dedicated to community, but a mom first
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer
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On the day Elizabeth Hata-Watanabe was named HawaiiMoms.com 2008 Mom of the Year, she had to rush to finish her son's birthday goodie bags, and then set in motion plans for a fundraiser to help a softball team get to a Neighbor Island tournament.
This was not an unusual day for Hata-Watanabe. At 36, the West O'ahu resident fills her days with caring for Kevin, 3, and by night she's the owner of The O Lounge, a club in the old China House that specializes in corporate and private events for large and small groups.
The name comes from her affinity with designs of the opulent opium dens of yesteryear, she said. But when it came to actually costing out the decorations for her club, she realized it was too expensive and stuck with the O.
"I provide a venue at no cost," Hata-Watanabe said. "And the groups get to keep 100 percent of the proceeds. It's my generation's obligation to come back to the community."
Four nights a week, her club is used as a venue for fundraisers for softball and baseball teams and cancer victims. She averages two fundraisers a month. The other three days (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) her club is a dancing and drinking venue.
Life is not just one-dimensional work for Hata-Watanabe, who was chosen Mom of the Year by readers via an online vote. She's a mom first.
The Mom of the Year event marks the first anniversary of The Honolulu Advertiser's Hawaii Moms.com Web site, which is devoted to mothers and has about 4,000 registered users. The site includes discussion boards, the latest parenting news, a place for posting pictures, and spotlights on Moms of the Week.
Advertiser editors selected the 10 finalists for Mom of the Year. "We picked Elizabeth (as a finalist) because she's an unbelievable giver," said Diane Seo, a HawaiiMoms.com editor. "She's part of so many important community organizations, and she's especially dedicated to helping women and children. She's a mom, business owner and community organizer. ... That's a hefty load, but Elizabeth is definitely the type of person who not only can handle it, but excel at all three."
Hata-Watanabe also sits on the board of directors of the YWCA and Manoa Valley Theatre, and was the spokeswoman for the National Kidney Foundation and the Honolulu chapter chairwoman for the Christmas Wish program that feeds homeless children and families statewide.
"It's really strange," Hata-Watanabe said. "The more I give, the more I want to give. Everyone helps everyone else. ... I recognize that I've been given everything I have, so I feel that I should give. It's a good feeling to see how giving makes a difference to someone."
She opened The O Lounge in 2004, thinking it would be a great occupation for a mother. What she didn't realize was that neither motherhood nor entrepreneurship were part-time occupations, she said.
"I love watching my son grow and adapt to the various transitional stages," Hata-Watanabe said in her profile. "My absolute favorite pastime is being active with my son.
"My mom has always been like that ... generous. She is my No. 1 fan at a time when I didn't believe in myself, she was there."
HAWAIIMOMS.COM
Editor's note: Every week HawaiiMoms.com honors mothers who have made their mark. More than 10 outstanding Moms of the Week, chosen from a field four times that number, were celebrated in a recent Ala Moana gala. Today, for Mother's Day, our Mother of the Year takes the spotlight.
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Hata-Watanabe's essay
My 3-year old son Kevin is a miracle baby. During my first trimester I was restricted to bed rest and hemorrhaged for the remainder of my pregnancy. I didn't think I would make it to full term, but baby and I fought and beat the odds. Today, I look at Kevin and realize he is such an incredible blessing in my life. That adversity provided me with a newfound purpose — to give whole-heartedly and unconditionally. Now I live to give, because I love to give. Kevin has been my inspiration to extend much-needed compassion to women and children through advocacy and fundraising. I own a nightclub called The O Lounge. It's a perfect venue for an assortment of functions and the home of my bi-annual Women's Closet and Children's Closet. Through both events, we raise awareness of issues ranging from domestic violence and adoption, to homelessness and breast cancer. With the overwhelming community response over the last three years, we have donated thousands of dollars to a variety of organizations and individuals. This year, with Kevin in mind, I am taking another positive step by creating a nonprofit foundation aimed at helping women in transition and children facing hardships. This foundation will deepen my commitment to the community. Being a parent is a tremendous responsibility. I believe it doesn't come simply by having a child; it is an earned privilege on borrowed time. By looking beyond my family, I hope to teach My Little Miracle. "We must become the change we want to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi |
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.
