Mission
Zonta International is a leading global organization of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls.
Vision
Zonta International envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential.
In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men.
In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.
Zonta Club of Hilo
The Zonta Club of Hilo envisions our island community as a place where women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. Zonta Club of Hilo was chartered on August 15, 1950 and is part of Area 1 (Hawai’i) in District 9 (which includes Arizona, California, Hawai’i, Nevada, and Utah) of Zonta International (founded in 1919 in Buffalo, New York).
We are proud to be part of Zonta International’s efforts to promote the health and welfare of women and girls across the globe. Locally, we support programs and services that advance women and children. We do this through direct service projects, advocacy, and contributions to local and global causes. For our members, Zonta Club of Hilo provides opportunities to serve our community, broaden our knowledge base, and network among colleagues and friends through monthly membership meetings. Guests are welcome!
President (to 5/31/27)
Laurie Higashi
1st Vice President (to 5/31/27)
Micki O’Brien (Program Chair)
2nd Vice President (to 5/31/26)
Gabriella Cabanas (Membership Chair)
Secretary (to 5/31/27)
Sylvia Dolena
Treasurer (to 5/31/26)
Julie Mitchell (Finance Chair)
Director (to 5/31/27)
Erlinda Bourcier (Service Chair)
Director (to 5/31/27)
Elena Cabatu (Advocacy Chair)
Director (to 5/31/26)
Vacant (Public Relations Chair)
Director (to 5/31/26)
Helena Brandfors (Scholarship Chair)
STANDING COMMITTEES
Advocacy Committee
Elena Cabatu, Chair
Anna Liu
Barbara Hastings
Becky Britt
Brigitte Crawford
Charlene Iboshi
D. Michiko Fried
Elyse Stevens
Emma Waters
Erica Harrold
Heather Kimball
Jacquelyn Pualani Johnson
Kirsten Selvig
Lesley Hudson
Liz Sump
Philomena Scherling
Sonia Juvik
Sylvia Dolena
Tara Baker
Wendy Botelho
Finance Committee
Julie Mitchell, Chair
Alexandra Kelepolo
Anna Liu
Jan Symroski
Julie Tulang
Wilma Matsumura
Fundraising Committee (Foundation)
Julie Tulang, Chair
Brigitte Crawford
Erlinda Bourcier
Jan Symroski
Julie Mitchell
Tara Baker
Membership Committee
Gabriella Cabanas, Chair
Claudia Schimmer-Keawe
Helena Brandfors
Ivory Quintal
Jan Higashi
Jennie Kaneshiro
Maria Jampolsky
Marge Kanemitsu
Mele Spencer
Sonia Juvik
Wendy Botelho
Nominating Committee
Jessica Gauthier (to 5/31/27), 2025-2026 Chair (chair elected annually by committee)
Pending (to 5/31/26)
Julie Tulang (to 5/31/27)
Program Committee
Micki O’Brien, Chair
Becky Brett
Camille Bourcier
Claudia Schimmer-Keawe
Heather Bailey
Helena Brandfors
Jan Higashi
Jennie Kaneshiro
Jessica Thompson
Laurie Higashi
Lesley Hudson
Nina Buchanan
Philomena Scherling
Wendy Botelho
Public Relations Committee
Pending, Chair
Tara Baker
Julie Mitchell
Scholarship & Award Committee
Helena Brandfors, Chair
Becky Brett
Brigitte Crawford
Camille Bourcier
Emma Waters
Erica Harrold
Jessica Gauthier
Nina Buchanan
Philomena Scherling
Susan Collins
Tara Baker
Wilma Matsumura
Service Committee
Erlinda Bourcier, Chair
Alexandra Kelepolo
Amy Iwamoto
Beth Timbal
Carla Kuo
Cindy Cui
Claudia Schimmer-Keawe
Deb Lewis
Eleanor Hirano
Elyse Robinson
Emma Waters
Erica Harrold
Gayle Lingua
Heather Bailey
Ivory Quintal
Jan Haraguchi-Abundo
Jan Symroski
Jean DiMillo
Jessica Gauthier
Julie Mitchell
Julie Tulang
Kimi Palacio
Kirsten Selvig
Lesley Hudson
Malvene Lewis
Maria Jampolsky
Nina Buchanan
Philomena Scherling
Susan Collins
Sylvia Dolena
Tara Baker
Trillium Simington
AD HOC COMMITTEES
Bylaws Committee
Julie Tulang, Chair
Julie Mitchell
Wilma Matsumura
1950-1951 Wilma Breland
1951-1952 Elizabeth Frendo
1952-1953 Eunice Graham
1953-1954 Pearl Hageman Welsh
1954-1955 Harriet Slater
1955-1957 Miriam Kemmerer
1957-1958 Jo Edwards
1958-1959 Frances De Silva
1959-1960 Emma Yamada
1960-1961 Dorothy Hill
1961-1962 Muriel Isherwood
1962-1963 Evelyn Burke / Myrtle Ward
1963-1965 Gladys Bowell
1965-1966 Dorothy Hill
1966-1967 Dorothy Sawyer
1967-1969 Betty Jo Thompson
1969-1971 Frances Sherrard
1971-1973 Setsuko “Sets” Yokoyama
1973-1977 Janet Fujioka
1977-1979 Ethel Yoshimasu
1979-1981 Lily Chow
1981-1983 Sharon Scheele
1983-1985 Amy Iwamoto
1985-1987 Shizue “Sue” Iwashita
1987-1989 Juliette “Julie” Tulang
1989-1991 Joann McCabe
1991-1993 Ethel Yoshimasu
1993-1995 Wilma Matsumura
1995-1997 Sandra Collins
1997-1999 Elaine Sugai
1999-2003 Lily Inouye
2003-2005 Dawn Pung
2005-2008 Mele Spencer
2008-2009 Patricia O’Toole
2009-2011 Kathleen McGilvray
2011-2013 Barbara Hastings
2013-2017 Tonya Ozone
2017-2019 Ashley Kierkeirwicz
2019-2021 Elyse Robinson
2021-2023 Julie Engelhardt
2023-2025 Juliette “Julie” Tulang