Amemiya will be tough act to follow
November 14th, 2009 by WesI guess most of us who follow high school sports closely knew this day would eventually come — sooner rather than later — but like many unpleasant tasks, we tried to avoid thinking about who would be a suitable replacement for Keith Amemiya once he decided to leave as HHSAA executive director.
After all, he proved to be a perfect fit.
What makes it really tough is that the position is so unique, unlike other jobs where people can be groomed and then promoted from within, there really is no set training ground for this one. Until Amemiya took over in 1998, the position usually went to a high school athletic administrator — a former AD or OIA executive secretary.
That background definitely helps, since the primary role of the HHSAA is to organize and administer state tournaments. But things got complicated when the body became autonomous and separated from the DOE around 1997. That meant it was on its own as far as funding, and now finding sponsors and fund-raising became essential duties for the executive director.
It's not easy asking and getting companies to put up four, five or six-figure donations even for a worthy cause like high school athletics. Amemiya has made it look easy, but especially in this brutal economy where everybody is trying to hang on tight to every dollar, it's a daunting challenge.
Amemiya has also expanded the role of executive director to promoting and advancing prep sports in general. He's done it through things like the classified state tournaments, SOS campaign, De La Salle-Long Beach Poly vs. Saint Louis-Kahuku doubleheader, Team Aloha girls basketball, Hawai‘i/Polynesia vs. Mainland Bowl, initiating the Roosevelt field project, taking over the Hall of Honor program/banquet.
These kind of achievements require vision and creative thinking, plus the willingness and energy to put in all the extra work.
And finally, to make all of this come together and happen takes a personality that is adaptable to the many different clientele — from blue-collar parents, to school principals, bank presidents, Mainland strangers ...
It definitely puts the search committee into a quandary: They'll no doubt be able to find cadidates who meet some of the criteria, but very very few who meet all.
Perhaps the one comforting thought is that Amemiya himself seemed to emerge out of nowhere.
So maybe his ideal successor is someone out there who will be a pleasant surprise as well.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
As a parent of several student athletes who have benefited from the way Keith Amemiya has done his job, I would like to thank him publicly for his service. I am sure it was often a very frustrating job, dealing with the politics involved in Hawaii, with parents, coaches and Athletic Directors.
Mr. Toyama said 'But No. 1 is the service you are providing to the student-athletes.The students need to come first."
Only other person I know of in Hawaii who always puts the students first is Doris Sullivan from Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance. Smart woman, knows sports, gets along with the coaches and loved by the student athletes. Does so much and she never asks for credit. I hope the HHSAA executive board looks into her, but otherwise can find a qualified applicant in Hawaii who understands the athletes but does not fall into the local boy network of coaches or Athletic directors like Keith didnt fit into.
Thank you again for a job well done Mr. Amemiya
November 15th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Wes,
After all of these years in heading the HHSAA, I am curious to know what path Keith might take. A previous rumor that was floating around was that he was going to run for Lieutenant Governor. A more recent rumor that has surfaced is that he is going to play an important role in Mayor Hannemann's campaign for Governor. I guess we will just have to wait and see, but, yes, Keith has done an outstanding job over the past decade.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:51 am
"These kind of achievements require vision and creative thinking, plus the willingness and energy to put in all the extra work..."
i totally agree wes...a great leader needs 3 things:
1-vision...you can't get "there" if you don't know where "there" is...
2-get everyone to work hard...how? by working hard yourself, you set a great example for everyone to follow...
3-get everyone to work together...amemiya went out into the community to tap both public & private sectors to increase revenues towards expanding participation & competition in high school athletics...
a good leader is hard to find...hopefully, we can find someone who can carry on amemiya's legacy of great leadership!
November 15th, 2009 at 8:28 am
mr. amemiya will be missed. his focus on the details made local high school sports something to enjoy and follow. i'm sure there is someone out there who can fill his shoes. it may take some grooming time, hopefully mr. amemiya will stay on as a consultant to this end, but there must be someone in hawaii willing to take on this task. it seems like the most important characteristic is the "gotta wanna" aspect of the job and a vision.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Keith Amemiya did an outstanding job!
He is too valuable for the State to stay in this position.
Hope he utilizes his superior talent and abilities to occupy some high level State position to improve our State like becoming the next DOE Superintendent! He has the necessary qualifications and would be a perfect fit.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Thanks Ikaika, appreciate the vote of confidence, but no thank you!
November 17th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Interesting that the guy has enough money to retire after only a few years on the job. I wonder how he got all this extra cash? I'm not implying bribes and kickbacks, even though he was in a position to easily abuse. But I think the Advertiser should quit heaping blind praise and start asking some hard questions in the public interest. The entire thing smells fishy to me...
November 17th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
He's not retiring, and nowhere does it say so.
With his resume and record of achievement, I'm sure he'll have no problem finding another influential job even in this economy.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
who is doing the bribing? coaches? league officials? to what end? if he's retiring and he can, so what? his choice. maybe he has family money. maybe he married money. who cares? anybody that retires at an early age should be scrutinized as to how they're able to retire? no make sense.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
#7 Yeah Right - do you know something that wasn't reported. No media source has reported that he's retiring.
It's a sad day when someone like Keith and his family give both their money and time to support HS athletics and gets outlandish questions about their intents and morales. I know I couldn't do what they do. And I'm quite certain you couldn't and wouldn't do it either.
Or is it possible that you have a bone to pick with Keith. Maybe he didn't hire you for a position within the HHSAA? Maybe he didn't accept your bribe or kickbacks?
What smells fishy is why you are trying to dig up dirt on an outstanding human being.
November 19th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Amemiya was a lawyer before becoming director. At least he did a couple postive things in his last years other than simply keeping criminals out of jail and suing people. A lawyer actually serving someone other than rapists, murderers, drug dealers or suing successful businessmen and doctors is a rarity indeed.
So he cashed in, so what? At least he tried to make up somewhat for his previous profession before "taking a little bit of a break and spending more time with his family."
November 19th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Yeah, how's about this jerk: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091119/BUSINESS/911190314/EBay+founder+plans+Island+news+service
He's got gazzillions in the bank, could have single handedly and easily funded the entire state's athletic budget, but doesn't do a damn thing other than start another online business to, you guessed it, make even more money. He could put the cash up to save the Advertiser, but instead he is trying to destroy it and put the final nails in the coffin. Greedy, wack job loon.
And how's about this:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091119/BREAKING0201/91119044&template=golf/Wie+withdraws+because+of+ankle+injury+
Michelle Wie: she ain't no female Tiger Woods.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
If I were Chuck Amemiya, this would make me want to leave the job too.