Keith Amemiya

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.

Natalie Iwamoto

Director of Information

Natalie Iwamoto 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, Iwamoto 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.

Iwamoto 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, she assisted with the 19 intercollegiate sports at UH and served as the contact for the school's men's and women's tennis teams. She continues to remain actively involved with the university serving on the men's and women's basketball stats crew.

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, Iwamoto earned varsity letters in basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer. Upon graduating, she 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.