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ENGIN TURKALP
Country: United States of America
Profession: Lawyer
I have known her a long time, when we were both new comers in Hawaii 25 years ago we were called “Haole”
outsider in Hawaiian. In fact, we were having great difficulty adapting to Hawaiian culture. Those days
have gone and we have become “Kamaaina,” or native Hawaiian.
What I want to write about is one Kamaaina woman of Turkish origin. Her name is Engin Turkalp. She came
to Hawaii in 1972 from Istanbul, with two beautiful children, Umur and Deger, to join her husband.
Engin was a graduate from law school with 13 years of practice in Istanbul. What made her give up her
career and travel half way around the world? The answer has something to do with her husband, a young
handsome man from Karadeniz, who was already in Hawaii and working in a structural engineering company.
Engin couldn’t speak English and was unable to practice law in the U.S. These handicaps hung like thick
dark cloud over head in Hawaii’s spotless sky. Those dark clouds were driven away by a rainbow, during
the last 30 years Hawaii’s travel industries, such as hotels, and shopping centers have flourished and
Engin’s husband Ismet Turkalp’s name became the most well known architect in Hawaii.
With each passing year, economic difficulties were left behind for the Turkalps.
Now with less to worry about, Engin created new occupations for herself. She joined English classes and
extended her activities. With her effort TAFAH (Turkish-American Friendship Association of Hawaii) was
established in 1975, and she was elected as its President. Thanks to other Turkish people on the island,
many social and cultural activities, including highly successful nights at the Blaisdale Center, Mc Coy
Pavilion and Pacific Regent Hotel, have been established now and Turks made an impression and have a
voice in Hawaii. Later TAFAH joined ATAA, mother of all the Turkish societies in U.S.A.
Engin, true to the Turkish meaning of her name (boundless or open sea) became a household name in Hawaii’s
society. Those who couldn’t pronounce her name in Turkish, called her “Engine” in English. That was OK
because she worked like a steam engine.
As the years passed she became a Lioness. Soon she took all the Lionesses in Hawaii under her domain and
became the President of Lioness Club of Hawaii. I remember seeing her in Waikiki in July 1989, where she
was greeting the Lion and Lioness club members of Turkey in the world convention held in Honolulu. The
following year she was invited as a guest speaker at the Rotary Club and Lioness Club in Istanbul.
As the time passed, their children grew fast. Umur and Deger received the best education; both graduated
from Washington State University and are now working in good jobs in California. So Engin in Hawaii has
become involved with the American Heart Association. She worked hard in fundraising. Her tireless
efforts look like new heart transplantation for the ailing Association. I remember well when she asked
me to speak at a luncheon meeting, which I accepted with delight.
My admiration of her activities convince me that she could be an ideal Honorary Consul of Turkey in
Hawaii. I encouraged her to accept this idea. Unfortunately our goodwill call fell on deaf ears in
Ankara.
Did this disappointment stop her from doing good works? Of course not. She extended both hands to Turks,
as well as others, who needed any help. She sometimes delivered food, shelter, money or sometimes
one-way air tickets fro those stranded on the island. No wonder her nickname became “Konsolos Abla.”
Engin time after time engaged in politics, especially when Turkish pride or interests were hurt by other
ethnic groups, such as Armenians or Greeks. She called, wrote, sent faxes or e-mails to our Congress
members and Senators, reminding them that Turks in Hawaii, like elsewhere are very sensitive about the
issue and would accept nothing less than fairness.
Nobody knows or can guess when she will retire from her goodwill works. But I am confident that she will
never run out of new activities. I often thought that she be “obsessive compulsive” for helping others
and the society.
Above all, Engin’s social life is deeply involved with the “Honolulu Symphony Associate.” In fact during
the last 14 years she was in the circle worked as Social Vice-President and Administrative Vice President,
and now this year she was elected as President. Engin dreamed for many years off bringing the conductor
of the Ankara State Orchestra to Honolulu as a guest. Now she is closer to making that a reality.
I salute this remarkable Turkish woman, and I am happy to introduce her to you as my highly regarded
friend.
By Dr. Hamdi Yilmaz
Sema Karaoglu |
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