GETTING TO KNOW 
MICHELLE DOLAN
51-year-old Michelle Dolan was sponsored into our Rotary Club of Honolulu last year by Lucci Pinoliad. Michelle is already part of our club’s Member Retention Team, and she is still unpacking from the club’s recent international service project. Michelle recently quit her full-time job as Fundraising Department Coordinator at the Honolulu Museum of Art, to spend more time with her family, travel, and Service Above Self. She now works part time on HR and Payroll for her husband Danny Dolan at the 3 restaurants he spent 15 years to develop: J Dolan’s at Kahala and Chinatown, and Ferguson’s Irish Pub downtown. “But he’s not my boss,” she jokes.
Born and raised in the Bay Area of California, Michelle transferred from junior college to Hawaii after turning 20. “From then on, I never wanted to leave this place of Aloha…I like the small-town feel, where family is a big deal.” She met future husband Danny in a UH Botany class, and they dated for 5 years before tying the knot and welcoming their son.
A life-changing tragedy happened on 2002 New Year’s Eve, when their house burned to the ground because of electrical mishap. Fortunately, Michelle, Danny and their 2-week-old son weren’t home…they were left with only the clothes on their backs. The Red Cross and firefighters beat Michelle to the scene. She will never forget their sincere help, and the donations of food, clothes and shelter triggered by a TV news story of the tragedy. That inspired Michelle’s spirit of giving and volunteerism to this day. She has served the Red Cross, and as a new Rotarian, joined members on the recent Cambodia/Vietnam trip. Her earlier experience in 2000-01 as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kyrgyzstan helped secure her devotion to Rotary’s Service Above Self. “I love the camaraderie…working in teams…dining together…sharing stories and energy with other Rotarians and making a difference in the world.”
