| John Wayne Enriques Makawao, Maui, Hawaii Outstanding Community Leader |
When John Wayne Enriques decided to seek his first elected
public office as a member of the prestigious and sought-after
Maui County Council, unbeknown to John, many Filipino claims,
his decision to seek an elected position was one of the key
factors why Hawaii still have a Filipino as a Governor. For
it was a far gone conclusion months before the election that the
current State Governor Ben Cayetano, would be easily deposed
and replaced by the first woman and the first Republican to take
over Ben’s position as governor, Linda Lingle, then popular
mayor of the County of Maui, was a shoo-in. Even Washington
Post in an article strongly hinted that Linda Lingle was a strong
contender.
John Wayne Enriques did not realized then that he was well-
loved, well-respected and looked upon by not only the people of
Maui, but all over the State of Hawaii. With Richard Caldito,
Sr., a 1998-99 TOFA awardee, and the first Filipino to run
successfully as an elected official in the Unite States as Maui
Councilman, prodding John to seek for an elected office in Maui,
and with backing from the legions of friends, he finally
consented to run. With Richard Caldito, Sr. as one of his key
campaigners, the two Pinoy politicians, a young man and an
public office as a member of the prestigious and sought-after
Maui County Council, unbeknown to John, many Filipino claims,
his decision to seek an elected position was one of the key
factors why Hawaii still have a Filipino as a Governor. For
it was a far gone conclusion months before the election that the
current State Governor Ben Cayetano, would be easily deposed
and replaced by the first woman and the first Republican to take
over Ben’s position as governor, Linda Lingle, then popular
mayor of the County of Maui, was a shoo-in. Even Washington
Post in an article strongly hinted that Linda Lingle was a strong
contender.
John Wayne Enriques did not realized then that he was well-
loved, well-respected and looked upon by not only the people of
Maui, but all over the State of Hawaii. With Richard Caldito,
Sr., a 1998-99 TOFA awardee, and the first Filipino to run
successfully as an elected official in the Unite States as Maui
Councilman, prodding John to seek for an elected office in Maui,
and with backing from the legions of friends, he finally
consented to run. With Richard Caldito, Sr. as one of his key
campaigners, the two Pinoy politicians, a young man and an
elderly gentleman, barnstormed not only in Maui, but other areas in the Hawaiian islands to rally the
Filipino votes to support Ben Cayetano, and in the case of Filipinos in Maui, to elect a Filipino to the
Council. The Filipinos in Hawaii, they say, for the first time set aside their political affiliation -- they were
neither Democrat nor Republican, but rather, the Filipinos were solidly for Cayetano, a compatriot, who
needed to be re-elected as state governor. In Maui, the goal of Filipinos was to elect John Wayne
Enriques. It was unity at its best! It was a true manifestation of political empowerment in action, and not in
rhetorics. Where in the past, the usual gimmick of politicians was to encourage Filipinos to form a Filipino
Democrat group and a Filipino Republican group -- thus, the Filipinos were cancelling each other votes,
and the Filipinos become obviously toothless tigers!
The sure-shot victory of Maui’s Mayor Linda Lingle was overturned. Instead of winning by her prediction at
5,000 - 6,000 votes over Cayetano, she only won by 500 votes in her Maui backyard, and lost to the
Governorship to Ben Cayetano by a mere 500 or so votes! Thanks to John Wayne Enriques and to the
indefatigable Richard Caldito, Sr.
And in Maui, John Wayne Enriques was the top vote getters in a pack of candidates, garnering the highest,
a colossal 24,621 votes, with the second place garnering only 14,870 votes!
John Wayne Enriques, “Doc” for the people of Maui and those who know him, was born in Lahaina, Maui
in July 25, 1934. “My father came from Santa Ana, Philippines in 1907 at the age of 12 as a stowaway
on a ship from Manila to Maui. My parents had nine children. I, being number six in line. We lived in the
sugar plantation where everyone was poor,” John related during an informal luncheon interview
immediately after he was sworn into office last January 2nd in Maui. “I was sent to public boarding high
school, and upon graduation from high school, I enlisted in the Army and was an instructor in the Signal
Corps. After my Army stint, I enrolled and received my AA degree from Los Angeles College as well as my
Chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College. I then worked for an insurance company handling
medical claims. In 1973, I returned to Maui to practice chiropractic, and after 22 years in 1965, I retired
from my practice .”
For more than 20 years after Doc returned to Maui, he was involved in humanitarian projects pertaining to
the community’s health and social welfare, or many worthwhile projects undertaken by nonprofit
organizations. His fervent and sincere desire to help the people who can’t help themselves , was fulfilled by
his unselfish active participation, either as chairman or member of civic and social groups.
In 1998, John Wayne was elected president of the powerful and influential Filipino Chamber of Commerce
of Maui (FCCM) , and was reelected in 1999.
The FCCM seeks to help in nurturing positive and constructive attitudes for the building of a vibrant and
progressive Filipino community. Since its inception in 1994, the Chamber has presented annually its
“Gintong Pamana Leadership Achievement Awards” to persons of Filipino ancestry who have
distinguished themselves or attained leadership position in various fields of endeavor.
In addition to being active with the Chamber of Commerce, John is the chairman of the influential Human
Services and Parks of the County of Maui.
“The chairmanship of this committee allows me to be more visible and be a force behind my slogan which
has been my guiding beacon in life: “Let’s Help Each Other,” explained John Wayne Enriques whose hectic
schedule as a County Council Member does not deter him from providing leadership and assistance to the
increasing number of Filipinos -- whose electing force now represents more than 20% of the entire
qualified voters in the County of Maui.
“In Maui, the Filipinos are now beginning to comprehend the potential of its electing power. We are now
theoretically solid from one Hawaiian island to another,” observed Richard Caldito, Sr. “We need to nurture
another Filipino to follow the foot steps of Ben Cayetano who is serving his last term as Governor. We are
capable to really have political empowerment than the Filipinos in the mainland where the Filipinos are
widely spread. In Hawaii, the State is in a compacted area. What we need is just for our people to work
together and come out with good leaders. Undoubtedly, John Wayne Enriques leads the pack.”
Aside from the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Maui, John is active, to name some of them, with the Maui
Economic Opportunity, Inc.; Lokahi Pacific; Filipino Community Council; and, the Mental Health Association
of Maui.
He is married to the former Geraldine Kim of Honolulu. They have three children: Randell, 38; Gerald
Keoni, 29; and Maile, 13. (NM)
Filipino votes to support Ben Cayetano, and in the case of Filipinos in Maui, to elect a Filipino to the
Council. The Filipinos in Hawaii, they say, for the first time set aside their political affiliation -- they were
neither Democrat nor Republican, but rather, the Filipinos were solidly for Cayetano, a compatriot, who
needed to be re-elected as state governor. In Maui, the goal of Filipinos was to elect John Wayne
Enriques. It was unity at its best! It was a true manifestation of political empowerment in action, and not in
rhetorics. Where in the past, the usual gimmick of politicians was to encourage Filipinos to form a Filipino
Democrat group and a Filipino Republican group -- thus, the Filipinos were cancelling each other votes,
and the Filipinos become obviously toothless tigers!
The sure-shot victory of Maui’s Mayor Linda Lingle was overturned. Instead of winning by her prediction at
5,000 - 6,000 votes over Cayetano, she only won by 500 votes in her Maui backyard, and lost to the
Governorship to Ben Cayetano by a mere 500 or so votes! Thanks to John Wayne Enriques and to the
indefatigable Richard Caldito, Sr.
And in Maui, John Wayne Enriques was the top vote getters in a pack of candidates, garnering the highest,
a colossal 24,621 votes, with the second place garnering only 14,870 votes!
John Wayne Enriques, “Doc” for the people of Maui and those who know him, was born in Lahaina, Maui
in July 25, 1934. “My father came from Santa Ana, Philippines in 1907 at the age of 12 as a stowaway
on a ship from Manila to Maui. My parents had nine children. I, being number six in line. We lived in the
sugar plantation where everyone was poor,” John related during an informal luncheon interview
immediately after he was sworn into office last January 2nd in Maui. “I was sent to public boarding high
school, and upon graduation from high school, I enlisted in the Army and was an instructor in the Signal
Corps. After my Army stint, I enrolled and received my AA degree from Los Angeles College as well as my
Chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College. I then worked for an insurance company handling
medical claims. In 1973, I returned to Maui to practice chiropractic, and after 22 years in 1965, I retired
from my practice .”
For more than 20 years after Doc returned to Maui, he was involved in humanitarian projects pertaining to
the community’s health and social welfare, or many worthwhile projects undertaken by nonprofit
organizations. His fervent and sincere desire to help the people who can’t help themselves , was fulfilled by
his unselfish active participation, either as chairman or member of civic and social groups.
In 1998, John Wayne was elected president of the powerful and influential Filipino Chamber of Commerce
of Maui (FCCM) , and was reelected in 1999.
The FCCM seeks to help in nurturing positive and constructive attitudes for the building of a vibrant and
progressive Filipino community. Since its inception in 1994, the Chamber has presented annually its
“Gintong Pamana Leadership Achievement Awards” to persons of Filipino ancestry who have
distinguished themselves or attained leadership position in various fields of endeavor.
In addition to being active with the Chamber of Commerce, John is the chairman of the influential Human
Services and Parks of the County of Maui.
“The chairmanship of this committee allows me to be more visible and be a force behind my slogan which
has been my guiding beacon in life: “Let’s Help Each Other,” explained John Wayne Enriques whose hectic
schedule as a County Council Member does not deter him from providing leadership and assistance to the
increasing number of Filipinos -- whose electing force now represents more than 20% of the entire
qualified voters in the County of Maui.
“In Maui, the Filipinos are now beginning to comprehend the potential of its electing power. We are now
theoretically solid from one Hawaiian island to another,” observed Richard Caldito, Sr. “We need to nurture
another Filipino to follow the foot steps of Ben Cayetano who is serving his last term as Governor. We are
capable to really have political empowerment than the Filipinos in the mainland where the Filipinos are
widely spread. In Hawaii, the State is in a compacted area. What we need is just for our people to work
together and come out with good leaders. Undoubtedly, John Wayne Enriques leads the pack.”
Aside from the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Maui, John is active, to name some of them, with the Maui
Economic Opportunity, Inc.; Lokahi Pacific; Filipino Community Council; and, the Mental Health Association
of Maui.
He is married to the former Geraldine Kim of Honolulu. They have three children: Randell, 38; Gerald
Keoni, 29; and Maile, 13. (NM)
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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