Leadership

Officers & Directors
Board of Directors
Past Presidents

President's Message

President’s Message

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii celebrates 75 years in 2026. As a nation, the United States celebrates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence that started the greatest experiment in self-governance in world history. Founded in 1951, with World War II a recent memory, many of the founders and early leaders of the Japanese American business community in Hilo were veterans, fiercely patriotic and proud of their Japanese heritage. When they were not welcomed into other organizations, they founded the JCCIH to collectively represent their joint interests as a business league that honored their shared Japanese culture.

While the general and business community population of Japanese Americans in 1950s Hilo was numerically large, the JCCIH provided an opportunity to band together to support their collective priorities in business as well as a means of celebrating their shared heritage. 75 years later, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii holds true to its founding ideals of promoting the shared business interests of its members and honoring our shared Japanese culture and heritage.

JCCIH membership is open to all who share the goals and priorities of our Chamber. In order to honor our Japanese roots and in the spirit of friendship and peace that has allowed the United States and Japan to turn from enemies on the battlefield to allies and true friends on the diplomatic and economic trade front, our Chamber has developed a sister-chamber relationship with the Higashi Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Together with our sister organization, the Japanese Community Association of Hawaii, the JCCIH is involved with various community events that promote Japanese culture and mutual understanding. The JCCIH continues to actively promote the shared business interests of our members though education and advocacy. An important part of the JCCIH is to foster networking and fellowship among our members to remember that we are stronger together.

After 75 years, the JCCIH continues its mission to promote the shared interests of our members while also perpetuating our Japanese culture and heritage. From our Issei and Nissei founders to our Sansei, Yonsei, Gosei and other multicultural members and leaders of today, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii remains true to its founding principles, business priorities and shared values.

Arigato gozaimasu!

Vaughn G. T. Cook

President, 2026-2027

Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawai’i

Officers & Directors

Executive Officers

Executive Officers lead JCCIH efforts to advance local business interests. The Board of Directors is the principal governing and policymaking body of the Chamber. The Board is as diverse as its membership and local business community, with more than 30 corporate and small business leaders from various sectors.

President
Vaughn Cook
Torkildson Katz, A Law Corporation

1st Vice President
Renae Akau
Keck Observatory

2nd Vice President
Keene Fujinaka
Bank of Hawaii

Immediate Past Pres
Mitchell Dodo
Dodo Mortuary, Inc.

Treasurer
Donn Mende
HFS Federal Credit Union

Asst. Treasurer
Anna Liu
First Hawaiian Bank

Auditor
Casey Nakatsu
First Hawaiian Bank

Japanese Secretary
Reiko Hamano