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Korean Adoptees of Hawai'i, Inc. (KAHI), is a nonprofit member organization that serves as a resource and network for adult Korean adoptees living in Hawai'i. KAHI members meet twice monthly for meetings and activities such as discussion forums, informational workshops, film screenings, cultural education, community events, social gatherings and other relevant happenings.
Current members of the KAHI 'ohana represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds including kama'aina as well as newcomers. We have among our membership college students, artists, musicians, parents, teachers and business professionals, among many others.
Learn more about KAHI's membership structure here.
Officers and members of the board of directors volunteer their time apart from their jobs, families and academic responsibilities to help shape KAHI's goals and direction, in order to best serve the needs of the group.
Members of the Board are selected at the organizations Annual Meeting of Members usually held in September of each year. All are welcome to attend, although only paid members are entitled to vote. |
Board of Directors |
Dr. Amanda Renee Kim Eun-Ja Lowrey Silva, President
Amanda joined KAHI in 2007. Amanda has been an active member of the international Korean adoptee community for several years. She co-founded Chicago Korean Adoptees in 2003 and Helping Adoptees Lead Together in 2004, and has volunteered at Camp Pride for Korean adoptee teens in Illinois since 2002. |
The President will preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors. Subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the President will have general charge and care of thebusiness and property of the Corporation, will appoint and discharge employees and agents of the Corporation and determine their compensation, will vote the stock of other companies which is owned by the Corporation and will do and perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. When authorized by the Board of Directors to do so, the President may delegate to one of the Vice Presidents the whole or any part of the general management and care of the business and property of the Corporation, including the employment and discharge of agents and employees. |
Lisa "Charlie" Ritts, Vice President
Charlie has been a member of KAHI since 2006.
Currently a high school history teacher in Honolulu,
Charlie earned her master's degree in Korean studies
from the University of Washington. She has traveled to
both North and South Korea, and has called O'ahu home
since 2002. |
It will be the duty of the Vice President(s) to assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President or whenever the office of President is vacant. Each Vice President will do and perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. |
Peter Savasta, Treasurer
Peter
is a founding member of KAHI and a professional Web developer. Peter moved to O'ahu in 2001 from his home state of New York, where he was a founding member and former president of Also-Known-As, an organization for intercountry adoptees and members of the international adoption community in New York City.
Peter has served on adult adoptee advisory boards for Dillon International in Tulsa Oklahoma. He has volunteered at Korean Adoptee culture camps in Tulsa, OK (Dillon); Albany, NY (Camp Mujigae); Eugene, OR (Holt); and Annapolis, MD (Adoption Service and Information Agency).
In addition he has presented at conferences such as Adoptive Parents Conference (NY), Korean American Students Conference (Yale, Rutgers), Lambda Adoptive Families (NJ). |
The Treasurer shall oversee the financial and accounting matters of the Corporation, including custody of all money, valuable papers and documents of the Corporation, which shall be kept for safekeeping in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors, and the Treasurer shall see that the funds of the Corporation are expended as directed by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer will cause to be kept a book or books setting forth a true record of the receipts and expenditures, assets and liabilities, losses and gains of the Corporation and will, when and as required by the Board of Directors, render a statement of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required to do so by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer will give a bond in such amount and with such surety as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors for the faithful discharge of the duties of the office. The Treasurer will also do and perform such additional duties as may be requested by the Board of Directors. In the absence or disability of the Treasurer, the duties of the office will be performed by the Secretary or by an Assistant Treasurer. |
Kristina Alger, Secretary
Born in Incheon and adopted to Portland, Oregon, Kristina moved to Hawai'i 3 1/2 years ago. She has visited Korea twice and served as a counselor at Holt Heritage Camp in Oregon, Nebraska and New Jersey. A graduate of Oregon State University, Kristina now works as a kindergarten teacher in Honolulu. |
The Secretary will be ex-officio secretary of the Board of Directors, will give or cause to be given all required notices of meetings of the members and the Board of Directors, will record the proceedings of meetings of the members and the Board of Directors in a book or books to be kept for that purpose, and will perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time bythe Board of Directors and by the President. The Secretary will have custody of the seal, if any, of the Corporation. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, the duties of the office will be preformed by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary. |
Sung Jin "Jinny" Hall, Director
Jinny is a founding member of KAHI and teaches secondary school English. She grew up on O'ahu and on the mainland. After college she spent two years teaching English in China. Since moving back to Hawai'i in 2000, she has again been enjoying the diversity found in the islands, including that of Korean adoptees who grew up in Hawai'i and elsewhere. |
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Advisors |
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Ji In Lugtu, Former Vice President
Ji In
is a founding member of KAHI and a freelance writer and editor. Ji In grew up in Iowa and lived in Minnesota for several years before she and her spouse moved to windward O'ahu. Ji In reunited with her Korean family in 2002 during her first return trip to Korea. |
Advisors provide guidance and advice from time to time to the Board. Advisors do not have voting rights on the Board of Directors |
Katie Putes, Former President (ex-officio non, voting member of the Board of Directors)
Katie is a founding member of KAHI and a senior at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, majoring in English literature. Katie, who grew up on O'ahu, studied at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, in 2005. During that time, she reunited with her birth family. |