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	AssnNewsNet Profile: Captain Bill Hanamaikai by Bryan Harrison, Association News Network, Inc. Known far and wide as one of the most laid-back, congenial guys you’ll ever meet in the industry, Bill Hanamaikai is a man who gets things done. Holding true to his roots is Bill’s way. Born in Haiku, Maui, Bill spent his early formative elementary years at Haiku School. Following his freshman year at Maui High School, his family picked up and moved to the mainland,	Bill Hanamaikai

landing in East L.A., in search for better employment opportunities . Bill attended and graduated from Garfield High School, where the film “Stand and Deliver” was made. The film is based on the true story of an AP Calculus teacher at James A. Garfield High School, Jaime Escalante, played by Edward James Olmos, who used to be in the TV show, ‘Miami Vice”, determined to change the system and challenge the students to a higher level of achievement. Following high school graduation, Bill attended East L.A. College, earning his AA degree, before moving on to Long Beach State, where he earned a B.A. degree in political science . Bill was recruited by people from the insurance adjusting firm, General Adjusting Bureau, while at Long Beach State. They flew him to San Francisco, courting him to join the world of claims adjusting. “I graduated from Long Beach State on a Thursday,” he tells us, “and started work the following Monday,” he says with a chuckle. “No break in between.” The firm, which became known simply as GAB (now GAB Robins), gave Bill all the introduction he would need into the insurance claims business. He worked at General Adjusting Bureau for just three years before going to the carrier side at TransAmerican Insurance, then American Reserve, before landing at Ohio Casualty. The move to Ohio Casualty proved to be pretty life altering, as they transferred Bill and his young family to Fresno, to become the Branch Claims Manager. When California’s notorious Prop. 103 passed, Ohio Casualty left the state. Bill, having burned no bridges, was able to return to GAB. Then, in 1991, Bill was one of 18 people from GAB who picked up and went to Lindsey & Newsom, a controversial move at the time. Lindsey & Newsom became Lindsey & Morden, and ultimately Cunningham Lindsey. Bill ultimately left Cunningham Lindsey, going back to GAB for a couple of years, before landing with VeriClaim, Inc., where he seems most at home. VeriClaim has it’s own trans formative history. Formerly Toplis & Harding, an English based firm founded in 1790, Bill explains that Toplis & Harding came to U.S. in 1918, becoming a major player in the industry for years. In 1995, the firm merged with McLarens, a Scottish-based company, forming McLarens Toplis. In 2001, McLaren left at which time the name changed to VeriClaim, Inc. (still a Toplis & Harding company). If you’re confused by now, you’re not alone. Just ask Bill about it sometime. He’s very clear on the whole thing. An adjuster for years, Bill went into the marketing side of the business when he was with GAB the second go-round. He explains that he did do some adjusting as a General Adjuster for Lindsey & Newsom before going back into marketing full time. He is presently a National Sales Manager with VeriClaim, Inc., concentrating his efforts on the Western U.S. “Though that’s my official territory,” he says, “we generally go where are clients are,” he says, be it Arkansas, or wherever. Always on the move, Bill says he spends a good ten to fourteen work days on the road out of each 20-21 working day month. Somehow, from his early years, Bill has also maintained a sideline in law enforcement. He worked as a reserve police officer in Monterey Park, Southern California for ten years, before his transfer to Clovis when he accepted the Claims Manager position with Ohio Casualty in 1982. “I was there for the riots in East LA three years in a row,” he states with a certain level of pride, having survived that tumultuous time. Wasting no time upon moving to Clovis, Bill joined the force, and has now been 26 years on the Clovis Police Department. He has risen to the high rank of Captain there. “It’s mostly an administration post,” he states modestly. I started as a reserve officer, before being promoted to Sgt., then Lieutenant, and now Captain.” He’s been a Captain now for more than 15 years. Bill has also been very active in Boy Scouts of America, which the reason for his clean shaven hairstyle. As a scoutmaster, he challenged his boys that they would be able to shave his head if there were the honor troop at Camp Chawanakee at Shaver Lake. However, if they lost, he would shave their heads. Needles to say, Troop 101 was the honor troop, so the next morning, all of the boys used the hair clipper to cut off his hair. They then went on to win five of the next six years, which kept the hairstyle. Bill has also received the BSA Silver Beaver award, the national award for service. Somewhat amazingly, in the midst of his full life, Bill’s family has grown and grown. He and his wife, Kay, have seven (7) children: four girls and three boys. They now also have 14 grandchildren, split evenly with seven boys and seven girls. Two of his kids still live in Clovis; three are in Southern California; with the other being stationed with her husband in the U.S. Air Force in North Carolina , & the youngest son in Orem, UT. His wife, Kay, besides being a very busy mother, is also a now-retired high school English teacher. Bill is full of just pride when he talks about his children. All seven are college educated. Their eldest daughter has been an adjuster for State Farm. Second oldest daughter is an attorney, having graduated from Harvard Law School. Third in line, their eldest son, earned an MBA from UCLA. Next in line daughter is currently working on her doctorate in clinical social work from USC. Their youngest daughter, who holds a bachelor’s degree of her own, is a stay at home mom with three kids with her Air Force husband. Sadly the Carolina couple just suffered a traumatic loss, losing their premature baby boy, who was to have been their fourth. The family will convene in its entirety for services in Salt Lake City on July 12. Bill and Kay’s next to youngest son graduated from U.C. Irvine, and youngest is in school to become a Physical Therapist. As if he’s ever had free time, Bill says that “fishing is one of my favorite things - fresh water and deep sea.” He goes back to Hawaii every couple of years, as he can. One of eight kids, himself (six boys and two girls), a big family is a very natural thing for Bill. He has a sister and brother that still live in Hawaii. Given his Hawaiian lineage, Bill has been able to send all of his kids to the exclusive “Explorations" Summer program put on by the Kamehameha School (K-12) in Honolulu. There they’ve learned about the history of the islands, its people, traditions, and culture. His grandchildren are now making it back there for the program, too. “Keeping our heritage alive,” he says with a smile. In his younger days, Bill was a Samoan Fire Dancer. He had a group of young men that did male Polynesian dances. He has passed on his fire dance talent to his three sons. Bill has somehow also managed to maintain consistent involvement on the planning committee for the annual Claims Conference of N. California for each of the past eleven years. He first attended the popular two-day event in just its second year, when it was held at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento in 1995. “It was (independent adjuster) Bob Smoke who initially got me involved in the committee, in 1998,” he tells us. Initially, Bill worked on the promotions committee, helping the marketing effort. He later took on the job of chairing the Attendee & Exhibitors’ Services Committee, a fancy name for Security. 2007 CCNC President, Jon Aronson, convinced Bill to serve as his Vice President last year. “I didn’t realize until later that I was committing to taking on the presidency for 2008. “The CCNC is a tremendous thing for the industry,” he states enthusiastically. “The fact that we have volunteer representatives from so many local and regional organizations involved in making this happen each year makes it a truly special thing.” His presidency culminates with the 2008 event, being held July 24-25th at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Sacramento. “Our theme this year: ‘Orchestrating Your Career - trade training for today’s professional’, exemplifies the high standard this event has become well known for,” he says. Bill plans to stay on following his term as president to continue serving with the CCNC Attendee and Exhibitors’ Services (Security) Committee in the future. “It’s just too good to walk away from,” he says. Despite the recent tragedy within his own family, Bill remains upbeat about life, and his family. “We all do our best to support one another, even more so when something as devastating as the loss of a child occurs. We’re looking forward to the time we’ll have to share together, even though it’s a very sad occasion.” Forever positive, Captain Bill would just tell you “Mahalo”.

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