It’s time for aloha and support, says Amemiya

Keith Amemiya said he will "move forward" from the disappointment of not being named the University of Hawaii’s athletic director.

In a news conference Wednesday, David Matlin was announced as the 20th athletic director in the school’s history.

"I have a lot of aloha for all of the coaches and staff there, and they all need our support as the program enters into a very challenging and fast-changing period of collegiate athletics," Amemiya said.

Amemiya was believed to be a finalist for the job vacated when Ben Jay announced his resignation in December.

Amemiya was not among the candidates who had official interviews with the search advisory committee.

But two weeks ago, UH-Manoa chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman summoned Amemiya to his office in Hawaii Hall. They met for more than an hour in what sources termed as an interview session.

Last week, the search advisory committee recommended Matlin to Bley-Vroman, according to people familiar with the situation. Bley-Vroman opted to delay announcing a decision, leading to speculation the position came down to Matlin and Amemiya.

"It’s still unclear as to whether I was ever officially under consideration," Amemiya said. "But I did appreciate the opportunity to meet with the chancellor at his invitation about the AD position and athetics’ importance to the rest of the university and the entire state in general."

Amemiya added: "I obviously wish that I had the opportunity to at least be interviewed by the search advisory committee about the AD position. But what’s done is done, and we must all move forward and support Dave and wish him well."

Amemiya is senior vice-president of Island Holdings Inc., the parent company of five subsidiaries, including Island Insurance.

He previously was executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, and executive administrator and secretary of UH’s Board of Regents.

Amemiya kick-started the SOS program that raised $1.5 million for high school sports.

Amemiya also spearheaded fund-raising for a track and field at Roosevelt High School. Several high schools share the facility. Amemiya and his wife donated $25,000 to pay for Roosevelt’s scoreboard.

Amemiya earned a degree in finance from UH’s Shidler College of Business. He also is a graduate of UH’s Richardson School of Law.