From his perspective as former Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii President/CEO, Dennis Brown says, “The one constant in our program is that the Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring model works just as well today as it did 50 years ago. The positive power from each relationship we create and support helps both parties become better individuals and community contributors.”
Dennis was born into circumstances that didn't raise great expectations for his future. His father, a Caucasian, was in the military, and his mother was from Japan. When he was four, his parents divorced, and his mother moved her children from Missouri to Hawaii because she felt it would be a better cultural environment for her half-Asian children.
Around that time, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was expanding and they reached out across the ocean to Hawaii. Dennis was chosen as the first Little Brother in Hawaii in 1963. As Dennis says “I was rebellious and hard to get to know. I wasn't too keen about having a Big Brother. Like most kids who lose their fathers, I was resentful of anyone trying to take his place.” Luckily, Dennis was matched with an exceptional Big Brother, who was patient, kind, and shared many common interests with him. Eventually, Dennis and his Big Brother, Henry Sumida, found many things to keep them occupied. Henry taught Dennis how to play tennis and to bowl. They built model airplanes together, and went to movies and amusement parks.
But the most important time they spent together was after their activity, when they ended their outing with dessert. “That’s where we would have our conversations,” Dennis recalls. “Henry was such a good listener. I was very withdrawn, angry at the world, and felt that I was a victim of divorce. But here was someone who voluntarily listened to me vent about what I didn't like. I hated school, but Henry never lectured. He offered me advice and encouragement without being an authority figure. He was more of a friend, which is what I really needed then.”
The struggles Dennis had in school led to an apathy of college. Instead of accepting this, Henry showed Dennis that he had a future; together they toured the University of Hawaii campus. “Henry inspired me to believe that I too could go to college,” remembers Dennis, “Henry was an impressive guy to me. He had his own successful engineering business and I looked up to him. I knew my mom couldn't afford to send me to college, but Henry explained how he had joined the Air Force and gone to college courtesy of the GI Bill.”
Henry’s impact on Dennis stretched into adulthood. After graduating from high school, Dennis joined the Air Force, just as Henry had. The two stayed in touch throughout that time. Dennis recalls, “Henry was always there for Christmas and my birthday. He came to my high school graduation, and we corresponded through letters throughout my four years in the military.” Following the Air Force, Dennis went on to earn Bachelor and Master degrees in Sociology and Urban Planning. Dennis’ work in social services finally lead him full circle. Amazingly, in 1998, some 40+ years after becoming Hawaii’s first Little Brother, Dennis Brown became the President/CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu. With his leadership, experience and passion, he guided the organization forward into the bright future we have today.
