Tuesday, June 23, 1998

Amemiya
HHSAA boss

The attorney has
no experience in athletic
administration

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Keith Amemiya, a 32-year-old attorney with no experience in athletic administration or coaching, is the surprise choice for executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.

HHSAA president Anthony Ramos said Amemiya, son of former state attorney general Ron Amemiya, emerged from a field of 17 candidates as the unanimous choice of the executive board.

Ramos defended his decision to maintain secrecy throughout the selection process and to bar the media from attending the meeting at which the executive board voted to install Amemiya.

"This is the same as a private company," he said. "We don't take any public funds."

Asked to disclose the names of the other three finalists for the quasi-public job which pays about $65,000 a year, Ramos refused.

The HHSAA oversees and directs state tournaments for both public and private schools in Hawaii's five prep leagues. Its revenue comes from gate receipts, dues from member schools and a $38,000 grant from the state.

Amemiya is a 1983 Punahou graduate who graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1988 with a business degree and UH's William S. Richardson School of Law in 1991.

He said he has practiced law here for seven years, primarily in commercial litigation, and has been president of the Young Lawyers' Division of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Amemiya and his wife, Bonny Suzuki, are listed as the principal officers of a small "domestic corporation" called the Camden Group Ltd., formed in 1996. It provides managerial, financial and administrative services.

When asked about his athletic background, Amemiya said, "I'm an avid follower of UH and local sports. I have many close friends who are athletic directors, both in the public and private school sector. But if you're asking if I worked in an athletic administration capacity, I haven't. But I feel that my other experience in business and legal areas will serve the organization well."

The job description called for a "minimum of five years administrative or supervisory experience."

Asked if he met the HHSAA's published job description of having a "working knowledge of national and state athletic policies, regulations and related laws," Amemiya said, "Honestly, I have no background in that."

But he defended his selection, stating, "If you read the job description advertisement, it says 'preferred qualifications.' From my understanding from talking with Mr. Ramos, there was no single factor considered in hiring me."

Ramos firmly endorsed Amemiya.

"Keith made it through six selection processes and today's executive board interview," he said. "He will not only bring a great deal of experience to the position but a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm."

Amemiya said he plans to involve the corporate community.

"One of the things I want to do is form a business advisory council to share the expertise of local business leaders and find ways to increase the revenue for the HHSAA," he said.

Amemiya was asked his position on Title IX.

"I believe in gender equity and I want to make sure any pending issues are resolved," he said.

"In fact, last week, I had an extended conversation with (Gender Equity Sports Club president) Jill Nunokawa. We agreed that if I did get the job, we would work closely together toward reaching gender equity."

Amemiya succeeds interim director Hank Kibota who took over for Dwight Toyama when Toyama won the Oahu Interscholastic Association's executive secretary job.

Reaction from athletic directors was cautiously optimistic.

"I hope he has the wherewithal to put the HHSAA on good financial footing," said Iolani's Carl Schroers.

"With guys like Hugh Yoshida on the selection panel, I'm going to respect any decision they make," said Punahou's outgoing co-AD Doug Bennett.