Roberts Hawaiʻi Co-Founder Announces Retirement and Leadership Transition

Robert Iwamoto Jr. Courtesy photo.

Roberts Hawaiʻi co-founder, Robert Iwamoto Jr. announced his retirement from the company as CEO and chairman of the board, effective Dec. 31, 2020. Iwamoto has served as the transportation company’s CEO and chairman of the board since 1983.

Roy Pfund, current president and COO has been named his successor as CEO and will also serve as a member of the Board of Directors effective Jan. 1, 2021. Additionally, effective Jan. 1, 2021, Carey Chen, an existing Independent Board Director will become the new Roberts Hawaiʻi Chairman of the Board.

Roy Pfund (left) & Carey Chen (right). Courtesy photo.

Pfund is a veteran of the transportation industry with 36 years of experience, including 26 years at Roberts Hawaiʻi. On taking on his new position as CEO, Roy Pfund commented, “I am grateful for the confidence and trust that Robert and our Board have vested in me to take command of our company’s leadership in these challenging times. I feel incredibly fortunate to have a team of experienced managers and a supportive and knowledgeable board by my side, as well as all of the dedicated ESOP employee owners.”

Robert Iwamoto Jr. said, “I look forward to enjoying my retirement as I take this step back from the company that my parents and I worked so hard to build. I feel confident that the company is in good and capable hands with this new leadership in place and am confident that the Roberts legacy will continually prosper under their knowledgeable guidance.”

Through his leadership and tenure as CEO and Chairman of the Board, Iwamoto Jr. has sought to embody the core values of Roberts Hawaiʻi, which are comprised of lōkahi (unity/teamwork), kīnāʻole (flawless/perfection), and haʻaheo (pride).

Executives describe the company culture of Roberts Hawaiʻi as one of service and mutuality. The company vision statement reads, “Roberts Hawaiʻi will be an employer of choice that is known as Hawaiʻi’s premier provider of transportation, tours and entertainment. Our employees will perform their jobs with a sense of ownership and commitment to the community and to each other.”

Roberts Hawaiʻi is Hawaiʻi’s largest employee-owned tours and transportation company, providing the transportation services and sightseeing tours, entertainment, and excursions. Over the last 79 years, Roberts Hawaiʻi has grown from a one-man taxi company on Kauaʻi to an organization of hundreds of vehicles operating on Hawaiʻi’s main islands.