The Tax Foundation of Hawaii has appointed an interim president to replace the late Lowell Kalapa, the former president of the nonprofit who passed away last month.

The new interim president is Tom Yamachika, a tax attorney who has more than 20 years of experience. He now has a solo practice but has previously worked at the accounting firm Accuity LLP, the state Department of Taxation and the law firm Cades Schutte Fleming & Wright. 

Yamachika attended law school at the University of California at Berkeley and received his bachelor’s degree in Engineering and Applied Science from Yale College.

Yamachika knows he has big shoes to fill, writing in his inaugural commentary: ”There was only one Lowell Kalapa, and he is now in a place where there are no taxes.”

Yamachika goes on to outline the nonprofit’s areas of focus this legislative session. To read his full commentary, check out Civil Beat on Sunday. 

Tom Yamachika, interim president of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii (Courtesy of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii)

— Anita Hofschneider