In Memoriam
Wayne Kiyoshi Minami
April 3, 2026On this date we were notified by Yale that Wayne Minami ’64 had passed away on September 26, 2025. Here are the following remembrances:
Obituary
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
December 14, 2025
Wayne Minami
1964 Yale graduation
Wayne Kiyoshi Minami led an amazing life from April 28, 1942 until September 26, 2025. He was raised on a hog farm along with nine siblings. He graduated from Iolani School then went onto Yale University and graduated with a law degree from Stanford University. During this time, he married Colleen Hanai and had a daughter, Gayle, a Kotonk.
Upon returning to Hawaii with his family, Wayne went to work for the Legislative Reference Bureau. In 1974 governor George Ariyoshi appointed Wayne the Director of Regulatory Agencies, currently the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and then Attorney General of Hawaii. In addition, his family grew to include Brian and Todd.
Due to his humble beginnings, he was involved with various civic activities, such as Kids Voting Hawaii, Adult Friends for Youth, the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, and the Nature Conservancy.
Wayne Minami
in recent years
In 1986 Wayne was employed by American Savings Bank as the President and Chief Executive Officer. He took a third-tier savings and loan institution and turned it into Hawaii's third largest financial organization with 68 branches, nearly 150 ATMs, and $6 billion in assets. He was very proud of the acquisition of Bank of America in 1997, which included the bank's first supermarket branches.
Wayne stressed customer services and getting to know the community. He continued to be involved with community through the Great Aloha Run and The Institute for Human Services, by offering ASB offices and volunteers to make phone calls for donations. He, himself, made phone calls and then proceeded to cook dinner for the volunteers. During this time his children graduated high school and went onto college.
Wayne was known as an avid fisherman and upon his return from his fishing trips to Alaska he would make salmon niitsuke and lomi salmon for his employees. He instituted the President's breakfast for employees who worked for 15 years or more, cooking ricotta pancakes with fruit syrup from Seattle. After 15 years of service, Wayne retired in 2001. Upon retirement Wayne was named as chairman of the 2001 State Reapportionment Commission because of being "very capable and well respected in the community." He was praised for his leadership and surprising openness, and the final plan was implemented in the 2002 election.
After this detour, Wayne finally got to start retirement. He was Colleen's tour guide for seventeen years, ensuring that she visited the seven continents of the world. Some of the places seen were Iowa, New York, Canada, England, Italy, Norway, China, Russia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and even Antarctica. During all these travels, the Minamis had two grandchildren, Maile and Shawn, and Wayne always said that they changed his life forever. He was also Papa to Daxton, Darien, and Dracen.
In 2020 his oldest son, Brian, died suddenly and Wayne's health condition worsened. He worked hard, lived life to the fullest, and made sure that his wife of 59 years was cared for after he was gone. His favorite saying was "getting old sucks."
His family and guests celebrated Wayne's life on December 30, 2025 at Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary.
Essay, 25th Reunion Book
by Wayne Minami
May 1989
Have very fond memories of Yale and the friends I made there. Occasionally I see Fred Sakamoto when he comes home to see his parents. Visits from Yale classmates are more infrequent as time goes by.
Am enjoying life in Hawaii. After serving thirteen years in government service in various capacities, I started my private law practice in 1981; then I got an opportunity to join a local savings and loan institution which I now head. I enjoy the business world but find that every so often I need a break to relax and unwind, either fishing or skiing.