Some longtime members of the 'Iolani School Board of Governors have recently retired from their positions on the board, while new members were elected. The changes were announced in a letter to faculty and staff from James Kawashima '60, chairman of the 'Iolani School's Board of Governors, and Headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita '67.
The transition is a result of recent revisions to the school bylaws which were made with the assistance of a nationally-recognized consultant on secondary, and post-secondary, school governance. The board voted for the adoption of term limits for members and officers. Instituting term limits assures long range benefit to the school and allows the board to better meet the changing needs of the school and community, Kawashima said.
With this change to the bylaws, several members chose to retire allowing new members to be elected as replacements. A new slate of officers was also elected at the board's annual meeting on June 9.
"We cannot thank these loyal members of the board enough for their contributions over the years," Kawashima said. " Please join me in thanking and saluting Mr. Murray Grune (20 years), Mrs. Barbara Ishida (30 years), Mr. Michael Sen (20 years) and Mr. Tamotsu Tanaka (40 years). If we include the late Bill Aull's 39 years on the board before his unfortunate passing recently, we have a total of almost 150 years served by five individuals, a feat in and of itself."
To replace these valued members, the board elected five outstanding individuals who are all committed to 'Iolani and bring talent, expertise and vision to their new roles. The new board members include:
- Mr. Melvin Kaneshige '66 has been a long-standing supporter of the school. He received an A.B. degree from Harvard and a J. D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a practicing attorney from 1975 to 1995, after which he joined the Outrigger Hotels, serving as Executive Vice President, Real Estate and Development, for the Outrigger Enterprises Group since 1995. His two children are 'Iolani graduates, Pace '05 and Tate '08.
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Dr. Calvin Oishi '79 has assisted several 'Iolani athletic teams on medical issues for many years. He matriculated to Pomona College and earned his M.D. degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. He is one of the foremost orthopedic surgeons in the State.
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Mrs. Lisa Sakamoto is an active 'Iolani parent (sons Jeffrey '09 and John '12) who received a BBA from UH-Manoa and an MBA from New York University. She is a CPA and currently serves as the Diocesan Finance Officer for the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii.
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Dr. Cathy Bell '87 is a practicing child psychiatrist and was educated at Yale University and the UH School of Medicine.
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Mr. Mark Yamakawa '74 serves as the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for The Queen's Health Systems. He received his BS degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from UH-Manoa. His two children are ‘Iolani graduates, Rachel '02 and Robyn '05. He is also the 2009 recipient of the Alumni Service Award.
The board also elected a new slate of officers for a two-year term commencing on July 1, 2009, including: Chair - Ms. Jenai S. Wall; Vice Chair - Dr. Mark Mugiishi; Secretary - Mr. Steven Ai; Treasurer - Mr. Don Horner.
"It was with much pride that the board elected this slate by acclamation," Kawashima added. "We look forward to their leadership."
Kawashima will remain on the board to ensure a smooth transition. He has been a member of the 'Iolani Board of Governors since 1981 and has served as its chair for 17 years, leading 'Iolani through decades of growth and accomplishment.
