Ginoza, Okazaki Among PBN’s “40 Under 40”

Kyle Ginoza, photo courtesy County of Maui.

By Wendy Osher

A county director and insurance agent on Maui are among the distinguished list of individuals included in the annual “40 Under 40” list compiled by the Pacific Business News.

PBN published the list of honorees in its May 17 online edition.

The list includes Maui State Farm insurance agent, Kit Okazaki.

According to a company profile, Okazaki earned a BA from The Colorado College and MBA from the University of Hawaiʻi.

His community involvement includes past president of the Rotary Cub of Upcountry Maui, board member of the Maui Chamber of Commerce,  and island musician with the group Nuff Sedd.

Also recognized on the 2013 list of “40 Under 40” is Maui Environmental Management Director Kyle Ginoza.

“I would like to personally thank Kyle for his work at the helm of the Department of Environmental Management, and congratulate him for receiving this prestigious honor,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa in a county press release.

“We are fortunate to have him as a county employee whose talents and dedication go a long way in serving our community,” said Mayor Arakawa.

Ginoza was formerly a project engineer in the Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Division; and former director of transportation during Mayor Alan Arakawa’s first term in office, county officials said. He reportedly earned degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA.

The two will be recognized on Thursday at the Hawaii Convention Center. During the ceremony, PBN will reportedly announce its 2013 Young Business Leader of the Year, and the 2013 American Savings Bank Young Community Leader of the Year.