Three graduates of ‘Iolani School have been named to the private school’s board of governors.
They are Jodi Shin Yamamoto, Class of 1989; Russell Yamamoto, Class of 1969; and Takeshi Saeki, Class of 1982, according to an email sent to supporters of the private school by Jenai S. Wall, board of governors chairwoman.
They will replace Earl Ching, Cathy Bell and Peter Tomozawa.
Saeki is chief information officer, senior vice president and chief representative in Japan for BBAM LLC, the world’s third-largest manager/lessor of modern passenger and freighter aircraft. Saeki graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science.
He was awarded the ‘Iolani Alumni Service Award in 2015. He and his wife, Naoko, live in Tokyo and have a 6-year-old son, Kengo.
Jodi Shin Yamamoto is an attorney at Yamamoto Caliboso and previously was vice president and general counsel for the Bishop Museum. She serves as board president of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, co-president of the Brown Club of Hawaii, member of the board of trustees of Hanahauoli School and board member of the Jarrett Middle School Foundation.
She received her bachelor of arts degree in public policy and sociology with honors from Brown University. She earned her law degree from Boston University. She and husband, Dean, have three sons: Sean and Scott, who both attend ‘Iolani, and Spencer, a third-grader at Hanahauoli. Jodi’s two brothers and sister also graduated from ‘Iolani.
Russell Yamamoto is the founder and owner of RMY Construction Inc., a 30-year-old company. He began his career at Okada Trucking, moved to Koga Engineering, and then started Mega Construction before founding RMY. Yamamoto is a partner in Kona Paakai, a company that produces and harvests Kona sea salt, and is also part-owner of Izakaya Nonbei, a Japanese restaurant in Kapahulu.
Yamamoto was honored with the ‘Iolani Alumni Service Award in 1998. He and his wife, Pat, have three sons and their five grandchildren attend the private school.
Bell joined the board in 2009 and was the first alumna to serve as a member. Ching was elected to the board in 1996 and Tomozawa in 2013.