Darren T. Kimura

[UPDATE: We want to thank everyone who supported the pledge drive.  We had a record setting evening, at some points with every available phone being used!  Pictures below.  Please continue to support by using the website www.pbshawaii.org/donate ]

Dear Family and Friends,

As you may know, I’m on the Board of Directors of Hawaii’s only public television station, PBS Hawaii, which quickly returned to the airwaves after a major fire disabled the TV studio and caused other damage on November 18. The station has found ways to be fully operational while major repairs are made.

Our Board will carry on our tradition of a December Pledge Night this coming Sunday, December 4 at 7:00 pm. We’ll be “going live” from a borrowed studio in the same building.

I hope that you will call in to pledge your support for this remarkable nonprofit organization as I volunteer with my fellow PBS Hawaii Board members on the phone bank. The evening program features a concert in Central Park with amazing tenor Andrea Bocelli, an example of the high-quality programming on this trusted TV station.

These are times in which we all need to prioritize and focus our charitable giving, and PBS Hawaii remains one of my top priorities for the following reasons:

• With traditional media shrinking and gaps widening in news coverage, there has never been a greater need for PBS Hawaii’s trustworthy information and civil discourse.
• Amid cuts in education, the arts are often the first to leave the classroom.

• PBS Hawaii fills the void by providing compelling music, theater, dance and visual arts to those who might not ever have the opportunity to experience them otherwise; and as “free TV,” PBS Hawaii continues to deliver award-winning keiki programming that educates and enriches our next generations, including young children who cannot attend pre-school.

I’m asking you to phone 973-2222 from Oahu–or             800-565-5616       toll-free–and make a gift to support this great organization. Remember, tune in on Sunday evening, Dec. 4, at 7:00 pm. I look forward to hearing from you. Or go towww.pbshawaii.org/donate to give now.

Mahalo!
Darren

Marking the conclusion of weeklong activities for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Hawaii, a signing ceremony took place at the China Aloha Business Leaders’ night gala sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Bank of Hawaii. Honolulu City and County Mayor Peter Carlisle and others from the Hawaii-China delegation attended the event.

Left to Right: Shengri Zhang (Vice President, International Banking for Bank of Hawaii), Betty Hoang Brow (Executive Vice President, International Banking Division of Bank of Hawaii), Judy Carlisle, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu Peter Carlisle, Chen Zhengming (Chairman of Sichuan Dongjia Group), Darren T. Kimura (President and CEO Sopogy Inc), Ningjin Miao (2011 Narcissus Queen) Chen Ziwei (Chairwoman of Sichuan Dongjia Investment Company), Lau Gong (Advisor to Sichuan Dongjia Investment Company) Lau Gong (Advisor to Sichuan Dongjia Investment Company

Speaking from the 1800ʻs, Joseph Kepelino could not have envisioned the recent technological advancements taking place in Hawaiʻi and across the world. He did, however, accurately describe the inclination of Hawaiians to pursue new knowledge. The ʻAha Pūnana Leo preschools follow in this tradition by providing the cultural and educational foundation for a new generation of Hawaiian language speakers. It is with this strong cultural identity that Hawaiians continue to push the bounds of modern technology to preserve our natural resources. This short video, produced for the annual ʻAha Pūnana Leo fundraiser Neʻepapa, includes interviews with leaders of Hawaiʻiʻs sustainability movement such as Keiki-Pua Dancil, Richard Ha, Kekoa Kaluhiwa, Darren Kimura, and Kaʻiu Kimura.

Ahu Kupanaha Iā Hawaiʻi ʻImi Loa from Oiwi TV on Vimeo.

Ahu Kupanaha Iā Hawaiʻi ʻImi Loa from Oiwi TV on Vimeo.

Whole Foods Market did a segment on Solar Power where they featured First Solar and Sopogy. Our part of the interview begins at 4:47

ALOHACONNECTS.COM TO CONNECT HAWAII BUSINESSES TO APEC MEMBER ECONOMIES

This video shares the special “aloha” spirit of Hawaiʻi in a way that has rarely been done before. Produced by Pono Shim and Don Mapes for non-profit Enterprise Honolulu, the video is to promote the islands as a special place of spirit and innovation. The video is based on the teaching of Aunty Pilahi Paki who was called the keeper of Hawaiʻiʻs secrets. Although she passed away in 1985 she prophesied that the world would come to Hawaiʻi in the 21st century to find the answer to world peace. That answer…aloha. Produced with the cooperation of numerous organizations who donated footage, the video invites others to come to our islands to partner to find solutions to the worldʻs problems.

What is Hawaiʻi, What is Aloha? from Don Mapes on Vimeo.

The APEC Summit in November will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Hawaii businesses to showcase their products, services and technologies to a worldwide audience.

Five businesses have been chosen to represent the counties and the state.

APEC 2011 Hawaii Business Innovation Showcase winners awarded

It’s all part of the APEC 2011 Hawaii Business Innovation Showcase.”We understand there were 2000 companies that applied. From that they selected 35 local companies, and from that they selected five companies, so we’re just so honored to be part of the five,” said Darren Kimura, Sopogy President & CEO.

Sopogy, which is known for its solar power technology, was selected as the Honolulu County winner.

“We see the potential through this APEC opportunity to sell more technologies around the world, around Asia, that’ll create more jobs, create more tax revenue back into Hawaii, will allow us to continue building our business here,” said Kimura.

Photo courtesy of Darryl Watanabe photography

QR code for Sopogy website

Briefing legislators of the High Technology Development Corporation and the Manoa Innovation Center

On July 14, 2011 we signed an MOU with MAI Development Co. Ltd., of Thailand to supply 360 megawatts of electricity produced from solar energy to the PEA for an estimated value of over $500 Million USD.

“Sopogy’s proven solar technology and thermal energy storage system will help Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam achieve clean energy goals,” said Phatthanasret Chayutthanabun, President of M.A.I. Development.  “In addition, Sopogy’s localized approach will create needed jobs.  We appreciate being Sopogy’s exclusive partners in these markets.”

“We are delighted to be partnering with MAI Development,” said Darren T. Kimura, President and CEO of Sopogy. “MAI’s commitment to solar thermal energy, strong track record in Thailand, and excellent governmental relations within Southeast Asia make the company an ideal partner for Sopogy.”

I saw this T-shirt and had to get it.

The Kimura is a submission hold commonly seen in mixed martial arts fights. This submission effects mainly the shoulder joint, but also to a lesser extent the elbow joint. When applied, this joint lock hyperrotates the shoulder causing intense pain and the tap out.