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Being a mayor's wife and a career person herself, it seems that there is so much pressure on Gail Mukaihata Hannemann, but apparently she enjoys every moment of her waking life. Gail Mukaihata Hannemann spent more than 15 years in Washington D.C. as a congressional aide and professional staff member of the U.S. House of Representatives prior to moving to Hawaii in 1992. Gail currently serves as CEO of the Girl Scouts Council of Hawaii and an active member of various community organizations.
When asked how it felt to be married to the mayor of Honolulu, Gail said that it made her life better in a sense that it became more organized yet stayed appealing. Their professional career, according to Gail, makes for an interesting conversation at the end of the day, which puts their relationship on an even stronger ground despite their busy schedules.
It is these conversations and the eagerness to learn about one another that form the very roots of Gail and Mayor Mufi's partnership.
Love Story in D.C.
Gail Mukaihata Hannemann was a congressional aide when she met Mufi, who was then employed by the Department of Interior, at the nation's capital. They developed mainly a working relationship, often assimilating themselves to each other's cultural ascription.
"I was working for a Congressman who represented an area that was multi-ethnic and it had a lot of Asian-Pacific Islanders," she said. She continued to explain that she clearly understood the Asian side of it, but felt she could learn a lot more about the other groups.
"So actually, we had met at a Congressman's reception, and we started talking. I asked him a lot of questions about Polynesian culture, which clearly, that's what his orientation is," Gail added.
Eventually, their professional relationship blossomed in to coupledom. A few years later Gail moved to Hawaii with Mufi as her husband.
Hawaii as New Home
Moving to the Islands has never been a problem to Gail, having grown up in a relatively similar cultural environment in the area of Gardena-Torrance in Los Angeles, which had a huge Asian population mostly of Japanese descent. As a matter of fact, Gail found more of a daunting task trying to blend in with the Washington D.C. populace where things were done a little differently.
"I think Hawaii has a very similar Asian culture (compared to Gardena), and there's obviously other mixes that go in there. But a lot of the customs and things work the same," she said.
"In fact, when I moved to DC it was very strange that it was a culture shock to me - because it was a very different way of doing business; people are much more up front."
"I won't say it's in-your-face, because it's a lot of subtleties that go beyond. It's a very different way of dealing with people and I actually struggled in the beginning to kind of figure out how to find my place and to fit in," she added.
"(In Hawaii), it felt like home from day one."
Making a name for herself
It is not so much of a struggle for Gail Mukaihata Hannemann to detach herself from being associated as the "Mayor's wife", especially in her professional career. But their partnership comes in handy in relation to a handful of community-oriented causes. As chairperson of the Hawaii Alliance of Arts Education, Gail holds a critical position in reinstatement of Culture and Arts in the Islands. With Mayor Mufi's mission of redeveloping Chinatown, much of Gail's tasks are half accomplished.
However, Gail takes extra precaution in ensuring that no conflict of interest can barge in the activities they pursue.
"A lot of times I'll take a step back to make sure that even though I'm doing something that I know is proper and OK, it could be perceived as being something that can be construed other ways," she said. "And as everyone knows in politics perception sometimes becomes reality."
"So there are many things that I don't participate in at all that maybe I should be as a wife. But because of my work I hold back so that people don't think I am using the Girl Scouts, which I think has an exceptionally great brand name and people have a lot of good will and Aloha for it, toward something that could be perceived as politically advantageous," she added.
Clearly, her mandate as CEO of the Girl Scout Council of Hawaii is a whole new world on its own, away from the limelight and discretion of being a public figure. Her position as chief executive of Hawaii's largest, girl-focused organization offers a glimpse of her independence from her ascribed status and the power of womanhood in today's society.
An opportunity not missed
Gail sat as board member prior to her leadership entitlement for the Girl Scouts. Many times she has been asked to take on the position as executive, and many times the search committee has failed to persuade her. Eventually, she decided to take a look at the job offer thinking that this might open new doors for her. She did not fail on her intuition.
"I thought I should take a look at it, and did, and went through the interviewing process, and then found out that it actually is an excellent job, something that I would really want to do," Gail said.
Had she totally given up on this possibility, Gail would have missed an opportunity of a lifetime.
"The one thing I have found in life is sometimes when things come to you in interesting and different ways that you have to stop and take a look at it, because sometimes, many times, people say that they don't have opportunities, when in fact opportunities came and went because they weren't looking. They didn't realize it was an opportunity."
Under her leadership, the Council is transforming its personal and leadership development model and operations to ensure that the Girl Scout Program remains inviting and relevant to not only today's girls but also future generations.
Besides her involvement with Hawaii Alliance of Arts and Girl Scouts Council, Gail also serves on the Board of Directors of the Children's Alliance of Hawaii, a non-profit organization dedicated to making life better for sexually and physically abused children and their families living on the island of Oahu. She serves on the Steering Committee of the Hawaii Alliance of Non-Profit Organizations (HANO).
Gail has accomplished so much for her adopted home regardless of her apparent status as first lady of Honolulu. She is a figure of woman empowerment not only in the city and county but the whole of the Hawaiian Islands.
For the full audio interview and transcript please visit greatergoodradio.com. Greater Good Radio airs every Saturday morning and Wednesday night on 1420 AM and online at www.greatergoodradio.com.
