Walter K. Kunitake

He has been serving as Board Chair of the Japanese Cultural Center of Kona since its inception in 2016. Born and raised in Kona, he has earned a PhD. in accounting, MBA, and Bachelors in Business Administration.

He served as Executive Director at the University of Hawaii West Hawaii Center from 1987 to 1993. He has taught accounting at the Pennsylvania State University, University of Arkansas, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and the University of Hawaii at Hilo. He has published articles in various accounting journals.

As a third generation Kona coffee grower, he founded Country Samurai Coffee Company, and still farms, processes, roasts, and markets the family grown coffee.

In community services, he served as presidents of the Kona Japanese Civic Association, Hawaii Island Hongwanji Layman’s Association, Kona Hongwanji Mission, Kona Fukuoka Kenjinkai, and the Keopu Citizens Club. He served in positions of Acting Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Board of Trustee at the Pacific Buddhist Academy. He has been serving as Chair of the Daniel K Inouye Highway Task Force since 2004. Since 2009, he continues to serve as Chair of the West Hawaii Parks & Athletic Corporation. He served on the Board of the Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union. He currently serves as members of the Kona Lions Club, Kona Hiroshima Kenjinkai, Kona Fukuoka Kenjinkai, Kona Yamaguchi Kenjinkai, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, and the US Japan Council.