There are people who walk among us who simply make the world better by being in it. Fire Chief Kazuo Todd was one of those people.
As Rotarians, we talk a lot about "Service Above Self." Kazuo didn't talk about it—he just did it. Whether leading our fire department through a crisis or showing up to help with a club project, he was the same person: present, humble, and ready to pitch in.
People who knew him well talk about his "servant leadership" philosophy—the idea that a leader's real job is to take care of the people around them. But even those of us who only knew him a little could feel it. A kind word. A quick smile. The way he never seemed too busy or too important to help.
How many lives did Kazuo touch over his years of service? There's no way to know. The families kept safe. The firefighters he mentored. The neighbors he served—not because it was his job, but because that's just who he was.
We were lucky to call him a fellow Rotarian. We were lucky to see what a life of purpose and genuine aloha looks like up close.
Our club, our community, our island—we're all going to miss him.
Mahalo, Kazuo. You showed us what service really means.
Share Your Memories
Leave a comment with your favorite memory of Kazuo, or share a photo that captures who he was. This past August, our club got together to celebrate his birthday—one of those good days you don't forget. If you have moments like that, please share them. Let's remember him together.