In 1990, Bożena Jarnot opened Hawaii Polonia Tours, of which she is the owner and the president. The company organises Hawaiian holidays for Poles from the USA, Poland, Canada and Australia. Along with her tourism-related activity, she also started to actively promote Polish culture in Hawaii and to show the traditions of Polynesian islands to Poles. As the president of the Polish Cultural Society of Hawaii (set up in the 1990s), she organises festivals of Polish culture there. She is also an active member of the Chopin Society of Hawaii and she is engaged in the activity of the Society of Polish American Travel Agents (since 1993) and the Rotary Club of Waikiki in Honolulu (since 1995).
Bożena Jarnot is also a host for many Polish personalities of politics and culture when they visit Hawaii, including President Lech Wałęsa, Olgierd Budrewicz, Michał Bajor, Irena Jarocka, Jerzy Kawalerowicz.
Her cooperation with Poland resulted in Hawaiian shows in Poland in 1996, 1998 and 2000, which were presented during such excellent events as “Farewell to the Summer”, co-organised by Channel 2 of Polish TV, and charity concerts for Elżbieta Smorawiłska’s Foundation in Poznań and Jolanta Kwaśniewska’s Foundation in Warsaw. Traditionally, every September, she also organises the Hawaiian Tourist Fair in Poland.
Bożena Jarnot is also a publisher of the first Polish guidebook for Hawaii, written by A. Kulka – Hawaje (Honolulu 1995) – and the co-author and publisher of another, richly illustrated guidebook – Hawaje – archipelag magiczny (Hawaii – the magic archipelago, Honolulu 2003). She has produced a Polish film about the islands, Hawaje po polsku (Hawaii in Polish).
Appreciation for Ms Bożena Jarnot’s merit was fully expressed in 1998, when she was appointed as the honorary consul of the Republic of Poland in Honolulu for Hawaii. When asked about her duties as a consul, she said that first of all, she “fights for Poland”. This is the function for those who “want to do something for their motherland and do not expect remuneration for that”.
The social activity of Ms Bożena Jarnot in the Polish community in the USA has been recognised in Poland, too. She was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland by the Polish president.
Although she is rather busy, Ms Jarnot finds time for her hobbies – skiing and dancing – and she develops her interests in film and literature. Olgierd Budrewicz once called her “a volcano-woman”.
Weddings in Hawaii are very popular these days. It is one of the services which Mrs Jarnot offers to Polish couples from the USA and Poland. Saying “I do” is probably one of the most important moments in life, so it requires special surroundings. Hawaiian landscape and Ms Jarnot’s professional care will surely let you have a great romantic memory for the rest of your lives.
As the sea cruises became more popular, Ms Jarnot focused on promotion and organisation of sea journeys for Polish groups on the seas and oceans of the whole world. As a result, thanks to her initiatives, Poles can relax and enjoy the most luxurious and newest cruise liners available. This also includes visiting Hawaii on board of Pride of America, the only cruise ship which takes passengers to Pacific cruises.
See you in Eden!
The article was made available courtesy of Mr. Przemysław Skok and Poland.us
Photo © from the archives of Bożena Jarnot