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Moke Strassberg, President
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Family:
Moke, Glori (wife), Matthew (son) and dogs - Dylan, Jacey, Cassie and Jackson.
History with Goldens:
After five years with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, Johnston Island and Hilo, I transferred to
U.S. Customs in Honolulu in 1971 where I retired as a supervisor in 1996. That was about a year after
getting our first two Goldens. My pre-teen son had wanted a Golden for about a year, and we had been
directed to a very reputable breeder who just happens to be our club's Corresponding Secretary. First, we
got Brody. Four months later, it was Jacey.
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And two years after that was Mandy. All dogs got obedience
titles, and the two girls became champions (Jacey at 8 months). After breeding Mandy, we kept a boy (Dylan)
and girl (Cassie) from the litter and put a championship and obedience title on Dylan. After
losing Brody and Mandy in one year, it was difficult. But if you discontinue with dogs, you devalue the
importance of the ones you had lost in your life. So you go on and keep them in your heart. Then, in 2005,
Jacey got her Utility title, finished #2 in the state for the year, and retired. Because of her
accomplishments, I applied to the AKC as an obedience judge and am now trying to get my provisional judging
completed while teaching Open obedience for the Obedience Training Club of Hawaii. Most recently, we got Jackson who
looks very promising for show and obedience. So we're up to four. It's always interesting to see my wife
with several large dogs after only having a small Maltese before we were married.
Reason why I joined the club:
GRCH started as a group of show folks and evolved to some show people and lots of Golden lovers.
Originally, I didn't know anything about a Golden club but asked one of the members where he got those great,
industrial strength bags for picking up droppings. Since he got them from another member, he told me to
join the club. Not only did I get those great bags, but I ended up with a wonderful club comprised of
terrific people with no egos. We have fun together at our outings, and I can't imagine serving on a Board of
Directors with a better bunch of people. No fights, no arguments, and we actually like each other.
Peggy Ketcham, Recording Secretary
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I'm a Registered Nurse and work at Kahuku Hospital on the North Shore. I've
been involved with Golden Retrievers for almost 30 years. It was definitely
love at first sight. My husband Ted and I are currently owned by four Goldens,
two boys and two girls. Life would be very boring without them, no hair to
clean up, slobber to wipe off, or kisses to receive all the time!!! I've
been an Obedience Instructor for LTCH for almost 30 years and shown in the
conformation shows about the same number of years off and on. My true love
is with Obedience Trials, but it's quite exciting to own and have a Champion in
the family. I was involved with the Golden Retriever Club way back when
there were only a few of us and not much going on. I came back to the club
about six years ago and got actively involved on the Board of
Directors. It's been a wonderful experience to be a part of such a wonderful
club and
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Board. I truly love to go to the meetings. (That's right, WE HAVE
FUN, DECISIONS ARE MADE, AND WE LIKE EACH OTHER.) I'm also in charge of
Pet Expo, the Halloween Party and Membership Meeting, and for the past four
years have hosted the annual Christmas Party at my house (humans only). We
have grown into a wonderful club which provides some great services and I hope
to always be a part of it.
Jackie Kupau, Corresponding Secretary
I have been involved in obedience for the past forty plus years. I enjoy the sport and
love earning titles on my dogs. I have been a breeder of PW Corgis for over thirty five years
and took a serious interest with these wonderful goldens. They are the love of my life,
and wouldn't be without one. We have bred many champions, and many with obedience
titles, which we are proud of.
Jim Williams, Vice President
Debbie Williams, Treasurer
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Family:
Jim, Debbie, and goldens Missy, Sam, and Annie
History with Goldens:
We got our first golden about 25 years ago when our obedience instructor, a golden breeder,
offered us one of her puppies. Since then we have had 5 other goldens. We started obedience and agility
training with our dogs on the Mainland and continued with Leeward Training Club when we moved to Hawaii 15
years ago. Jim and I are instructors at LTCH and have done obedience, rally, and agility training with our
dogs.
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We have been blessed with several dogs through the rescue program, adopting Missy at age 10 and Annie at
age 1-1/2.
Reason I joined the Club:
Not only are goldens wonderful dogs, we find that golden owners are wonderful people, too.
We enjoy the opportunity to promote the breed through club activities, such as hospital visits and our Pet
Expo booth. Nearlest to our hearts is the rescue program, which provides a second chance for some very
deserving dogs.
Cynthia Dearfield, Director
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Family:
Cynthia, Husband Mark and Golden Daphne
History with Goldens:
Our families grew up with dogs
-- Mark with dachshunds, and Cynthia with German
Shepherds, and we owned a wonderful husky-mix in the
first ten years of our marriage. However, we had both
always wanted to own a Golden, and we finally got very
lucky in 1993 by connecting with a serious Golden
breeder on the east coast who sold us Jezebel, a
seven-week old pup from a big litter with champion
bloodlines. After seven fantastic years with this
family pet who had tons of pep and personality, we
adopted another Golden girl, Jamaica --
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eight-years-old and horribly obese (135
pounds) with the
personality of a slug. Turns out Jamaica was
hypothyroid -- once we got her the proper medication,
she lost 50 pounds in about three months and turned
into a different dog, sweet and full of personality,
who could almost hold her own in ball chasing with the
athletic Jezebel. When we lost the two of them within
a year of each other, we were posted overseas and
suffered without a Golden for two years. Upon our
arrival in Hawaii in 2005, we were lucky enough to
adopt our current Golden, Daphne, from Mark's sister
and her family. Daphne is a bit like Jezebel in terms
of personality and had a weight problem like Jamaica
(although thankfully not a thyroid problem), but we
are proud to say that after good advice from GRCH
officers like Peggy and Moke, she has lost 20 pounds
and is down to a fighting weight of 65 pounds from a
combination of low-fat food, few treats and lots of
exercise.
Reason we joined the club:
Because we both travel
often and work with lots of people in our jobs, we
were content to spend most our spare time with just
each other and Daphne. Daphne, however, had other
ideas as a true Golden extrovert, she loves
socializing with other dogs. With few suitable canine
companions in the neighborhood, we looked up GRCH on
the web and soon thereafter were invited to meet club
members at the Beach party in 2006. Between the dog
buddies for Daph, the fun activities like the hospital
visits, shows and pet expo as well as the super
people, we decided we wanted to join. Although not a
"club" person usually, by the end of the year, I was
more and more interested in the club activities and
volunteered to serve as a director. I am learning more
about the breed, participating in the service
activities, getting some show experience as a steward,
and spending time with some truly wonderful people and
Goldens. When I retire in a few years, I would like to
be involved in Golden rescue and assistance dog
training.
Barbara Krasniewski, Director
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Family:
Husband Stan, Goldens (from left) Spencer, Maile (hiding) and Max
How We Found Goldens:
I have always loved dogs and as a child, began bringing home "strays". As an adult, my first family
dog was a semi-golden retriever named Boomer who won our hearts immediately. His mother was a
purebred golden retriever that made the unwise decision to leave her yard while in season, so
Boomer's father was a "traveling man". Since we loved Boomer's disposition, his enthusiasm and
his intelligence, we were determined to find those qualities in future dogs. So, goldens
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became
our dogs of choice. Our family has had purebred goldens since 1988. We became active in
obedience training in 1980 and joined the Golden Retriever Club of Hawaii about 4 years ago. We
have enjoyed the camaraderie and activities provided by this special group. We have learned so much
about caring for our goldens through other members and through the programs sponsored by the
club. Our favorite activity is the hospital visits to Kapiolani Children's Hospital.
Mary Lou Lomaka, Director
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Family:
Jerry (husband), Zeus(African Gray Parrot), Hippity (bunny and Mary Lou’s co-therapist), 17 finches,
Petey, Kai and Gluey Pooh (parakeets), Mel( the old man turtle), and our beloved Goldens -- Makamaka
and Makalea. Maka is five years old and came to us from Australia which was a wonderful
experience. He weathered the flight very well and became the delight of the guys at Quarantine
until we came to pick him up at the airport. Lea is 6 months and just came to us from the Big Island.
History with Goldens:
I owned my first Golden in 1974 in Denver. He was a
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real love but had a horrible skin condition
which finally was the reason I lost him after 7 years. I was a confirmed Golden lover after Jack and
waited for the day I could have another.
Jerry and I came to Hawaii in 1990 accompanied by one of our three dogs from the mainland a
miniature schnauzer, Papi. We all did our four month stint in Quarantine (v0isitation was much
like visiting a loved one at OCCC —- we’d take snacks and lawn chairs and sit with her in her kennel
on visitation days. Those were the good old days here in Hawaii for new pet arrivals!!!
Jerry and I together and separately have always owned dogs, assorted breeds and types.
After getting settled in 1991 in our rental house in Waikane overlooking Chinaman’s hat, we got our
first Hawaiian Golden, Hokulani, to join Jerry and I and Papi, our schnauzer. The owners of our
house were the most gracious local family, and they welcomed us and our pets.
I believe we joined the Golden club back in the mid-90’s and have been members in absentia since
then. After we lost our schnauzer, we decided to bring home a Springer Spaniel, Kiko, to be a
companion to Hoku. She was a total love at the pet store that became a whirling dervish with a
mind of her own the minute she hit our front door. We loved her and had her fourteen years. While
a Vet’s dream come true with numerous lumps, loss of both eyes, heart murmur, etc., she never stopped
wanting to go walking. Kiko was not Miss Congeniality with other dogs which limited our
opportunity to be at club events with Hoku and later Maka. Both of our Hawaiian Goldens missed out
on a lot of fun with the Club. Fortunately, for all of us that will change as we are purely a
Golden family now.
We lost Kiko in late summer after 14 years and many, many walks which were her first and favorite
past time. We were a familiar sight walking on Duck Lane here in Kailua with her and Hoku and later
Maka.
We quickly went about adding another female Golden to our family, and happily, Lea joined us in
October. She quickly became Maka’s best buddy -- the friend and playmate he had never had
before. She loves other dogs and children as well as anyone who comes to visit. I have hopes
of adding her to my play therapy practice with young children 2-12 years old after she
completes all her training. She already stops and sits for kids when we are out walking.
Our entire family, minus the birds, bunny and turtle, of course -- Jerry, Maka, myself and Lea
are looking forward to being much more active with the Club, and I am happy to serve on the
Board to promote and assist Goldens and their families in whatever way I can.
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