DEPARTMENT:

Dorvin Leis is the founder and chairman of Hawaii’s largest mechanical contractor company, with an estimated annual revenue of $125,000,000 plus. He is a principal owner of Mokulele Airlines, which operates go! Express. He owns a music company in Nashville, and Davidson’s Pasturized Eggs in Chicago. With his wife Betty, Dorvin’s charitable contributions include $1,000,000 to Maui Community College, $1.5 million to a Charitable Remainder Unit Trust benefitting 25 different charities. Maui Arts and Cultural Center has also benefitted from his generosity.
 
After all you have accomplished what do you feel was your greatest?

Getting a hole-in-one on the eighth hole at Waialae, November 24, 2004 and winning two awards the AFP 2003 Outstanding Philanthropist award and the 2006 Maui County Council Boy Scouts of America Outstanding Citizen Award.

How long have you and Betty been married? And, what about your children and grandchildren? How many?

Betty and I have been married for 60 years. We have seven children. Thirteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren.

What do you consider your greatest extravagance?

My cars…3 T-Birds (new ones), a Cobra, two Prowlers, an original 1927 Model T, and a 1923 Ford full race T-bucket.

Who is the historical figure with whom you most identify?

President Abraham Lincoln.

Who was your inspiration?

My mother.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Helping someone who needs my help. Not necessarily financially, but who needs me to teach them some life lessons, and to provide some direction.

What is the quality you most admire in a woman?

Intelligence. And, the ability to comprehend what I am all about.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Integrity and honesty. I like a man that stands up for what he believes in.

Which living person do you most admire?

President George W. Bush…He faces the challenges that the world presents, and makes every effort to overcome them.

What is your favorite book or author?

Mark Twain. I look foward to the day when I can take the time to read all his work.

Which living person do you most despise?

Osama Bin Laden—He has made us crazy with fear by intimidation. The world has changed…we are now way too overprotective and security conscious and have spent entirely too much money on security systems. All of this is due to Bin Laden’s constant threats and manipulations.

What is your greatest fear?

Women drivers.

Dorvin, tell me, what is your current state of mind?

Pretty clear.

Tell me something the world doesn’t know about you.

Flowers. I love flowers, all plant life, kids, and animals.

Which is your favorite Hawaiian Island?

Oahu. Honolulu is where it all happens.

What is your most treasured possession?

A letter opener that my mother made for me when she was working on B-29s at Douglas Aircraft Plant, in Long Beach, California. The opener was made out of stainless steel and it has held up through all these years. It was the only outside job she ever had and that was during World War II.

How would you like to be remembered?

As an honest, fair person.

What did you think of Coach Jones leaving us?

Well, I called him and we had a good conversation. He seemed OK with leaving, as it will benefit the UH Athletic program because it has exposed the infrastructure problems thus UH will be much better off in the future.

Did you pony up to keep him?

No, they didn’t ask me to.

Would you have?

Yes, I would have.

Dorvin, what words or phrase do you most overuse?

Oh Crap!

Anything else?

I’d like my epitaph to read: ‘Fight, F**k, or Run’

back to top

© Copyright Generations Hawaii. Designed by Trade Publishing