In 1998 Keith Amemiya had an office view of Honolulu harbor, a six-figure salary, was head of the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and on fast track to partner in a downtown law firm.

And then he traded it for a converted classroom at Stevenson Intermediate School, a view of the faculty parking lot and a fraction of the salary as head of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.

If he was a surprise candidate back then, his emergence as a finalist for the University of Hawaii athletic director’s job after 12 years at the HHSAA is less startling.

Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman is said to be meeting with Amemiya and Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin, the recommended pick of the eight-member selection advisory committee, before announcing his choice of a successor to Ben Jay.

Amemiya, 48, is currently senior vice president of Island Holdings Inc., parent company of Island Insurance and a group of local companies listing upwards of $500 million in assets.

A graduate of Punahou School and UH, Amemiya seemed destined for a lucrative career on Bishop Street, where he had seven years as a commercial litigator and family lineage in the law. His father, Ron, is a former state attorney general, cousin Roy Amemiya is Managing Director of the City and County of Honolulu and hanai father, Bert T. Kobayashi Jr., is a prominent lawyer and UH booster.

But then the one-time marginal high school track and field athlete shocked them all by saying he wanted to leap into sports, where he felt his heart was.

Until Amemiya came along, the top HHSAA job had invariably gone to ex-league executives and former high school ADs and coaches. A headline at the time blared, "The attorney has no experience in athletic administration."

But committee members said that they wanted someone young and energetic to drive a change in direction, operating more as a business.

Under Amemiya the HHSAA expanded playoffs to include Division II, brought in sponsorships and promoted games between top local teams Saint Louis and Kahuku and nationally ranked mainland teams. In the face of state cutbacks, he began the "Save Our Sports" campaign that drummed up $1.5 million in donations. He also oversaw a partnership with the NFL that refurbished Roosevelt High’s stadium.

After 12 years with the HHSAA, Amemiya became executive secretary of the UH Board of Regents, where he served for three years. In 2012 he took the No. 2 post with Island Holdings.