Iolani Alumni

Dr. Lance Taniguchi ‘94, a pediatrician with his own practice in Pearl City, is featured in the October 29th edition of the Midweek under the section entitled “Doctor in the House”. In the article, the Creighton graduate (and Iolani Alumni Board Member) responds to concerns about the current flu season, fevers in infants and young children and dealing with common behavioral issues. Read the full article »

During his days at Iolani, Dr. Taniguchi was a starter in both football and baseball and was the 1994 recipient of the Tim Scott Award which is awarded to “those seniors, who through exemplary personal effort within their God-given abilities, have achieved distinction in both athletics and academics.”

[Photo: Midweek]

Hank Wuh ‘77, the founder and CEO of local biotechnology firm Cellular Bioengineering Inc. (CBI), was featured on the cover of the August 29, 2008 edition of the Pacific Business News after his company completed its first set of clinical trials - successfully implanting artificial corneas into 10 patients in Europe. Head boys basketball coach Dr. Mark Mugiishi ‘77, the company’s medical director, was also shown.
Read the article »

Several pages in, Joy Nishikawa (wife of Jason Nishikawa ‘89), the owner of Pure Joy Day Spa, explained how she “mastered the art of friendly competition” in the growth of her small business.
Read the article »

Note: Subscription is required to read the FULL article.

After graduating from Brown University, Garrett Matsunaga ‘91 went on to the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to obtain his medical degree, graduating in 2000. Since that time, he has worked in the California area as a urologic surgeon with specialized training in “cutting-edge, minimally invasive laproscopic, robotic and endourologic techniques.”

Dr. Matsunaga will be in Hawaii to assist surgeons at the Queen’s Medical Center in the use of their newly acquired “Da Vinci” system, a “robotic system (that) has been used for a variety of minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgical procedures performed through tiny incisions.” Based on current data, use of the system helps reduce blood loss and pain and significantly speeds up the recovery process.

While at Iolani, Dr. Matsunaga wrestled as a member of the 1990-91 State Championship team. He is currently married to wife Melanie (Dee) and the couple recently celebrated the birth of their first son in November of 2006.

South Bay Urology Medical Group - Physician Profile »
Honolulu Star Bulletin article »

Shown (left to right):

Dr. Derek Ching - Derek is currently a pediatrician working out of Kapiolani Hospital. He hopes to move into private practice soon somewhere in town.

Tracey Takamiya - Tracey recently moved back from Japan a few months ago and is currently living in Honolulu.

Dr. Derek Flores - Another Derek from the class of 1996 also became a doctor and funny enough… is a pediatrician as well.

Devin Hashimoto - See past blog »

Brent Kitsu - Brent is currently living and working in Honolulu at The Kahala Hotel & Resort as a Hotel Assistant Manager. He has also held similar positions at well-known hotels throughout the west coast in Las Vegas, Palm Springs and on the outer islands.

Dr. Reid Koyanagi ‘94 has been cleaning, straightening, whitening & cosmetically enhancing the smiles of people both young and old for the past few years alongside alumni parent & fellow dentist Dr. Randall Yoshida (father of Reid Yoshida ‘92). You may have heard Dr. Reid giving out a few dental tips on KSSK during your morning commute or might have noticed a new face in the King Kalakaua Dental Center which is also home to another alumni parent, Dr. Carl Watanabe (father of Mark Watanabe ‘92).

To find out more about Dr. Koyanagi and his practice, check out his website at SmilePowerHawaii.com.

Dr. Grant Fusato ‘85 has been helping people improve their eyesight for the past several years now, opening his own optometry practice in Stadium Mall shopping center in Halawa.

He is currently married to wife Michelle and has two wonderful children, the oldest of which, Landis, attends Kindergarten at Iolani School.

After graduating from Creighton and completing his residency at Kapiolani Medical Center, Dr. Lance Taniguchi ‘94 opened his own pediatric practice in Pearl City and has seen his business steadily increase over the past months with several friends and classmates recently giving birth to beautiful baby girls and boys. Such the opportunist…

Dr. Lance recently married Charis Fujimoto (shown) and currently resides in Manoa.