UHH Alumni & Friends Board of Directors
President, Kapena Lum
After graduating from UH Hilo’s College of Business and Economics (CoBE) in 2002, Kapena entered the world of financial investments, largely due in part to the learning experience he received while attending the University. Kapena is currently a financial consultant at Pacific Wealth Management, LLC. and maintains a busy schedule servicing his Big Island and neighbor island clients.
A former basketball star during his college days, Kapena continues his interest in basketball by coaching the girls basketball team at Kamehameha High School - Keaau campus. He is happily married to an alumnae of UH Hilo’s CoBE program, Abby Lum who is also a former star athlete.
Secretary, Michelle Araki
Michelle Araki is a 1997 graduate
of UH Hilo where she received a B.A. in Natural Sciences. Michelle just
completed a two year Business Administration Certificate program at UH Hilo.
She currently works in the Marketing and Alumni Office.
Michelle and her husband, Michael have one son.
Treasurer, Howard Higashi
No information available.
Board Member, Shinae Hirano
Shinae
Hirano received her BA in Japanese Studies from UH Hilo in 1994.
Shinae has one daughter, one son and several grandchildren. She is married to Wataru, who is retired.
Shinae says, “It is an honor to serve on the UH Hilo Alumni and Friends Association Board. UHH is a great University with excellent faculty and staff.”
Shinae loves to garden, read and travel.
Board Member, Dale Tokuuke
Dale
Tokuuke graduated from Hilo High School , then attended Hawaʻii Technical
School (now Hawaiʻi Community College) before enrolling at UHHC ( University
of Hawaiʻi - Hilo Campus). He was there from 1970 through 1973, when he left
to join the family business which was awaiting him. Dale is now vice-president
and part owner of Paul's Enterprises, Ltd., a floor and window covering
business here in Hilo. As a board member of the UHH Alumni Friends Association,
he gets pleasure out of being a part of what he feels is a true economic
engine of our island. Dale is married to fellow board member, Sandra Tokuuke,
has one grown daughter, and enjoys his "attempts" at the game
of golf in his spare time.
Board Member, Sandy Tokuuke
After
attending the Hilo Campus of the University of Hawaii for two years, Sandra
(Nakamura) Tokuuke transferred to UH - Manoa, and earned her degree in elementary
education in 1973. Having graduated at a time when teaching positions were
scarce, Sandy instead, entered the world of business and finance. She is
currently an Assistant Vice-President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill
Lynch, where her background in education is constantly utilized as she learns
about and helps clients achieve their financial goals. Being a past-president
and director of the UHH Alumni and Friends Association is an honor to Sandy
as she feels it is her way of "giving back" to the institution
that helped her grow into the person she is today. She considers her position
to be a small link in the chain that connects UHH to the Hilo community.
Sandy, her husband Dale, and daughter Erin reside in Hilo. She very much
enjoys cruising, or when not able to actually do so, likes to dream or read
about it.
Board Member, Carol Van Camp
Carol VanCamp received a bachelor of arts degree in communications from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant , Mich.
She retired Dec. 31, 2005 , as the general manager of Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping center in Hilo, HI, which is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc.
She has returned to active employment, now serving as a broker associate with CB Richard Ellis, Inc. She also does marketing consulting, community service and substitute teaching.
Carol states, “Our community is very fortunate to have a quality four-year college like UH Hilo, and I want to do my part to ensure that the campus is able to grow and prosper to better serve the needs of our local students and other students who find our educational programs and opportunities appealing. This is why I am a committed board member of the Alumni and Friends Association at UH Hilo.”
She and her husband, Skip, live in Kea’au. They enjoy spending time at their vacation home in British Columbia during the summer months. Carol is an avid reader, active community volunteer (Rotary, Chamber of Commerce,Hilo Medical Center Foundation, Junior Achievement, Friends of Big Island Drug Court, four boards at UH Hilo, etc.), and enjoys spending time with children.
Board Member, Yu Yok Pearring
Yu
Yok (Low) Pearring graduated from UH Hilo with a degree from the College
of Business and Economics in fall 1985.
An Ambassadorial Scholarship from the Rotary Club of Hilo enabled her to pursue post-graduate studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she received her MBA degree in 1988. The many positive experiences in Hilo drew her back to the Big Island, where she worked in the private industry before joining UH Hilo as the Marketing and Alumni Director.
“It was the excellent education and dedicated faculty and staff at UH Hilo that paved the way for me to apply and receive the valuable scholarship from Rotary, and equipped me with the knowledge to compete well with many other outstanding students at McGill. I take great pride to be working at my Ala Mater and am thankful for the opportunity to work with a group of dedicated and enthusiastic alumni board members, who give so much of their time and resources to help our University grow and succeed,” said Pearring, who resides in Hilo with her husband, Mike and 2 sons. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, dealing with her growing sons, and visiting her family in Singapore .
Board Member, Dr. Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly is currently Professor Emeritus at UH Hilo. He retired from UH Hilo in 2001 after 27 years as a Professor of Geography. During that time he received the Francis Davis Memorial Award for Innovative Teaching and the Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award. He got started with our Alumni Association when he initiated and edited the UH-Hilo Alumni Newsletters. After editing several alumni newsletters, Jim was asked to join the Alumni Board , where he has served ever since, including two years as President. Jim lives in Hilo and has two children who are both out of college and living in Honolulu and Maui. Jim’s hobby for the past several years has been photography. He has won several awards in art shows and photography shows in Hilo. A few years ago one of his works was selected for the opening exhibit of the Hawaii State Art Museum in Honolulu.