Vice Admiral Robert Kihune Speaks at JAIMS

HONOLULU—This spring, JAIMS students were pleased to welcome Vice Admiral Robert Kihune as a guest speaker for a special session on "Leadership for the New Economy."

Currently a trustee of the Kamehameha Schools, Kihune had much to say to the audience of students and staff on the qualities of leadership.

"Leadership really is an invisible strength," Kihune said. "It's really is as mysterious as is powerful. Leadership is colorblind. It doesn't care whether you're black, yellow, white, or what. There is no gender bias. You can be a woman and be a leader, as well as you can be a man and be a leader."

Kihune wanted to stress, especially to the students in the audience, the qualities of what he believes makes a leader.

"If you want to be a leader, first of all you must have the trust of the people," he said, "you have to have their confidence that you will be working for them. Secondly, you have to have the integrity to do what is right. If you cannot do what you think is right, don't compromise."

Also in the audience, were special guests Dr. Fujio Matsuda and Mr. Hideto Kono, both former presidents of JAIMS whom Kihune referred to as examples of leaders who, like him, paid their dues in order to reach the level of success they have attained.

Vice Admiral Kihune was born on Maui, and is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools and the U.S. Naval Academy. He retired from the U.S. Navy after serving 35 years. He currently serves as a trustee of the Kamehameha Schools, the CEO of Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc., and the president of the USS Missouri Memorial Association.