Bob Worthington

Infobox_Politician
name = Bob Worthington


order = Honorary Consul of the Cook Islands to the United States
term_start = March 19, 1985
term_end = 2008
deputy =
predecessor =
successor = Office closed
birth_date = 1936
birth_place = Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
death_date = August 14, 2008
death_place = Honolulu, Hawaii
spouse = Jean Rereao Karika Worthington

Robert Eugene Worthington (1936 - August 14, 2008) was the American former honorary consul of the Cook Islands to the United States. cite news |first= |last=|title=Kamehameha grad grew isle ties|url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/08/22/news/story13.html |work=Honolulu Star Bulletin |publisher=|date=2008-08-22 |accessdate=2008-09-02] Worthington also served as the director of financial and scholarship services at his alma mater, the Kamehameha Schools, from 1974 until 2003.

Additionally, Worthington served on the executive board of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and helped to organize the historic Hokule'a voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1975. He also worked behind the scenes at a large number of other important Hawaiian and Polynesian cultural, educational, athletic and political institutions including the Festival of Pacific Arts, the East-West Center, Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club and Gates Millennium Scholars Program.

Biography

Early life

Bob Worthington was born in Waikiki, Honolulu, on the island of Oahu in 1936. He attended the Kamehameha School for Boys boarding school, from which he graduated from in 1955. Worthington served as President of the student body during his senior year at Kamehameha.

He earned a scholarship to Occidental College in California where he received his bachelor's degree in political science.

Worthington moved to the Cook Islands, where he married his Cook Islander wife, Jean Rereao Karika Worthington. He and his family returned to Hawaii in 1974.

Career

Worthington was considered to be an advocate of closer cultural ties between Hawaii and other Polynesian island nations, especially the Cook Islands, French Polynesia and New Zealand. cite news |first= |last=|title=Kamehameha's 'liaison to the South Pacific', 72 |url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808210349 |work=Honolulu Advertiser |publisher=|date=2008-08-21 |accessdate=2008-09-04] He also advocated for a renewed interest in Polynesian and Hawaiian culture, even before the beginning of the Hawaiian Renaissance during the 1970s.

Worthington became the director of financial services at the Kamehameha Schools in 1973. He remained in that position until his retirement in 2003. Under Worthington's guidance, the Kamehameha Schools established foreign exchange programs with Polynesian communities in the Cook Islands, New Zealand, American Samoa and French Polynesia. For example, he established links between the Kamehameha Schools and a Maori school in New Zealand. During Worthington's thirty year tenure as financial director, the Kamehameha Schools grew to administer over 15,500 scholastic awards totalling more than $25.4 million dollars.

Worthington placed significant importance on the establishment of cultural, political, artistic and economic ties between Hawaii and other parts of the Pacific, particularly Polynesia. During the 1980s, Hawaiians artists were not invited to take part in the Festival of Pacific Arts because Hawaii was considered to be too closely associated only with the United States. cite news |first= |last=|title=PIAF says farewell to Robert E. Worthington |url=http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=28323152648b4ae4a408084f98e2ae&PHPSESSID=e42ac59703c59721f0d0f7893bc650d0|work=Pacific Islands News Association |publisher=|date=2008-08-27 |accessdate=2008-09-04] Worthington worked behind the scenes to promote the inclusion of Hawaiians in the Festival of Pacific Arts and today Hawaii is a full participant in the event, which takes place every four years.

Honorary Consul of the Cook Islands

Worthington was appointed the honorary consul of the Cook Islands to the United States in 1985. cite news |first= |last=|title=Long-Time Cook Islands Honorary Counsul Dies |url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/08/22/long-time-cook-islands-honorary-counsul-dies |work=Honolulu Advertiser |publisher=Pacific Magazine|date=2008-08-22 |accessdate=2008-09-04] His position, which was based in Hawaii, was formally recognized by the United States Department of State on March 19, 1985. Worthington, in his capacity as honorary consul, helped to promote tourism in the Cook Islands, expand ties with the United States including Hawaii, secure and negotiate landing rights in Rarotonga, and expand the Cook Islander papaya industry. He served as honorary consel for more than twenty years.

In early 2008, the Foreign Minister of Cook Islands Wilkie Rassmussen announced the closure of the Cook Islands consulate office in Hawaii, which was held by Worthington, due to rising costs and expenses. cite news |first= |last=|title=Hawaii Honorary Consul to Go |url=http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/view_release.php?release_id=1171|work=Government of the Cook Islands |publisher=|date=2008-02-11 |accessdate=2008-09-04]

Death

Bob Worthington died in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 14, 2008, at the age of 72. He was survived by his wife, Jean Rereao Karika Worthington; his five children - Teanaroa Paka Nakahili Worthington, Manavaroa Kamaki Worthington, Tapaarii Karika Ki'ilehua Worthington, Tevairangi Marae-Hino Pa'ahana Worthington Lopez and Moana Jean Karika Rule; and five grandchildren.

Worthington's funeral and memorial service was held at the Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel on the at the Kamehameha Schools in Kapalama, Hawaii. Guests, which included former Cook Islands Prime Minister Geoffrey Henry, came from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti and the rest of United States. Worthington's ashes were sprinkled from the Hokule'a into the Pacific Ocean off Waikiki. cite news |first= |last=|title=Bob’s last journey|url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h422c.htm|work=Cook Islands Herald |publisher=|date=2008-08-30 |accessdate=2008-09-04]

A separate "spiritual ceremony" was held in honor of Worthington at the Taputapuatea marae on the island of Raiatea in French Polynesia. cite news |first= |last=|title='Spiritual Ceremony' On Raiatea For Hawaii's Late Bob Worthington|url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/08/27/spiritual-ceremony-on-raiatea-for-hawaiis-late-bob-worthington|work=Tahitipresse |publisher=Pacific Magazine|date=2008-08-27 |accessdate=2008-09-04] Worthington had been best known in French Polynesia for his part in the organization of the first Hawaii to Tahiti voyage of the Hokule'a Polynesian sailing canoe voyage in 1975 through the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Another memorial service was held for local Cook Islanders in Sinai Hall in the Cook Islands. cite news |first= |last=|title=Locals pay tribute to Bob|url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h422d.htm|work=Cook Islands Herald |publisher=|date=2008-08-30 |accessdate=2008-09-04]

The former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Geoffrey Henry, who attended Worthington's memorial service in Hawaii, spoke of his contributions to the Cook Islands, "Bob was always there, incessantly helpful, with iconic efficiency, grace and enthusiasm. He helped secure the support of the governor of Hawaii, allowing us to establish our first office in the United States."

Current Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai also issued a statement in reaction to Worthington's death saying, "’Bob worked tirelessly for the Cook Islands, ensuring that we took full advantage of the close ties with Hawaii, especially in trade (maile leis), scholarships (University of Hawaii, East-West Center), training and various conferences and workshops."

References

External links

* [http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2008/August/08-22-04.htm East West Center: Robert Worthington dies]
* [http://www.pima.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=205&Itemid=1 PIAF says farewell to Robert E. Worthington]