Annual Palama gala to recognize 2 revered families

Palama Settlement, a social serv­ice agency serving Kalihi and Palama, will honor two business-­oriented families who have made significant contributions to the nonprofit at its annual fundraiser Sept. 9 at the Sheraton Waikiki.

Siblings Steven Ai and Carol Ai May, who run Oahu’s City Mill building supplies chain; and Jim and Sherry Walters, owners of Hawaiian Building Maintenance, and their son Jarrett Walters, will be recognized at the 2017 Malama Palama Gala.

The 5:30 p.m. fundraiser will feature a silent auction, reception and dinner, live entertainment by Little Albert Maligmat, and dancing. Tickets are $250 per individual seat. Tables of 10 start at $2,500. For more information and to RSVP, visit 808ne.ws/palamagala or call 848-2532.

The Ais’ connection to Palama dates back to their grandfather Chung Kun Ai, who emigrated from China, and founded City Mill in 1899, originally as a lumber importing and rice mill business. Initially located on the edge of Chinatown, his warehouse was destroyed by a fire that raged out of control, set by government officials in 1900 to stop the spread of the bubonic plague.

Chung Kun Ai rebuilt his business from scratch, overcoming yet another fire and other pitfalls. He eventually established his flagship store on Nimitz Highway in 1950, according to a news release.

Ai worked with Palama Settlement founder James Rath in the early 1900s to establish a Chinese hospital, which did not fare well financially. Years later, in 1953, the prosperous Ai created a foundation to support projects like the Wai Wah Chinese Hospital, the Palolo Chinese Home, The First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawaii (which he attended), the YMCA and other organizations, including Palama Settlement.

Today Steven Ai is CEO and president, and Carol Ai May, vice president, of City Mill, which consists of eight stores.

The Walters started serving the community in Oklahoma long before they arrived in Hawaii in 1994, when Jim Walters began at Hawaiian Building Maintenance. He saw the work Palama did for neighborhood youth as similar to his youth ministry in Oklahoma. Soon he was volunteering, then joined the board of trustees and served as president at one time.

Son Jarrett Walters, Hawaiian Building Maintenance’s chief operating officer, learned to play volleyball at Palama. After returning from a mainland college, he began volunteering at the nonprofit and quickly followed in his father’s footsteps. He served on Palama’s board and is a past president. Sherry Walters is also a member of the board, and is on the Palama scholarship committee with her son.