At a recent in-person meeting of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset three of the newest members were presented with their “Rotary Swag” by Assistant Governor Mariko Higashi.
At a recent in-person meeting of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset three of the newest members were presented with their “Rotary Swag” by Assistant Governor Mariko Higashi. Ravi Bugga, Jim Fahnestock, and Tapani Vuori were formally inducted by Rotary District Governor Sandy Matsui at a virtual meeting held in early February. Here is some information about THE three new members:
RAVI BUGGA is the husband of Assistant Governor Mariko Higashi. Ravi and Mariko retired to Maui in 2014. From 1989 until his retirement in 2014, Ravi worked with the private sector arm of the World Bank in Washington DC, providing loans and equity to the private sector in developing countries. Since moving to Maui Ravi has served on the Boards of The Vintage at Kaanapali, and the Whale Trust, and was selected by the County Council to serve on the West Maui Community Plan Advisory Commission (CPAC).
JIM FAHNESTOCK is pleased to return to the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset after an extended “sabbatical”. Over a period of 22 years, Jim was a member of three Rotary clubs, including service as Membership Director of all three clubs and President of two of the three clubs. Jim is especially proud to have worked with Liz May to establish the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset in 2014. After more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Jim retired as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments in 2011.
TAPANI VUORI is the General Manager of the Maui Ocean Center and visionary for the future of our oceans. Tapani is from Finland and came to the US for his college education. He graduated from UCLA in 1987. With a BA in political science, he started working, gaining experience in an eclectic mix of industries — everything from luxury furniture sales to Japanese animation. His work eventually led him to Oʻahu, where he was living with his wife Ellen when he stumbled upon a job opening for a retail director at Maui Ocean Center’s gift shop, Maui Ocean Treasures. In the years that followed, Tapani became enamored with the wildlife under the water’s surface and realized how strong his desire to protect it was. When he accepted the position as Maui Ocean Center’s general manager, he had one request — to build an on-property 501(c)(3) to support conservation efforts further. Through his efforts and vision, Tapani became the founder and president of the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (MOCMI), which serves to restore Hawaiʻi’s coral reefs and rehabilitate injured Hawaiian green sea turtles.
PHOTO ID L-R: New members Jim Fahnestock, Tapani Vuori, and Ravi Bugga pose with their membership certificates with Assistant Governor Mariko Higashi.