John Komeiji
Chair
Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority
John Komeiji is a Mentor Hawaii Cohort 10 mentor. Learn more about the program here.
About John
John Komeiji currently serves as the Chair of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. Komeiji was most recently general counsel and vice president for Kamehameha Schools. His kuleana included overseeing KS’ Legal Group, which is comprised of five divisions: Education and Administration, Real Estate, Tax, Ethics and Compliance, and the Office of the VP of Legal — which includes Litigation. In September, Komeiji was named as one of eight nominees for the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.
At KS, Komeiji oversaw the Legal Group which provides legal and tax advice and services to KS trustees, management and staff across the organization, and had kuleana for the KS Ethics and Compliance Program. Its cornerstone contribution to KS’ educational mission is protecting and upholding the purposes and integrity of the last will and testament of Kamehameha Schools founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
Komeiji has extensive experience in Hawai‘i’s legal and business community. Prior to joining KS, he served as president and general manager of Hawaiian Telcom for nearly two years, and chief administrative officer and general counsel for the utility for more than 10 years. Before Hawaiian Telcom he served as senior partner at Watanabe Ing & Komeiji LLP, where his practice focused on litigation in complex commercial, personal injury and professional liability matters.
Komeiji is a past president of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association and is a recipient of the Hawai‘i Venture Capitalist Association’s Corporate Intrapreneur of the Year Award and the University of Hawai‘i’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
He holds a juris doctorate degree from Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
Question and Answer with John
What is your preferred communication style when mentoring (in-person, video conference, phone, informal check-ins, structured meetings, etc.)?
In-Person Meeting
Why do you want to become a mentor in this program?
To share my experiences with others.
What specific skills, knowledge or experience can you share with your mentee?
Life and career experiences
What are your expectations for a mentor-mentee relationship?
To assist my mentee to develop their own goals and create a path to those goals.
How do you approach problem-solving and conflict resolution?
By listening and trying to understand the motivations and need of the conflicting parties.
How do you envision success for your mentee, and how will you measure it during the program?
Success can only be measured in the long term. During the program, success is measured by the depth of conversations that we have.
