Honolulu
Gerald was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 21, 1983. After a childhood in the rough and tumble Kalihi neighborhood outside downtown, Gerald moved to suburban Salt Lake where he attended Aliamanu Elementary and Intermediate Schools. He later graduated from Moanalua High School on May 25, 2001.
Gerald's family still lives in Honolulu. His father is a retired utility steward, having worked for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel while taking a second job as a dishwasher at the Likelike Drive Inn. Gerald's mother started out as a chocolate factory worker, seamstress and housekeeper. She currently works for the historic Moana Surfrider—a Westin Resort. Both parents have and continue to be union activists with UNITE HERE Local 5. Gerald's younger brother works as a human resources manager.
Chicago
Gerald follows a recent line of former Honoluluans who've become prolific activists hitting the streets of Chicago—from Barack Obama to Tammy Duckworth. Gerald moved to Chicago to attend Loyola University, expecting to return to Oahu. He fell in love with Chicago decided to stay, living in the Edgewater, Uptown and Lakeview area for several years.
Gerald became a political consultant and worked as an aide to various candidates before becoming an advisor to a U.S. Senate candidate. He then turned to health care, becoming a social services professional serving elders and veterans. He is now known in industry circles as a revolutionary in his style of caring for elders. He is a disciple of Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams in the transformation of our health systems to provide Person First care. Gerald is also a believer in the national Culture Change movement to reinvent nursing care based on a Person First model.
Did you know?
If elected, Gerald will be an additional LGBT voice in the Chicago City Council and the first Asian American alderman in the city's history.
As a youth, Gerald was the recipient of seven Citations of Citizenship from the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, issued by Admiral Robert J. Kelly and later, Admiral Ronald J. Zlatoper.
Gerald and a handful of other youths were recipients of the State of Hawaii Governor's Commendation, issued by Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano for spending time at the Hawaii State Capitol to discuss perspectives and brainstorm on economic development, diversification and sustainability.
Gerald is an INFJ Myers-Briggs personality type.
Gerald sleeps with a reliquary of Hawaiian soil on his bedside with a note by King David Kalakaua, "Remember who you are. Be gracious but never forget from whence you came, for this is where your heart is, this is the cradle of your life."
