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Congressional Gold Medal Parade
Teacher of the Year
HADA 2011-2012 Officers & Directors Sworn in

Hawaii's Dealer of the Year Named

Family man, community leader, car guy Tom Griffin named Hawaii's Dealer of the Year

HONOLULU, HI—When I walked into the president's office at Honolulu Ford I was greeted by the welcoming aroma of fresh-brewed coffee and Tom Griffin, who, with Old South manners, politely stood up, wearing his trademark smile, and motioned to the comfortable chairs across from his work-filled desk.

I took a seat and began the cover story interview of Hawaii's newly-named 2012 State Dealer of the Year. In the humble, Deep South-learned manner of showing appreciation to others he began by saying "it's such an honor and a distinction to be elected by my fellow automobile dealers to represent my chosen home, our beautiful state of Hawaii at the NADA convention (in the Time Magazine Quality Dealer of the Year Award)."

Family comes first in Tom's story. Surrounded by shelves full of framed pictures of his wife Katy and children David, Lisa, Kristi and Amy and his seven grandchildren, it's obvious that family has meant a lot to Tom during his successful career in the auto business.

Tom was raised in the Deep South, in Montgomery, Alabama, one of two sons born into a second -generation railroad employee's family. "My dad retired with 44 years in the railroad business on the Atlantic Coast line railroad, my mom's dad retired with 46 years on the GM&O railroad and my Dad's father retired with 52 years on the l & N railroad."

"My brother Jim and I were so very lucky to be taught the values of life from a giving and loving person, our Mom."

As a child and in his early days Tom carried the nickname "Batter." "It's a nickname people called me for years," Tom said. After a baseball diamond was built near his home, the eight- year-old Tom showed up to volunteer to play for a little league team and was asked by coach Leland Childs what position he wanted to play, to which Tom confidently replied "batter."

Tom's automobile career was launched with the help of his mentor, Pat Kirkland, who Tom said had "hocked his most prized possession, a valuable shotgun, in order to scrape together enough money to buy a small ownership percentage in a dealership in Montgomery, Alabama, Cobb-Kirkland Pontiac- Cadillac."

"Pat was so well liked by employees at the dealership where he worked in Birmingham, Alabama that they took up a collection and bought his prized shotgun from the Pawn Shop and presented it to him as a going away present."

Pat soon invited me to join him and work on the sales floor at the dealership where he was a partner. Over the next 10 years he promoted me through all the departments and enabled me to attend the General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan. "I think of him often and credit him for teaching me the "right way" to become a good "car man," said Tom.

"After a few stops along the way, I became a dealer- partner in Hawaii at Honda Windward in the early eighties," Tom said.

"It was then that I experienced the true meaning of Aloha and the love and warmth of the people of Hawaii," Tom said. "As a family, our choice was made. We were at home in Hawaii."

Later, after selling my part of Honda Windward I enjoyed two very successful years as Director of Operations with my great friend Tony Masamitsu, chairman of the Tony Hawaii Corporation."

A business opportunity to build from the ground up and later sell two automobile dealerships in Southern California took Tom away for a few years but he soon returned to Hawaii to enter a partnership in Honolulu Ford-Lincoln with his friend Andy Breech, whose father, an old friend, Bob Breech had purchased Honolulu Ford in 1954.

Tom explained that Bill Beck, of Charlotte, North Carolina and Bob Breech owned 92 dealerships along with minority stakes held by managing partners. They eventually sold every one of the stores to the partners.

"Right now, Andy Breech, my business partner, is involved with 9 other dealerships, and all have a managing partner," said Tom.

Tom acknowledges that right now, Ford Motor Company and Hawaii's oldest Ford dealership, Honolulu Ford are at the epicenter of the changes coming in the auto industry. Honolulu Ford has been selected by Ford as one of the 25 electric vehicle cities in the U.S. and Tom is preparing the dealership for the changes coming in the industry (brought about by the Obama administration's proposed 54.5 mpg standard for fleets in 2025).

The Lincoln portion of the dealership is getting a very special makeover, Tom said. The Lincoln division of Ford was the first to produce a Hybrid, the 41-mpg MKZ Hybrid sedan that was marketed at the same price, $34,755, as the gasoline version of the vehicle.

The Ford Flex, with its "EcoBoost" engine is another vehicle that will play into Ford's future. Tom mentions that he put two Flex crossovers up for prizes when the Wheel of Fortune came to Maui and two contestants won. "The show was featuring 'best friends night' so we put up not one but two (of the large family crossovers)."

"Thank goodness for insurance," Tom adds.

The dealership is known for providing car prizes for hole-in-one golf contests. "We offered about five last year" Tom said.

Tom's golf clubs were in the bag leaned in the corner of the office so I asked about his game since he's a low-handicap golfer and recently won a golf award at the HADA convention along with team members Dennis Francis, Linda Anderson and Rick Greenly. For hole-in-ones he's had two in his career. But he was equally proud of the 80 he just shot on the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui with an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole.

Asked about local charities that the dealership supports, Tom mentions the Palama Settlement. Tom serves there on the volunteer board of directors. "It's right here in Kalihi," he said. "They provide leadership and activities for youth; they have a swimming pool and basketball courts." "Even a class that teaches kids how to study. Seeing a child being offered, accept and embrace the loving help of others is the most heartwarming and rewarding experience one could receive."

Tom also mentioned his involvement with Special Olympics. "That, without a doubt, has been a most meaningful experience."

Tom, who asked me to take a picture of him and his dealership's technicians, said that an award that has really meant a lot to him is the "Technicians' Choice Award." Out of 3,000 Ford dealerships in the U.S. 50 were initially chosen for consideration. The field was narrowed to 16, and finally 5 awards were presented. The Ford citation, signed by all of the dealership's technicians, reads:

"TECHNICIANS' CHOICE AWARD Tom Griffin Dealer Principal Honolulu Ford Lincoln Mercury "We don't get any respect" is the sentiment echoed by many automotive technicians. That sentiment could not be further from the truth here at Honolulu Ford where Tom has created a truly welcoming environment and a unique culture of respect, trust and family value. Tom is a loyal family man and a great community leader who has an incredibly positive attitude and great sense of humor. He walks thru the service bays every morning to welcome the technicians with a handshake and sincere appreciation for the work we do. We also have a weekly technician meeting where he shares information and welcomes comments and suggestions because he believes every technician has something important to say and is integral to the dealership success. Tom is truly AMAZING.

Tom is a great boss who provides us with a nice, well- equipped facility to work in, on-going training and excellent benefits. Tom treats all technicians with respect and looks for every opportunity to recognize and praise us. He also gives us perks usually reserved for sales people, like tickets for sporting events. He really enjoys going golfing with the technicians and we love having him with us. He is the same wonderful person on or off the golf course, and that really says a lot." (signed by the dealership's 29 technicians).

Tom summed, at the conclusion of our interview, "Hawaii has a lot to be proud of when it comes to the automobile dealers that, for the most part, have continued a family tradition of successor ship in running an exciting business. Being a part of that Hawaii dealer body and being a part of the wonderful people that make up the Honolulu Ford Lincoln family is truly an honor, and a dream come true for me."

Story for the Hawaii Dealer by Dave Rolf

Hawaii Auto Dealerships Provide Parade Convertibles for Congressional Gold Medal Honorees

The Congressional Gold Medal Parade down Waikiki on Saturday December 17, 2011 honored the members of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service (MIS) for their valiant and dedicated service. The parade also honored the 1399 Engineer Construction Battalion stationed on Oahu during World War II.

Mahalo to following  Oahu dealerships for providing the car and driver for the Congressional Gold Medal honorees.   BMW of Honolulu, Cutter Chevrolet, McKenna Windward Ford and Windward Dodge Chrysler Jeep.

The parade lined up at Ft. DeRussy on Kalakaua Avenue and proceeded to Kapiolani Park through Waikiki with thousands of onlookers  lining the road on both sides.

Honorees (Parade Marshals) were carried in four HADA-coordinated convertibles at the front of the parade. The honoree in the front seat is Edward Ikuma (Sgt). Shown in the back (L-R) Oscar Miyashiro (Pfc.) and Yashio Ekimoto (Sgt.) and. All three from the 100th Infantry Battalion. Marcia Rufo is driving the Ford Mustang convertible provided by Mike McKenna's Windward Ford.

Eichi Oki, (Tech Sgt.) from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team is shown with driver Tuan Duong. The Chrysler 200 convertible was provided by Windward Dodge Chrysler Jeep.

Shown in the front seat is Kenneth Higa, (Pfc.) 100th Infantry Battalion, back seats L-R are Richard Murashige, (Pfc.) 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Mitsuo Ted Hamasu (Sgt.) from the 100th Infantry Batallion. Tony Luu is driving the BMW convertible provided by BMW of Honolulu.

Kazuma Marty Nishiie (Sgt.) from the 100th Infantry Battalion is shown in the front and Akira Akimoto (Cpl.) from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team is shown in the back. Driving the Cutter Chevrolet-provided Camaro is Joe Lui Kwan.

The rain-glistened roadway was bright as the morning sun emerged just in time for the launch.

Trolleys carried members of the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team ….most of the honorees are in their eighties and nineties, now. They each received a replica of the Congressional Gold Medal which was awarded to the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This is the same award that the Congress presented the nation's first president, George Washington.

American flags were passed out to honorees and along the route to onlookers.

A crowd of thousands lined the avenue to honor the veterans and our active duty military.

Marine Corps band.

Navy band.

The parade finished at Kapiolani Park with Diamond Head in the background.

Hawaii's 2012 State Teacher of the Year receives use of an electric car; two charging stations

(L-R) Courtney Coleman, 2011 Miss Hawaii Teen USA, John Nakamoto, MMNA manager of business development electric vehicle operations, Pat Ah You, general manager of Cutter Mitsubishi, Chad Miller, 2012 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year, Yoichi Yokozawa, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, and Angela Byrd, 2011 Miss Hawaii USA

HONOLULU, HI—With Hawaii focusing on the development of the state's abundant wind, wave, sun, geo-thermal, ocean-thermal and bio-mass energy resources, this year, an electric car (use for a year) was awarded to the 2012 State Teacher of the Year during ceremonies held at historic Washington Place, across from the State Capitol.

Chad Miller, a language arts teacher at Kailua High School, received the prestigious designation as the 2012 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year during ceremonies hosted by the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Miller will represent the state of Hawaii at the 2012 National Teacher of the Year program next year. The use of the Mitsubishi iMiEV was provided by Cutter Mitsubishi and was presented by Mitsubishi Motors North America president and CEO Yoichi Yokozawa, who said "I believe the state of Hawaii is a great location for electric vehicles. The state can be an example to the world for zero emission cars. Hawaii can show others how to make it work."

Two electric vehicle charging stations -one for the teacher's residence and one for the teacher's school parking space-- were provided compliments of AeroVironment, a Monrovia, California-based supplier of EV charging stations.

Pat Ah You, general manager of Cutter Mitsubishi, reminded Miller that Honolulu allows free parking for electric vehicles at all City and County public parking facilities and parking meter stalls on streets and roadways throughout the island of Oahu.

"The electric car presentation to the teacher is significant this year in that it demonstrates Hawaii's new car dealers' commitment to education, the new renewable energy transition, and to the next generation of young people who are customers in the future," said Ah You.

HADA officers and directors were sworn in at the association's annual general business meeting

HADA officers and directors sworn in at the recent general meeting of the association are (L-R) Nick Cutter, Eric Fukunaga, Stan Masamitsu, Darryl Turner, John Uekawa, Joe Hanley, Jack Jackson, Tom Griffin, Ron Hansen, Mike Niethammer, Bill van den Hurk and Damien Farias. National Automobile Dealers Association chairman Stephen Wade is at the podium reading the oath of office at the ceremony. (Not shown are board members Dan Keppel, Dan Mackey, and Joe Nicolai).

Wailea, Maui-The dealer members of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association (HADA) elected officers and directors for the 2011-2012 HADA year during the association's annual general business meeting Friday, October 14, 2011, held in conjunction with the HADA convention.

The swearing in ceremony was conducted by Stephen Wade, the chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association, who served as the keynote speaker for the convention. 

Those holding office during the coming 12 months are: Nick Cutter, president; Mike Niethammer, president-elect, Eric Fukunaga, vice president; Joe Nicolai, secretary; Ron Hansen, treasurer, Oahu directors Bill van den Hurk, Morrie Stoebner, Jack Jackson, and Dan Keppel; at-large directors John Uekawa and Tom Griffin; Stan Masamitsu, immediate past president, Darryl Turner, Hawaii director; Damien Farias, Maui director; Dan Mackey, Kauai director. Joe Hanley, elected separately by the members as Hawaii director of the National Automobile Dealers Association, was also installed for the 2011-2012 HADA board of director's year.

HADA Dealer of the Year
Congressional Gold Medal Parade
Teacher of the Year
HADA 2011-2012 Officers & Directors Sworn in