Our Members

TITLE:
Kimberly Mikami Svetin – President

Kimberly Mikami Svetin has been a member of the Friends board for four years. She attended Hawai’i public schools from K-12 and graduated from Moloka’i High and Intermediate School in 1987. Kimberly appreciates the values she garnered by attending public schools, which include getting along with people from different backgrounds, becoming an advocate for her education, and honing her communication skills. She received her B.A. degree from Pomona College in 1991 and has worked in non-profit management, marketing, and hospitality from 1991-2005 on the mainland, Maui, Hawai’i Island, and O’ahu. Since 2005, she has been the president of Moloka`i Drugs, founded in 1935 by her late grandfather, Richard Sakata, who was Moloka`i’s first pharmacist. She and her staff at Hawai`i’s oldest independent pharmacy have an “aloha” for their island community. Svetin currently oversees a staff of 28 employees, most of whom work between the pharmacy and the family’s 38-flavor ice cream shop. Kimberly, her husband (Todd ’87 – Brunswick High in Maine), and sons (Erik ’17 and Owen ’22 – Moloka’i High) are all very proud public school graduates. Erik is now finishing an MS in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin and Owen will be starting a BS in elementary education at Montana State University. Kimberly feels that her sons’ experiences on Moloka’i have given them a unique perspective of the world and have made them empathetic young men.

TITLE:
Ronald Kimball – Treasurer

Born and raised on homestead land in Kalamaula Molokai, Ron returned home to Molokai in 1977 after graduating from La Verne College in California with a Liberal Arts degree. Ron worked as the Assistant Manager for the Molokai Community Federal Credit Union for 8 years, then spent the next 33 years serving as the Molokai Island Program Coordinator for the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate. While working for KSBE, Ron developed a close working relationship with the DOE on island, especially former principal, Clifford Horita. It was several “talk story” sessions with Cliff Horita and MHS Alum Greg Helm, that the impetus to start a foundation for Molokai High School began. In 2001, the foundation became a reality. Ron served as the first President of the Friends Foundation with Greg Helm also serving as one of the founding members of the Friends Foundation board of directors. Ron also served as an assistant Basketball coach at Molokai High School for 5 years. With wife Camie Kimball’s 37 years of service at Molokai High School and Molokai Middle School in positions such as P.E. Teacher, assistant Athletic Director, Student Activities coordinator, Registrar, then Athletic director, added to his work assisting with various Kamehameha Schools educational programs, Ron’s commitment to the students of Molokai High School and Molokai Middle School has pretty much been a lifetime endeavor.

TITLE:
Susan Nartatez
Class of 1977, Molokai High School

With her roots firmly planted in the rich soil of Molokai, Susan Nartatez represents the essence of Maunaloa, a town she lovingly calls home. Her early life was deeply influenced by the pineapple plantation era, weaving a tapestry of resilience and community spirit in her character.

A proud graduate of Molokai High School’s Class of 1977, Susan pursued higher education with vigor. She attained her BA in Psychology in 1982, followed by her MEd in Counseling Education in 1999, both from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Her academic achievements paved the way for her illustrious career in counseling:

– Academic Counselor at Kapi’olani Community College from 1997 to 2006, where she provided guidance and mentorship to a myriad of students.

– At UH Maui College, Susan’s impact was felt twice over – initially from 1992 to 1997 and then again from 2006 to the present day.

Expanding her reach, Susan plays a pivotal role as a Counselor for Maui College’s outreach sites, spanning the regions of Hana, Lanai, and Molokai. A testament to her dedication towards fostering education, she has been an esteemed board member since 2018, playing a crucial role in facilitating the Earl Nakamura Scholarship.

Susan’s journey, from the plantations of Molokai to the esteemed halls of UH Maui College, reflects her unwavering commitment to education and her community. She remains an inspiration to many, a beacon of dedication and service.