Friends and colleagues of entrepreneur Guy Toyama remembered him Monday as a passionate advocate for Hawaii’s technology community with a knack for bringing people together.
Toyama, president and CEO of H2 Technologies and executive director of Friends of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, died Sunday after being airlifted to Honolulu from Kona where he had collapsed after competing in a 1-mile running race. He was 42.
"He just had so much enthusiasm and was so positive," said Gregory Barbour, NELHA executive director. "He really was a big part of our success. He had a big influence on the local business community. Unfortunately, I think the loss is huge for NELHA and the community."
NELHA is Hawaii’s largest ocean science and technology park. Friends of NELHA is an independent nonprofit dedicated to promoting education and outreach programs at the facility.
Toyama was extensively involved with a number of companies operating at the NELHA campus in Kailua-Kona, including Hawaii Deep Marine, which in 2001 became the first venture to desalinate seawater at the facility. Other companies on Toyama’s résumé include EMAP Inc., a manufacturer of deep-sea salt; Savers Holdings Ltd., a NELHA-based deep-seawater bottler; and Kikaha Group Inc., publisher of a Hawaii island Japanese-language visitor guide.
Toyama also was a member of the Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Kanu Hawaii and the Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association. He spend several years in Japan in the 1990s and was fluent in Japanese.
Ross Wilson, a member of the Friends of NELHA board of directors, said Toyama had an uplifting personality. "What sticks out in my mind was his infectious happiness. He was always happy and positive — about the world, about business, about sustainability and about the ocean. He was just fun to be around," Wilson said.
Toyama’s latest venture, H2 Technologies, is focused on using hydrogen as an energy source. Toyama announced a partnership in August with a Taiwanese-based company to bring hydrogen fuel cell scooters to Honolulu as early as next year.
Ian Kitajima, marketing manager for Honolulu-based Oceanit, said he met with Toyama last month to talk about using Oceanit’s fuel cell membranes in hydrogen-powered scooters. Kitajima said he was shocked to hear that Toyama had died.
"Guy was a runner. He was in good shape and ate well," said Kitajima, who had known Toyama for years as an active member of the Hawaii tech community.
"He had a very welcoming way about him and was able to bring people together," said Kitajima, who was given a tour of NELHA by Toyama last month. "When Guy gives you a tour, it’s like the mayor of NELHA taking you around. He is passionate and knowledgeable about every company there. I was impressed."
Toyama was born on Maui and graduated from Maui High School in 1988. He received a bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing and publishing from the University of Oregon.
Toyama is survived by his wife, Rika. No information about memorial services was immediately available.
