Arthur “Art” Taniguchi, senior vice president and Hawaii Island regional manager for Bank of Hawaii, will retire in January after 27 years of service, the bank announced in a news release.
Taniguchi joined the bank in 1991 as the Dealer Center manager on Oahu, then transferred to Hilo to become the Kaiko‘o Branch manager in 1993. Taniguchi later became the Hawaii Island regional manager, and in 2007 was promoted to senior vice president.
Bank of Hawaii Chairman, President and CEO Peter Ho said, “Art will always be part of our Bankoh ohana, and he will be deeply missed as the hardworking and committed professional that he is. With deep roots in the community, he’s been instrumental and critical to our Hawaii Island operations.”
A native of Hilo, Taniguchi has more than 40 years of financial services experience in Hawaii, Japan and California.
During his tenure with the bank, Taniguchi expanded business partnerships and built strong community relationships. He served as president of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Chamber of Commerce &Industry of Hawaii, Crime Stoppers Hilo Inc., Rotary Club of Hilo Bay, Japanese Community Association and East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, as well as chairman of the Hawaii County Water Board.
He currently is chairman of the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau and vice chairman of the County of Hawaii Liquor Commission.
Taniguchi was appointed as the Honorary Consul General of Japan at Hilo in 2010. In 2016, he was also awarded the Small Business Administration’s Financial Services Advocate for the state of Hawaii.
After retirement, Taniguchi will continue to remain active in the community. One of his immediate efforts will be coordinating the commemoration events of the 150th anniversary marking the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, which will take place in 2018.
“Bank of Hawaii has been very good to me and my family, and returning home in 1993 was one of the best moves of my career,” Taniguchi said. “The quality of life on our island is second to none. I appreciate all of the contacts and friends we have made throughout the years and will definitely still be very active in the community.”
