Hawaii Human Resources, Inc.

About HiHR

HiHR Operations and Support

Tom Cummiskey — Payroll and Accounting Manager

Tom comes to HiHR with nearly 20 years of accounting and HR experience. Merging a background in finance with a decade of Human Resource experience, Tom bridges a vital threshold in many client companies - providing invaluable insight and direction as both a strategic resource and a day-to-day tactical sounding board. Responsible for many key accounts, Tom meticulously manages payroll, benefits and accounting functions.

Michael Lujan — Payroll and Accounting Manager

Michael has 16 years of payroll experience and holds the prestigious credential of a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP). With client and business internals experience on the mainland and in Hawaii, Michael’s bookkeeping skills and varied administrative abilities are appreciated by both HiHR’s staff and clientele.

Kati Nakano — Payroll Supervisor

Born and raised in Hawaii, Kati trekked to the mainland to get her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and work as a payroll specialist and technician, bookkeeper, and position control analyst at a number of California companies before returning to work in Hawaii. Diligent, detail-focused, and with an impressive depth of skills, Kati expertly handles payroll and ensures unmatched quality of service for HiHR customers.

Gwen Yoshimura — Accounting Specialist

Gwen has specialized in accounting, payroll, and bookkeeping for over a decade, and her experience and success at a number of local companies lends her and each of our clients a remarkable financial edge. In addition to the expert organizational, analytical, and planning skills with which she serves HiHR clientele, Gwen is committed to the community, having volunteered as a parent at La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls and Jefferson Elementary School.

Christina Wong — Payroll Specialist

Born and raised in Honolulu, Christina brings almost 17 years of valuable experience in payroll and benefits to Hawaii Human Resources, coupled with superb customer service skills. Christian is always ready and willing to offer her expertise to anyone in need of her assistance, always bringing happiness, patience, positivity to our work. She is fluent in Cantonese, and brings novel and unique perspectives to workplace tasks, driving innovation for herself and others.

Sharon Watari — Payroll Manager and Human Resource Generalist

Sharon Watari brings more than 34 years of experience with local companies on Maui coordinating human resources, managing payroll and engineering, and successfully executing countless other administrative and business development functions. Sharon’s history in hotel management gives her an edge in navigating a complex network of client needs to best ensure their success, and our staff and clients alike are lucky to have her at Hawaii Human Resources.

Heather Oeder — Implementation Manager

Heather has a gift for employee administration and client management refined over years of work as managers of Accounts, Marketing, and Implementation at firms in Tucson and Honolulu. Heather understands her projects completely and at depth, providing first-rate organizational and administrative services with a rigorous, unwavering approach to customer satisfaction, Heather’s presence on the team is integral to the thorough, world-class service for which we are known.

Kellie James — Executive Project Manager

With an MBA from the UH Manoa Shidler College of Business, a BA in Business Sociology from the University of Michigan, and years of experience as both a real estate agent and an multi-state account manager for a national non-profit organization, Kellie James brings unrivaled expertise to HiHR. She is a positive, helpful, collaborative team member, working cross-departmentally and continuously improving herself and her work. Kellie volunteers for Na Wahine Pa‘ani O Punahou, the Outrigger Canoe Club PR Committee, the Shidler College of Business Womens’ Business Association, and Envision Hawaii. She is a member of Mu Kappa Tau Marketing Honor Society and enjoys playing tennis, practicing yoga, and doing water sports in the ocean.

Joseph Muldowney — Systems Support Analyst

Joseph Muldowney is a strong technical resource in payroll administration and supporting multiple HRIS platforms. His multi-state payroll expertise and the care and focus he exhibits for his clients are an enormous asset to the team at Hawaii Human Resources and all of our clients. Joseph is also a huge baseball and football enthusiast.

Ryan Tanaka — Senior Benefits Analyst

Ryan Tanaka comes to Hawaii Human Resources with broad experience working in a variety of human resources administration roles, including payroll and benefits administration. He has more than four years of PEO experience and is our go-to expert for benefit administration and supporting client benefits needs.

Rosalyn Bantolina — Director of Benefits

With a degree in Business Administration from Portland State University, Rosalyn got her start in HR over ten years ago, quickly gaining experience and expertise in a number of HR, staffing, and employment firms in Hawaii. Most recently, Rosalyn’ entrepreneurial spirit saw her leading supervision of the operations of a local startup HR and Accounting Outsourcing Firm. Her résumé shows an amazingly comprehensive set of skills, and well reflects her tireless commitment to exceptional HR management and customer service, and we at HiHR and each of our clients is lucky to have her on board.

Maureen Griffin — Senior Benefits Specialist

Having worked at Intuit, Go Daddy, and in HR and administrative support at Macy’s Hawaii, Maureen’s knowledge is striking — she can expertly administer and execute a long list of HR functions. Maureen finished her Masters of Human Resource Management at UH Manoa in 2011, further bolstering an impressive track record. A four-time NCAA Division 1 All-American athlete in Track and Field at Idaho State University, Maureen has a BS in Physical Education from Idaho State University, is a Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society Member, and volunteers regularly for the Hawaiian Humane Society. She is an out-of-the-box thinker and an efficient, creative, hard-working, team player, and we are honored to have her at HiHR. Maureen also volunteers regularly for the Hawaiian Humane Society and Aloha United Way’s Society of Young Leaders

Sharla Tang — HR Assistant

Since 1995, Sharla Tang has been honing her business management and human resources skills at local businesses. Add a BS in Apparel Product Design & Merchandising, a minor degree in Business Administration, and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management (all from the prestigious Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii and Manoa), Sharla’s skills are a second-to-none resource for HiHR and our clients.

Claire Schoenhoff — Customer Service/Receptionist

Claire brings experience, integrity, and aloha to the front desk at the offices of Hawaii Human Resources, putting customers, collaborators and friends at ease with her welcoming spirit and meticulous professionalism. Stop by our Honolulu office today and you’ll be sure to get a bright smile and warm aloha!

Carrie Perdue-Graham — Human Resources Manager

Carrie Perdue-Graham carries a wealth of expertise and experience in human resources, having lead the HR departments at four major local businesses. Her energy and encouraging attitude are inspiring, as are her leadership skills and genuine care for others. Carrie holds degrees in Psychology and HR Development and Management, is a certified Professional Coach and Society of Human Resource Management Professional, and a Doctoral Candidate in Organizational Leadership at Argosy University. She also volunteers frequently for organizations such as the Girl Scouts, the Hawaii Blood Bank, the American Red Cross, and the Friends of Hanauma Bay.

Elaine Johnson — Human Resources Manager

Elaine Johnson has extensive experience in human resources, payroll and benefits, and comes to Hawaii Human Resources with seven years of PEO experience. In her previous position as a senior level executive in human resources, she was responsible for providing exceptional customer service to clients, building strong relationships and providing sound advice for difficult employee situations. Having experience that spans many industries gives her the ability to adapt to each client and understand the issues that sometimes plague them.

Paula Jepas — Executive Assistant

Paula has worked for more than 20 years managing local businesses, from successful restaurants to the local music group CHANT. She is comfortable dealing with a wide variety of tasks and situations, and can always be relied upon to solve problems with candor and elegance. She is a wonderful asset to us at Hawaii Human Resources, and in turn to all of our customers. In addition, Paula’s extensive experience as a professional singer and vocal coach makes her adept at dealing with people and building long-term solutions and improvements in the projects she takes on.

Akiko Ogawa — Implementation Specialist

Akiko Ogawa comes to Hawaii Human Resources with a wealth of experience in business administration, bookkeeping, and multiple facets of human resources work. With a degree and academic honors in Human Resources Management from the Shidler College of Business and experience with local businesses, Akiko’s team-oriented, fastidious approach to HR makes her a perfect addition to Hawaii Human Resources.

Kenny Kimbel — Implementation Assistant

Hailing from Washington state, Kenny Kimbel is a born leader with a background in collegiate government, office management, and sales. He is energetic and detail-oriented, crafting ideal solutions for each project he takes on and bringing fresh ideas and dedication to the HiHR team. Kenny also possesses a set of skills in web and desktop software development, having deployed vital business and sales components for dozens of clients. He enjoys basketball and golf, and has coached Peewee basketball teams.