Name: Robert Kihune
Age: 61
Position: President, USS Missouri Memorial Association
First job: Construction worker
Favorite pastimes: Gardening, golf
Robert Kihune takes over leadership of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, replacing Roy Yee, who resigned to spend more time with family and marine electronics business KEMS Kewalo. Kihune spent 35 years in the Navy and was commander of three different battle groups: the USS Kitty Hawk, USS Nimitz Carrier and New Jersey Battleship Group. He retired in 1994. Heading up USS Missouri
Memorial AssociationThe USS Missouri came under Kihune's command while he led the US Naval Surface Forces in the Pacific Fleet. "The Missouri, as much as any ship I've served on and led, holds a special place in my heart," Kihune said.
He recently was chief executive officer of Waimana Enterprises Inc., and its subsidiary, Sandwich Isle Communications. He remains as a Waimana director and also is board chairman of both the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii and the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii.
By Jerry Tune, Star-Bulletin