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The Hawaiʻi State Senate has confirmed the appointments of Wayne Higaki, Simeon Acoba, Jr., Helen Nielsen, Ernest Wilson, Jr., David Iha and Michael McEnerney to the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents on April 30, 2015.

“This is an exceptional group of leaders with a range of diverse skills and expertise in the operations of large organizations,” said Governor David Ige. “I am confident they will contribute to the continued success of the University of Hawaiʻi System.”

Nominees

  • Wayne Higaki, Hawaiʻi County, will serve through June 30, 2016.
    Higaki is the chief development officer at North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital, an affiliate of The Queen’s Health Systems. He is chair of Hawaiʻi County’s Workforce Investment Board and a member of the Workforce Development Council for the State of Hawaiʻi. He graduated from Honokaʻa High School and earned an associate of science degree at Kapiʻolani Community College.
  • Simeon Acoba, Jr., Honolulu County, was currently serving on an interim basis and will serve through June 30, 2017.
    Acoba served on the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court for 14 years. Previously, he served as a judge at various levels for 20 years. He continues to be active in judicial organizations and has received many awards for his work. He received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Hawaiʻi and earned his juris doctorate from the Northwestern School of Law.
  • Ernest Wilson, Jr., Maui County, will serve from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020.
    Wilson is a seasoned executive with more than 50 years of experience in the fields of travel, hospitality, food service, military logistics and higher education. In the civilian arena, he served in numerous positions for hospitality organizations including Holiday Inns, Embassy Suites, Sheraton Hotels and Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. In the military, he achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel leading several large complex organizations. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Cornell University (BS), Florida International University (MS) and California International Business University (honorary doctorate of business).
  • David Iha, Kauaʻi County, will serve through June 30, 2017.
    Iha has a long history of service to the University of Hawaiʻi System and has been an outstanding leader at Kauaʻi Community College. While there, he was part of the leadership team that designed and built a new campus, and in his 16-year tenure as provost, he expanded the curriculum and established exchange programs with educational institutions in Okinawa and mainland Japan. He served as the executive administrator and secretary of the Board of Regents from 1998 until his retirement in 2006. He is a graduate of Kauaʻi High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and a master’s degree from UH Mānoa.
  • Michael McEnerney, Honolulu County, will serve from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020.
    McEnerney is president of McEnerney Shimabukuro Okazaki & Fujita CPAs AAC. He holds a CPA certificate and is registered in Illinois and a CPA license/permit and certificate in Hawaiʻi. He was awarded a BS degree at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a double major in accounting and business administration (finance), an MBA from the UH Mānoa and a JD from Northwestern University.
  • Helen Nielsen, Maui County, was currently serving on an interim basis and will serve the remainder of her term which ends June 30, 2015.
    Nielson has a passion for community service and environmental sustainability. She was a founder of the Maui Coastal Land Trust and served on its board. Nielsen is co-owner/manager of commercial properties in Wailuku, Maui and Waimea, Hawaiʻi. She studied business at Kingsborough Community College and Pace University, both in New York.

Editor’s note: This article was updated after the senate confirmed Gov. Ige’s nominees on April 30, 2015. The original article was from the governor’s news release.

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