WAIKIKI — The annual University of Hawaii Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards event, held recently at the Sheraton Waikiki, was attended by nearly 600 people, including about 60 Kauai family and friends of Tom Shigemoto. The event highlighted the accomplishments
WAIKIKI — The annual University of Hawaii Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards event, held recently at the Sheraton Waikiki, was attended by nearly 600 people, including about 60 Kauai family and friends of Tom Shigemoto.
The event highlighted the accomplishments and contributions of several UH alumni, including Shigemoto.
Shigemoto, a UH Manoa graduate, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in urban and regional design, which at the time was a relatively new field.
Currently, Shigemoto serves as the vice president of planning at A&B Properties, Inc., Kauai. Shigemoto’s responsibilities include land sales, community and government relations, project planning, permitting and real estate development.
He is also involved in entitlement, resident and agricultural subdivision projects, infrastructure development and in the construction of retail and industrial buildings, such as the Port Allen Center which has become a major visitor industry economic and workforce hub on Kauai’s Westside.
A Kauai native, Shigemoto graduated from Kauai High School and went to UH Manoa. His career began right after graduation with the County of Kauai Planning Department where he eventually became deputy planning director and director. He entered the private sector by serving as director of planning for the Princeville Corporation which provided him the opportunity to learn and understand the intricacies of private sector real estate development and of the importance of community and government relationships.
Shigemoto is involved in many community organizations and has received numerous awards.
He and his wife, April, have four sons.
