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Personal fraud prevention, cybersecurity protections by banks and U.S. Secret Service, and how to prevent online predators from causing you and/or loved ones a financial disaster will top Waimea Community Association’s 5:30-7 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 4, 2025 Town Meeting.
Three experts will share strategies and advice, including:
· Joely Chung, who is First Hawaiian Bank’s Senior Vice President who manages the bank’s Enterprise Operational Risk Division, focusing on mitigating losses associated with operational and fraud risks. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Chung is a practicing civil litigator, a former Prosecuting Attorney and a certified anti-money laundering specialist. She will specifically provide advice on how to protect yourself and loved ones from fraud.
· Adam Palmer, who is Chief Information Security Officer for First Hawaiian and who leads the Cybersecurity Division to safeguard the bank’s digital banking environment for customers. Palmer has an MBA from UH-Manoa and 20 years of cybersecurity experience.
· Cherise Richards, who is also a graduate of Kamehameha as well as Brigham Young University – Provo and George Washington University. After working for eBay and others, Richards joined the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) about 19 years ago as an analyst on the Presidential Protective Division in Washington, D.C. She is currently assigned to the Honolulu Field Office Hawai’i-Pacific Cyber Fraud Task Force in the Honolulu District Digital Forensic Lab, where she provides technical guidance, cybersecurity training and forensic support to Special Agents and law enforcement partners within the cyber community.
“We appreciate this level of expertise participating in our meeting, said WCA President Mary Beth Laychak.
As always, there is no charge to attend WCA Town Meetings and everyone is invited to participate in person, or to join in virtually via WCA’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation or YouTube Channel (www.WaimeaTown.org). Meetings are recorded and available for viewing later on both Facebook and YouTube.
Questions are welcome in advance by emailing: WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com.
Also on the town meeting agenda will be an update by Waimea Community Policing and a preview of the Aloha Festivals Island of Hawai’i 5-day Paniolo Festival Sept. 15-20 including the 73rd Annual Waimea Pa’u Parade on Sat., Sept. 20, and also a preview invitation to Waimea Community Weaving Hui's Maika’i Waimea Summit on Sat., Sept. 27, 2025. (See fliers below for both of these events.)
The month's spotlighted not-for-profit will be huiMAU, an inspiring community-based nonprofit on culturally rich Hamakua land, founded to re-establish systems that sustain the community through educational initiatives and ʻāina-centered practices that cultivate abundance, regenerate responsibilities, and promote collective health and well-being. As always, after the huiMAU presentation, attendees will be asked to make a tax deductible donation.
For more info about the meeting or WCA, email President Mary Beth Laychak at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to www.WaimeaTown.org. Membership in WCA is not required but suggested to support the not-for-profit organization’s now 60+-year community support mission. Dues paid now thru the end of the year are applied to 2026 membership.
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