Larry Goeas, BBA ’84, Gregg Matsuura, BBA ’86 & Wesley Yamamoto, BBA ’77
The Kikawa/Goeas Group of Raymond James in Honolulu was recognized as one of the top institutional consulting teams in the nation. The firm was ranked No. 58 on Barron’s 2021 Top 100 Institutional Consulting Teams list and was the only consulting group from Hawaii to be included. Three of the group’s 10 partners – Larry Goeas, BBA ’84, Gregg Matsuura, BBA ’86 and Wesley Yamamoto, BBA ’77 – are Shidler College alumni.
Manu Ka`iama, BA ’82, MAcc ’88 & Katrina-Ann Oliveira, EMBA ’19
School of Accountancy instructor Manu Ka`iama, BA ’82, MAcc ’88, and Katrina-Ann Oliveira, EMBA ’19, have been working hard to preserve and promote resources for Native Hawaiian learning, while tapping into the Shidler alumni network.
Together, they have co-authored the Noʻeau Program grant, totaling $2.3 million, printing over 94,500 books in Hawaiian for immersion schools throughout Hawaiʻi, as well as creating 52 Hawaiian language audiobooks. Additionally, the grant provided opportunities for Hawaiians to work in graduate research and as teaching assistants across UH. The program also received support from Shidler alumnus Meh'ana Maka`iana`i, MBA ’07, along with help from Shidler Master in Human Resources candidate Morgan Plunkett.
Ka`iama and Oliveira were recently informed that they received the Mai ʻŌ A ʻŌ grant for five years, totaling $5.4 million. This grant specifically addresses technology as a means to education, assisting teachers to capitalize technological applications.
Mark Yamakawa, MBA ’87
Mark Yamakawa, MBA ’87, was named Career Achievement Honoree in Pacific Business News’ annual Business Leadership Hawaii Awards. This annual recognition honors top business leaders from small, large and nonprofit businesses. Honorees are selected based on the impacts they’ve made on their companies, industries and communities. Yamakawa also retired as CEO from Hawaii Dental Service in 2021 after seven years with the company.
Dan Ihara, BBA ‘86
Dan Ihara, BBA ‘86, has been named leader of KW Real Estate Planner, the newest community in Keller Williams Realty International, open to the top 1% of realtors in the U.S. As part of this group, Ihara shares his knowledge, training and experience with other real estate owners.
Rose Kemna, BBA ’84
Rose Kemna, BBA ’84, earned an Aloha ‘Āina REALTOR® Award. The Honolulu Board of REALTORS® annually recognizes 10 individuals who excel in the real estate profession and have gone above and beyond in service to their clients. Kemna is currently a realtor broker at Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers.
Diane Inouye, BBA ’84
Diane Inouye, BBA ’84, has been appointed Vice President of Island Insurance Companies’ Commercial Insurance Division. In her elevated role, Inouye will oversee Island's Commercial Underwriting, Risk Control, Premium Audit and Surety departments, in addition to serving as President of IC International. Inouye has over 35 years of experience in the insurance industry.
Denise Iseri-Matsubara, BBA ’86
Denise Iseri-Matsubara, BBA ’86, was hired as executive director of the City and County of Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Housing & Homelessness. She will lead efforts to complete various housing initiatives.. Iseri-Matsubara will also be taking over leadership of the city’s Affordable Housing Working Group.
Rick Ching, MBA ’86
Best of luck to Rick Ching, MBA ’86, as he retires from his role as president and COO at Servco Pacific, Inc. effective Oct. 1. Ching will continue to serve as a director on Servco’s Global Mobility Board. He will retire with 38 years of service to Servco, holding various leadership positions in corporate finance and automotive operations.