Leadership

Lui Hokoana was appointed Interim Vice President for Community Colleges on January 1, 2026. He will serve in this senior leadership role while continuing as chancellor of University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, a position he has held since December 1, 2014.

Hokoana started his higher education career at the University of Hawaiʻi in 1991 and served as the vice chancellor for student affairs at UH West Oʻahu since 2013. He also served as associate vice president for student affairs for UH System, vice chancellor of student affairs at Windward Community College and director for various programs at UH Maui College.

Hokoana has secured more than $20 million in county, state, federal and private funds to support various UH systemwide initiatives that have contributed to unprecedented enrollment growth, financial aid access, service to underrepresented groups and overall student success. He was named State Manager of the Year by the State of Hawaiʻi in 2011.

Hokoana earned a doctorate of education degree from the University of Southern California. He received a master’s degree in communications from UH Mānoa and bachelor’s degree in political science from UH Hilo.

Kahele started her career in education as an elementary and middle school teacher at nā Kula Kaiapuni o Pāʻia, Waiau, and Ānuenue and spent the last 20 years teaching Hawaiian Studies and language at the University of Hawai’i Maui College (UHMC). She was most recently the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Kahele is the Chairperson of the ʻAha Kauleo, the Statewide Council of Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian language schools) and the Maui representative on the State of Hawaiʻi Board of Education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Studies and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Denise Yoshimori-Yamamoto is the associate vice president for administrative affairs for the University of Hawaiʻi Community College System. She is responsible for all business operations and administrative affairs, as well as legal and legislative affairs.

Denise has been with the Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges for 14 years serving as the Director of Facilities Planning and Construction for 10 years and a registered architect prior to that. In her role as director, she supervised the facilities and planning team, managed all CIP planning, design and construction and repair and maintenance projects, coordinated projects and long-range planning with the seven community colleges, managed the funding and expenditures for the projects, and worked with the legislature on new and ongoing funding proposals for projects. Before her time with the UH Community Colleges, Denise was the principal and senior associate for GYA Architects. Denise earned her bachelors and doctorate of architecture from UH Mānoa.