Advisory Board

The team behind the vision!

VIOLET SHIMOKO (Founder)
Violet is a graduate of Kalani High School and a graduate of the University of Hawai`i with a bachelor’s degree in Art.
She worked in the Admissions Department of Iolani School from 1993 – 2004 and is a sustaining member and past member of the Executive Board of the Junior League of Honolulu.
She conceptualized ClubCharm drawing from her past experiences with her family’s businesses, S&S Saimin, Aloha Maid Juices and Hawaiian Brian’s.
Her most notable accomplishment is that of her mother.
She is grateful to her sister, Lynn Yuasa, for her encouragement to found a leadership program for girls and to her brother, Michael Shimoko, for inspiring the Gent’s Club.

KAREN ELIZAGA (Director of Curriculum)
Karen grew up in Honolulu, Hawai‘i where she graduated from Punahou School. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree at Columbia University's Barnard College, her law degree at American University's Washington College of Law and her certificate in Executive and Organizational Coaching from New York University.

Karen brings 17 years of experience in the legal, business and non-profit communities of New York, London and Washington DC. Karen founded her coaching company, Forward Options, to help others nurture self-love and confidence in order to create long-term personal and professional success.

She resides in New York, where she is a partner with Dorothy Rose 13, a not for profit that has run free sleepaway camps and retreats for 10-16 year old girls since 2006. Karen also serves on the Advisory Board of St. Bartholomew Community Preschool and as Vice Chair of the Board of the New York Asian Women’s Center. She has played a major role in developing the curriculum for ClubCharm and continues to be active in the Honolulu community.

CHERYL RIVERA
Cheryl has been a noted interior designer in the metropolitan Portland, Oregon for the past 15 years.
Prior to moving to Portland, “Cheri” resided in Hawaii for 25 years. She has a 21 year-old daughter, a cat and a dog

Cheryl will be responsible for the trend-setting look and relaxing ambience of ClubCharm.

LEE ANDERSON
Lee is a graduate of Babson College and is soon to take a full time asset management position in Boston, Massachusetts.
Passionate about soccer, Lee volunteers his time coaching high school boys aspiring to continue playing soccer at the collegiate level.
Lee contributes both financial and conceptual ideas to ClubCharm and is the proud son of founder, Violet Shimoko.

CANDICE SOMBRERO
Candice Sombrero is currently studying marketing at Babson College in Boston, MA.  Her past experiences with PacRim Marketing in Honolulu as well as a semester abroad in Tokyo, Japan have helped her understand the art of bridging Asian and American cultures through Hawaii.
Candice is a seasoned artist creating music, fashion accessories & clothing, as well as various art pieces with mixed media.
Candice is responsible for the ClubCharm moniker.

KAREN MUKAI
Karen received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Elementary Education from the University of Hawai‘i.

She’s the former franchise owner of Hawaii Kai Kumon Center and the founder of Best Bridal Hawai‘i, a wedding company devoted to the overseas visitor market. She is also the co-owner of Tuxedos by Hale Niu.

Karen is very active in the community. She is the president and a trustee of Abilities Unlimited, a non-profit organization that helps individuals with disabilities gain employment. And she’s also a board member of the Hawaii Chapter of The March of Dimes.

LILIANE S. TSUHA
A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Tsuha holds degrees in Arts and Science, Secondary Education and a M. Ed. in Educational Administration. She worked for the Dept. of Curriculum and the DOE foreign language program.
She holds SEC, NASD, Real Estate and Insurance licenses.
  LiLi has produced a major motion picture, videos and live forum plays. Education through the arts and films are her passion.
Club Charm provides and delivers a vital part of a healthy and comprehensive curriculum.

MICHAEL H. HIGA, CPA
Michael is a partner at GMP International, Inc. in the position of chief financial Officer.

His responsibilities include corporate financial planning, supervision of corporate accounting office, preparation of financial statements and income tax returns and oversight of branch accounting operations, purchasing functions and data processing operations

He is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

CATHERINE STEINMANN
Catherine Steinmann is a renowned fine arts photographer whose work includes three published books as well exhibitions in museums and galleries in America and internationally.

She serves on the Educational Committee of the International Center of Photography, has served as Vice President of Professional Women Photographers, and has also served as a judge, lecturer and teacher in photography and the fine arts.

DAVID STEINMANN
Mr. Steinmann is Advisory Executive for the William Rosenwald Family Organization in New York City and is a director of Ametek, Inc., a manufacturing Company listed on the NYSE.

Mr. Steinmann is associated with numerous professional and charitable organizations including serving or having served as: President of the Board of Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School in New York City; Vice President and Treasurer of the Academy of Political Science; President of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA); Vice Chairman of the Middle East Forum; and as a member of the Center for Security Policy, and the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA).

LISA SIMON (Choreographer and Dance Director)
Lisa Simon graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Irvine with her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance, followed by her Master of Arts degree from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She is currently in her sixteenth year as a faculty member in the Performing Arts Department at ‘Iolani School, specializing in the teaching of dance for young children.

Her dance education program includes offerings in creative movement, jazz, contemporary dance, hula, ballet, as well as ethnic and folk dances.

Her passion includes bridging dance with other disciplines as she has developed movement lessons based on literature, mathematics, and science.

Lisa has choreographed for community events, pageants, fashion shows, talent competitions, and school productions. She also trains young talent for pageants and dance competitions.

CHARLIE HIGA
Charlie founded Zippy’s with his brother Francis in 1966. They now have locations throughout the State of Hawai‘i and a team of more than 2,500 people who are encouraged to learn and to teach others by sharing skills, talents and ideas.

Charley thinks of himself first as a husband, father and grandfather, then as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. We are grateful for his wisdom and business acumen.

NANCY PACE, MD, MSPH
Nancy’s passion is volunteering to improve the lives of AIDS orphans and widows in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Thailand through the delivery of medical care and humanitarian aid.

Locally she is on the board of Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health, The Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, the Advisory board of the Salvation Army, the Board of The American Cancer Society, Past President of the Junior League of Honolulu, and is the Deacon for Global Outreach at Kaimuki Christian Church where she oversees 20 global missionaries.

Nancy received her BA from Vassar College, her Masters of Science in Public Health from Harvard University and her MD from the University of Cincinnati.

ALLYSON YUASA
Allyson has been a major creative spark in the development of the ClubCharm concept from day one. She may be the most vocal member of our advisory board.
At age eight, she sees herself as the sole representative of our market segment with a seat on the Board. She is also our inspiration.

SETH REISS
Seth Reiss, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Chemistry from New College of Florida, a Masters degree in Biochemistry from the University of Hawai`i, a Juris Doctoris degree from the University of Hawai`i William S. Richardson School of Law, and a L.L.M. degree in international and comparative law from the University of Cambridge in England.
Seth is a principal in LEX-IP.com, a firm that emphasizes patent, trademark, copyright, technology and Internet law while also providing services in the areas of business law, commercial litigation and regulatory matters.

We also need to thank the following angels, who inspired us or went out of their way to help us. They have been integral to the development of ClubCharm.
Mrs. Frances Chock, Clarence, Masuzu, Michael, Akane, Mathew, Patrick and Leonard Shimoko, Alan, Lynn and Jason Yuasa, John Henry Felix, Joni Marcello, Peggy Yen, Alice Takase, Jacqueline Higa, Mona Wood, Dane Nakamura, Bert Kumano, Claire Tanoue, Jamie Mather, Adrian Kamalii, David Souza, Hidemi Yamaguchi, Florence Sakai, Carol Kido, Marilyn Nakamoto, Lorraine Dayoan, Cyndi Wong, Steve Dulce, Jun Harada, Patti Bulatao, Tyler & Donell Yamashita, Chuck Painter, Wendy Mah, AJ, and Craig Lancaster.