Iolani Alumni

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.
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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.
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Having recently been promoted to company president, Daniel Ho ‘91 was the featured profile in last week’s issue of Pacific Business News. As the general manager at Hawaii Self Storage for the last two years, Ho was named to his new position a few months ago and currently oversees development, operations and sales and marketing at the state’s largest locally owned storage chain.

Hawaii Self-Storage has facilities in Salt Lake, Pearl City and Kaimuki and will be opening two new facilities in Mililani and Kapolei this year.

[Source: Pacific Business News]

Jamie Cheng (wife of Norman Cheng ‘95) and Bree (Kurihara) Komagome ‘95, owners of Elements Spa & Salon in Honolulu, were recently featured in the Honolulu Star Bulletin for “Thinking Out of the Box” as they celebrated their second anniversary at their location on Kapolani Boulevard.

In 2005, Cheng and Komagome, both attorneys, left the law world to open “Elements”, taking over an existing break-even venture and turning it into a successful small business which now offers a unique mix of products and services including “everything from cut and color to hair extensions, waxing, makeup application and lessons, and massage and facial therapies.”

Visit their website at ElementsHawaii.com »

[Photo: Honolulu Star Bulletin]

Evangelist, entrepreneur, investment banker, and venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki ‘72, known for his early work with Apple, has launched his most recent venture Truemors. Truemors is a Digg-like collection of posts and comments that “enables you to ‘tell the world’ — within the bounds of good taste and the law anyway. You can post your rumors, news, and sightings, and anyone with web access can read and rate them within minutes.”

Kawasaki has also written several books which includes Rules for Revolutionaries, Selling the Dream, The Macintosh Way, How to Drive Your Competition Crazy, Hindsights, The Computer Curmudgeon, Database 101 and most recently The Art of the Start.

Check out his website at GuyKawasaki.com »
Visit Truemors.com »

Two Iolani alumni are featured on the new websites for Servco, Hawaii’s local Toyota/Lexus dealer.

Trevor Benn ‘92 and wife Rae (Ifuku) Benn ‘92 are featured with their two children, Tyler and Malia on the home page of the Servco Auto Centers website. Trevor is currently a REALTOR with Honolulu Realty and Rae is a Controller at Ohana Pacific Management.

James Chan ‘98, Realtor-Associate with Prudential Locations and co-founder of Walk Fantastic Surfboards, is shown on the home page for Servco Auto Honolulu (formerly Toyota City).

After finishing his senior season as one of only three running backs in California history to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark, Joe Igber ‘99, in much the same manner as Barry Sanders, the back that many likened his running style to, walked away from football. He didn’t have to (he did have offers to attend NFL camps)… he wanted to.

You see, football wasn’t even the reason Joe chose Cal… He chose the respected university for its strong architecture and engineering programs. In 2003, Joe graduated with a degree in civil engineering and then went on to get a master’s degree in structural engineering.

Joe Igber is now a part of FTF Engineering, a structural engineering firm located in San Francisco.

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.

Ryan Kusumoto ‘93 (shown w/ business partner Michelle Onomura Kakazu) opened up Planet Fun out in Kunia nearly a year ago to cater to “tweens”, the pre-teen, post-toddlers that seem to have been left out by the fun activity world. Planet Fun offers a wide range of activities to appeal to everyone in the family including Karaoke, Video Games, Food & Treats and much more…

Stop by the Kunia Shopping Center (near Wal-Mart) for a try… and bring the kids!

Read the MidWeek article »

I guess being a lawyer is really stressful… or maybe its just not that fun.

Law school buddies, Bree Kurihara ‘95 (right) and Jamie Cheng (wife of Norman Cheng ‘95) cut their law careers short to open up a brand new day spa and salon, Elements Spa & Salon, earlier this year. Best of luck to them…

Read the Star Bulletin article »