Roy and Hilda Takeyama Establish Fund with the UH Foundation for the University's Academy for Creative Media

$100,000 fund to support development of world class creative media program for students across all 10 campuses

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Lori Abe, (808) 956-6774
University of Hawaii Foundation
Kate Wester, (808) 956-9095
External Affairs & University Relations
Posted: Jan 26, 2004

The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation has received a $100,000 gift from Roy and Hilda Takeyama, local business and community leaders, to establish a fund to provide direct support for students enrolled in the University‘s Academy for Creative Media (ACM). The Roy and Hilda Takeyama Foundation Fund supports ACM‘s interdisciplinary, inter-campus initiative to develop a comprehensive, world class creative media program focusing on Hawaiʻi, Asia and Pacific themes. The program will support students across all 10 University of Hawaiʻi campuses through the provision of computer and software equipment and internships, among other needs.

"The Academy for Creative Media is well-positioned to take advantage of the increasing dominance of global popular culture, particularly in light of its emphasis on storytelling and the marriage of narrative with technology," said UH Foundation President Betsy Sloane. "The Takeyamas‘ gift will provide support to emerging and professional artists in these fields, giving them a solid foundation from which to further grow."

The ACM is a system-wide initiative to create a world-class school of media creation. Programs offered at ACM are taught with industry-based software applications with faculty continually updating courses to reflect the rapid changes in the multimedia industry. Prior to graduation, students have internship opportunities or on-campus classes where they develop multimedia pieces to showcase their work.

"This generous gift by the Takeyama family will serve to strengthen the University‘s unique position as the geographic center for multicultural excellence in creative media in the Asia-Pacific region," said UH President Evan S. Dobelle.

"I am impressed with the creativity, dedication and public service attributes of Chris Lee, who is spearheading this Academy," commented Takeyama. "He is attempting to create a new industry in Hawaii and is taking the monumental task of articulating this program throughout the entire UH system. No one has attempted to take on such a task and, hopefully, the academic and business communities will support him in this effort.

"Chris is local and giving up the bright lights and opportunities in Hollywood to take on this challenge. Hopefully, small business people like me will step up to the plate and support his efforts because there will be more job opportunities for our Community College and Manoa graduates."

In response to the Takeyamas‘ gift, Chris Lee said, "I am tremendously honored by this gift to the program, particularly because it comes from a family with such a long-standing history of service and aloha for the University of Hawaii."

Roy Takeyama has been a noted business and community leader in Hawaiʻi for more than 50 years. His professional career includes nearly 40 years as an attorney, plus public service and educational administration positions. He worked as a special assistant to former UH President Hiatt and was secretary to the UH Board of Regents for 10 years. At one time, he served as deputy state attorney general, assigned to the University of Hawaii and the State Land Use Commission. He also served as a UH Regent, serving as its vice chair of the board from 1991 to 1994 and chairman from 1994 to 1995. His accomplishments as a regent included the selection of a site for UH-West Oahu and overseeing the building of much-needed faculty housing.

A UH alumna, Hilda Takeyama received her B.A. in 1952. She also earned her B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1953. The Takeyama‘s son, David, earned his master‘s in Urban Planning from UH in 1995 and daughter, Jan Sullivan, earned her J.D. from UH in 1983.


About the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation
The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise private funds according to priorities determined by the academic leadership of the University of Hawaiʻi. Founded in 1955, the Foundation provides a full range of fund raising and alumni relations services for all 10 UH campuses. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.uhf.hawaii.edu.