A Mānoa Mahalo to Tom Heinrich
- Sen. Carol Fukunaga
- 10 hours ago
- 1 min read
As Tom Heinrich prepares to leave Hawaiʻi, his departure gives all of us an opportunity to say mahalo—not only for the things he has accomplished, but for the many years he has simply been there: attending meetings, raising concerns, helping neighbors, and caring deeply about the future of Mānoa Valley.
Tom’s friends and fellow community members recently joined Mānoa Neighborhood Board #7 in recognizing and thanking him for his many years of community service.
Tom has brought his energy, persistence, and genuine concern for the valley to countless community discussions and neighborhood issues. He has been someone willing to ask questions, follow up, share what he knows and—most importantly—keep showing up.
That kind of community service doesn’t always make headlines. But over time, it makes a real difference. Mānoa is stronger because neighbors like Tom care enough to get involved and encourage others to do the same.
In many ways, that is what Neighbor2Neighbor is all about: neighbors looking out for one another, sharing their knowledge and talents, and taking responsibility for the special place we call home.
So, as Tom begins his next chapter away from Hawaiʻi, we simply want to say: Mahalo, Tom. Thank you for the years you have given to Mānoa, for your friendship, and for reminding us that taking care of our valley is something neighbors do together.
From all of us—aloha, safe travels, and please know that you will always have friends in Mānoa.
A Neighborhood Star is anyone – or any group - that solves a problem, improves daily life, celebrates creativity and culture or builds stronger neighbor-to-neighbor ties.
