Couple celebrates the season of giving by establishing a $50,000 scholarship at Shidler College

Matt and Erin Takamine
Matt and Erin Takamine

Matt Takamine, BBA ’98, and Erin Takamine have established an endowed scholarship at the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Their scholarship will benefit undergraduate students from public high schools in Hawai‘i who are pursuing a business degree in accounting.

“I was honored to be part of the first cohort of the Oscar and Rosetta Fish Scholarship for Excellence at the Shidler College of Business,” said Matt Takamine. “The Fish Scholarship was instrumental in my ability to complete my education and covered 100 percent of my tuition while at Shidler. It also allowed me to travel outside of the U.S. for the first time through the Asia Field Study program.”

“As a past Fish Scholarship recipient, Matt Takamine developed a deep sense of service and a strong desire to carry on the tradition of giving back. That is why he wanted to establish a scholarship at Shidler,” said Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business. “We are truly grateful for the Takamines’ gift and their commitment to supporting local students.”

Born and raised in Hawai‘i, the Takamines attended public high schools and UH Mānoa. While Erin eventually graduated from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst through the National Student Exchange program, Matt continued at UH and graduated from the Shidler College of Business.

Upon earning their degrees, the Takamines both began their careers with KPMG LLP. Matt Takamine was based in the Honolulu office while Erin Takamine worked in the Boston office for five years before transferring back home to Hawai‘i. 

Erin Takamine is currently an audit managing director at the KPMG Honolulu office. She also serves on the board of directors of Junior Achievement Hawaii and is active with Women Corporate Directors, the world’s largest membership organization and community of women corporate board directors.

Matt Takamine is an executive managing director and captive operations leader at Beecher Carlson, an Atlanta-based large accounts insurance brokerage and risk management advisory company. Beecher Carlson is one of the world's leading captive managers and consultants, managing companies with $4.4 billion in premiums and $19.2 billion of assets. Previously, he was a senior audit manager at KPMG LLP.  Matt also serves as the president of the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council. He is licensed as a certified public accountant.