Executive Profile
Thursday, February 25, 1999

Name: Mark Wakuta
Age: 53
Position: V.P., general manager, Ilikai/Hotel Nikko Waikiki
First job: Cashier in father's restaurant, Tokyo
Favorite pastime: Golf

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Overseeing renovation at the Ilikai

Mark Wakuta takes over as general manager of the Ilikai/Hotel Nikko Waikiki as it starts renovation of 350 rooms in the yacht harbor tower. Completion is expected by the end of 1999.

"I am very excited to work at such a Waikiki landmark, and look forward to the challenge of preparing the Ilikai for the 21st century," he said.

Wakuta joined Nikko Hotels in 1973 in the Tokyo corporate headquarters and most recently was general manager of the Hotel Nikko Mahanakorn Bangkok. He also has served for Nikko in Dusseldorf, Germany, and Mexico City. At the Ilikai, he replaced Kazuo Imai, who has transfered to the Hotel Nikko Longbai Shanghai.

Wakuta was born in China and raised in Japan. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Keio University in 1963 and a master's degree in business administration from Michigan State University.

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By Jerry Tune, Star-Bulletin