Gerri Pedesky was voted to Life Membership in the Outrigger Club Club at the Annual Meeting on February 29, 2016. Gerri joined the Outrigger in 1956 and started paddling on the novice crew. Not only did Gerri take to the ocean, but her desire to learn about Hawaii’s culture lured her to the Bishop Museum where she became a docent and eventually served on the Board of Directors. She went to work for Transcontinental Airways where she met her future husband, Jack Pedesky; they married in 1960.
Once Gerri got into paddling, she never stopped, except for the few years when she and Jack lived in Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles due to his job as a pilot. When they returned she plunged into the water again and never missed an Outrigger paddling season for the next 33 years. Over time, she continued on up the scale from Novice A to Master’s 65. She paddled three times in both Na Wahine O Ke Kai and the Dad Center. Gerri still keeps in shape, paddling three times a week throughout the year. She and her husband were also on the OCC running team for many years and completed several Honolulu marathons.
In 1978, Gerri decided to get involved in other phases at the Club and joined the Entertainment Committee. She has continued her service ever since and is presently an active member of the Historical Committee. Gerri served three terms on Outrigger’s Board of Directors from 1984 through 1989 and became involved in the Outrigger Foundation, formed in 1983, to raise money to support the Club’s athletic programs.
In 1986, as President of the Outrigger Foundation, she was instrumental in merging the Outrigger foundation with the Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, an organization whose mission was to perpetuate Duke’s name by providing financial support for individuals and organizations which perpetuate Duke’s spirit and legacy. She and Tom Lalakea, a member of the Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, had met during her affiliation with Bishop Museum where they were both members of the Board. Tom called Gerri one day and offered to donate some of his organization’s funds to the Outrigger Foundation. Instead, Gerri suggested merging the two foundations since both had similar goals. The merger eventually happened in 1986 and was a great success. Gerri is still deeply involved.
For 30 years she has sweltered in the hot sun on the 4th of July selling Macfarlane Regatta T-shirts, part of the profits of which go to the Foundation on which she has also served as secretary, vice-president and president. She has watched the Foundation grow over the years until, in 2015 more than $175,000 was awarded for grants and scholarships to Hawaii athletes, helping them to achieve their goals which they may never have realized without the assistance of the ODKF.
Since 1985, she has chaired the Macfarlane T-Shirt Committee, each year selecting the color and design of the shirts, with the invaluable assistance of Vik Watumull. She has also been responsible for rounding up volunteers each year to assist. Her tenure on the Foundation’s Board is unsurpassed.
Despite her long involvement on Boards and committees, Gerri jokingly says one of her favorite jobs has been as Chair of the Judges of Election. When asked why, she replies, “With an experienced team, it takes just one day to count the votes and another to announce the winners at the Annual Meeting.”
Since the late 1970’s, as far as the Outrigger goes, her name has always been followed by a designation, either as a committee member, Board member, or some part of ODKF. Gerri’s selection for Life Membership is a fitting reward for her long and dedicated service to the Outrigger Canoe Club where she continues to offer her talents and ideas. When Gerri serves on a committee, she totally involves herself and wholly enjoys it. She puts her heart and soul into every job she has held at the Club and has no intention of retiring. Like the Energizer Bunny, Gerri just keeps going.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1984 Coordinating Director Public Relations Committee
1985 Assistant Secretary/Coordinating Director Public Relations
1985 Coordinating Director Outrigger Foundation
1986 Coordinating Director House Committee
1987 Secretary
1986 Coordinating Director Public Relations Committee
OUTRIGGER DUKE KAHANAMOKU FOUNDATION
1986 Vice President Operations
1987 Secretary
1988 Vice President
1989 President
1990 Vice President Operations
1991 Vice President Operations
1992 Vice President Operations
1993 Vice President Oeprations
1994 Vice President Operations
1985-2018 Chair, Macfarlane Regatta T-Shirt Committee
ADMISSIONS & MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
1990 Member
1997 Member
2002 Member
2010 Member
2011 Member
2012 Member
ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE
1978 Member
HOUSE COMMITTEE
1994 Member
1995 Member
1996 Member
PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
1982 Member
1983 Chair
2003 Member
JUDGES OF ELECTION COMMITTEE
1994 Member
1995 Chair
1997 Chair
1999 Chair
2000 Chair
2001 Member
2005 Chair
2006 Chair
2007 Member
2008 Chair
2009 Chair
2010 Chair
2011 Chair
2012 Chair
2013 Chair
2014 Chair
2016 Chair
2017 Chair
2018 Co-Chair
2019 Member
2020 Member
2021 Member
20
HISTORICAL COMMITTEE
2014 Member
2015 Member
2016 Member
2017 Member
2018 Member
2019 Member
2020 Member
2021 Member
2022 Member
2023 Member
2024 Member
2024 Member
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
1992 Member
1993 Member
1996 Chair
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Na Wahine O Ke Kai
1991 1st Place Masters
1992 3rd Place Masters
1993 2nd Place Masters
HCRA State Championships
1979 1st Place Masters
1985 1st Place Senior Masters
1986 1st Place Senior Masters
1987 1st Place Senior Masters
1988 1st Place Senior Masters
1989 1st Place Senior Masters
1990 1st Place Senior Masters
1991 1st Place Senior Masters
1993 1st Place Senior Masters
OHCRA Championships
1979 1st Place Masters
1986 1st Place Senior Masters
1988 1st Place Senior Masters
1989 1st Place Senior Masters
1990 1st Place Senior Masters
1995 1st Place Golden Masters
1996 1st Place Golden Masters
Dad Center Long Distance Race
1990 1st Place Masters
1991 2nd Place Masters
Skippy Kamakawiwoole Long Distance Race
1985 1st Place Masters
Honolulu Marathon
1982 6:58:15
1983 6:50:38