Hawaii’s Mel Kaneshige appointed to The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board
Written by: David Sayre
HONOLULU (April 18, 2022) – Mel Kaneshige was recently appointed to a three-year term on The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board. Kaneshige is the managing member of Aukai Consulting, LLC, retired Executive Vice President of Real Estate and Development for Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, and the chair of The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division’s [HIPAC] Long-Range Property Committee.
“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to join this esteemed group of national leaders to serve and advise The Salvation Army, which provides hope to millions of Americans facing hardship each year,” said Kaneshige.
“Mel is well-respected in Hawaii’s communities and he will offer a valuable perspective to our National Advisory Board,” said Major Phil Lum, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands.
Kaneshige’s connection with The Salvation Army [TSA] began in 2016, when his wife, Nancy Pace, who was then and still is a member of the HIPAC Advisory Board, encouraged him to help advise The Salvation Army with the planning and oversight of HIPAC’s real estate holdings. That led to detailed reviews of TSA’s Manoa, Kaimuki, Kauluwela and Adult Rehabilitation Center Iwilei (ARC) properties and to including the Kauluwela and ARC in the City’s Transit-Oriented Development [TOD] Plan for the Downtown Neighborhood TOD area plan.
In addition to his contributions as a member of The Salvation Army’s Honolulu Advisory Board, Kaneshige has been a member of the team that developed Kahauiki Village which houses 142 formerly homeless families (more than 650 total residents), the author of Honolulu’s Bill 7 which encourages small lot development of affordable rental apartments, as well as other advising on a number of commercial real estate projects. He currently serves on the boards of the aio Foundation, Kahauiki Village Development LLC, `Iolani School, 442nd Legacy Center, and Lanihau Properties LLC.
The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board is composed of prominent leaders from across the country and assists the organization with strategic planning, advocacy, networking, brand positioning, visibility, and high-level fund raising on issues of significant national interest. For a current roster of members, visit http://mysaboard.org/mysaboard/NAB.
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About The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division
The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division covers the state of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands including Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands and The Federated States of Micronesia. The Division offers a wide variety of programs throughout the islands including: adult day health services; affordable senior housing; at-risk youth services and housing; camp & conference center; family stores; food distribution and feeding programs; homeless services; The Kroc Center – Hawaii’s largest community center; preschools & day care services; social services – emergency assistance; substance abuse treatment; and work therapy & rehabilitation services. For more information, call 808-988-2136, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.