I worked with Masaru 'Pundy' Yokouchi for fourteen years on the executive board of the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in order to plan and build a state of the art theater and art gallery.

The Center has been a great success. It was during this process that Pundy’s wife, Shirley, commissioned me to paint her husband as a surprise gift. It was fun to sketch him in executive board meetings when it looked like I was making my own notes. He probably wondered why I always sat across the table. Shirley was pleased with the result and he was truly surprised!

Pundy was Chairman of MACC and a pillar of our community, accepting many awards for his public service, and is also known for his great support of the arts. He developed the State Foundation for Culture and the Arts, and initiated the state’s ‘one percent program’, which declares that one percent of the cost of all state buildings constructed be allocated to art.