Executive Director
Keith Amemiya has been a pivotal instrument in shaping Hawaii's prep
athletics since he became HHSAA's executive director in 1998. Amemiya
garnered state-wide accolades in 2003 when he pioneered the creation of
a second division in Hawaii high school sports, presenting a bit of
reality to what was only a dream for smaller high schools who wanted to
be state championship contenders. He has graced the pages of the
state's two largest newspapers numerous times and has been included on
such noteworthy lists as The Honolulu Advertiser's "Hawaii's Ten Most
Influential Sports Figures" and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's "Ten Who
Made a Difference".
Although he is one of Hawaii's most prominent figures in athletics,
Amemiya's career did not begin in sports. He earned a bachelors degree
in business administration from the University of Hawaii in 1988 and
went on to acquire his juris doctorate from UH's William S. Richardson
School of Law in 1991. Amemiya spent six years as a business litigation
attorney with several prominent law firms before becoming HHSAA's
executive director.
Besides crafting a division II for high school athletics, Amemiya
has created state championships for some of Hawaii's most popular
sports and some that are unique to the islands. During the 1999-2000
school year, he created a fully subsidized state championship for
football that was sorely missing in a state where football is extremely
popular. Amemiya can also be credited with creating a state
championship for girls wrestling, which knocked down gender barriers
that have stood in place throughout the country for decades. He has
also added state championships for air riflery, cheerleading, girls
golf, girls water polo, judo and an island favorite, outrigger canoe
paddling. As a result of adding these numerous and diverse sports,
Hawaii holds the proud distinction of having the most high school
championship sports in the country.
Office Manager
Carole Nagaji joined the HHSAA staff in August of 2005 after a
variegated career in the fields of education, sales and business
management.
Nagaji was born and raised in Honolulu and attended the University
of Washington, where she received a bachelors degree in Japanese
Language and Literature in 1990. After a decade of teaching at her Alma
Mater, Iolani School, and administrative work in the private sector,
Nagaji went to back to school and earned an MBA in International
Management from the University of Hawaii in 2002. She is also a
seasoned veteran as a football timer during Oahu Interscholastic
Association games.
At Iolani, Nagaji earned three varsity letters in cheerleading and
upon graduation, assisted her alma mater's varsity cheerleading squad
for two years.
Business aside, Nagaji enjoys spending time with her husband, Dan, and their two children.
Director of Information
Natalie Webb joined the HHSAA in July of 2004 as an administrative assistant, but added Director of Information duties to her tasks in Auguest 2005.
Prior to joining the HHSAA, Webb served as Operations Assistant for
the Hawaiian Islanders arena football team, a position that integrated
public relations and marketing, which included media guide production,
website maintenance and game-day preparation.
Webb is a graduate of the University of Hawaii where she earned a
bachelor's degree in journalism. She first gained experience in the
field working with media relations at the university's athletic
department. As a writer for two years, Webb assisted with the 19
intercollegiate sports at UH and served as the contact for the school's
men's and women's tennis teams. Till today, she continues to remain
actively involved with the university as the booster club president for
the Rainbow Wahine basketball.
Her experience with the professional level extends beyond arena
football, working with the NFL Pro Bowl and the 2003 and 2005 Los
Angeles Lakers exhibition games in Honolulu.
A 1997 graduate of Kaimuki High school, Webb earned varsity letters
in basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer. Upon graduating, Webb
was an assistant coach for her alma mater's varsity and junior varsity
girls basketball squads and also coached an 11-13 boy's basketball team
for the Kalanianaole Athletic Club.
Bulletin Board
