Business Leaders On The Move In Hawaii

April 27, 2011
By Chris Fleck

Gordon Ciano has been welcomed by Kobayashi, Kanetoku, Doi, Lum & Yasuda CPA (KKDLY) as their newest partner. Ciano was most recently an audit partner and partner-in-charge of human resources and recruiting for the Honolulu office of KPMG LLP. With nearly 40 years of accounting experience in the banking, insurance, hospitality and real estate industries, as well as the public sector, Ciano brings a wealth of expertise to the firm, where he will provide audit and advisory services for corporate, nonprofit and public-sector clients.

Lynn M. Takahashi has been promoted to senior vice president, private banking division of First Hawaiian Bank. Takahashi began her banking career at FHB in 1986 as a management trainee and has served various positions before transferring to the private banking division in 2003. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Hawaii.

Ben Balberdi has been named communications specialist at Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting the ever-increasing educational needs and goals of people of Hawaiian ancestry. Ben will focus on driving aware foundation’s many giving opportunities that help fund its more than 50 scholarships and educational support programs for native Hawaiians.

Tyler Kurashige has been promoted as Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Honolulu’s newest school-based program coordinator, responsible for the supervision of school-based staff, setting up mentoring programs at school sites and managing statistics and other success measures of the school-based program.

Howard K.F. Lee, who has been with the University Health Alliance (UHA) for the past 14 years, will assume the role of chief executive officer after the retirement of Dr. Max Botticelli May 1. Lee has held progressively responsible leadership roles since he joined UHA. He has held CFO, COO, executive vice president and treasurer positions.

Stephen S. Choi of Bank of Hawaii has been promoted from wealth management consultant to vice president of Private Client Services and wealth management consultant in the Investment Services Group Business Development Department. Choi will be responsible for providing comprehensive wealth management strategies, including the oversight of investment and fiduciary portfolios for professionals and other high net worth individuals.