Center Welcomes New Executive Director

Welcome Gail Kikudome Raikes, our new executive director.

Before joining us, Gail was Maui County Director of the American Red Cross, where she was responsible for developing and expanding the County’s disaster preparedness and response volunteer workforce.  Prior to that, she worked for eight years as the program manager of the Maui Family Support Services Early Head Start program.

“I was born and raised on Oahu, and moved to Maui about nine years ago as part of my work with Early Head Start.  I am sansei, and my father and four uncles served in the Army.  Three of my uncles were members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

“One of my uncles, Tommy Kakesako, 442nd Company L, served as chairman of the nonprofit Keehi Memorial Organization.  Uncle Tommy envisioned an adult day health and child care center at the DAV facility near Honolulu Airport, and worked tirelessly on his vision until his passing in 2007.  So it is wonderful to be a part of an organization that has a similar vision of a living memorial that nurtures our young and cares for our elderly as a tribute to our veterans and their fallen comrades.”

Gail earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Hawaii, and her early career was as a social worker at Leahi Hospital and Hale Nani Health Center in Honolulu.  She later worked as a supervisor and program administrator in the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services, before coming to Maui as program manager for the Early Head Start program.

Gail is married to Allan Raikes, who is President/CEO of Condominium Rentals Hawaii, a vacation rental management company.  Gail and Allan reside in Wailuku.