2016 - Vaughn G.A. Vasconcellos

Location: Ala Moana Hotel
Date: Friday, February 27, 2016
Emcee:  Lei U'i Kaholokula

Vaughn G.A. Vasconcellos was born in Honolulu, O'ahu in 1953 and raised on Hawaiian Homelands in Ho’olehua, Molokai by his grandmother, Rebecca Titcomb.  As a proud graduate of Kamehameha-Kapalama in 1971, Vasconcellos earned his acceptance to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1974, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.  He also holds a Master of Science in Personnel Management from Troy University, and Executive Master of Business in Administration from Northeastern University. 

While serving 14 years in the United States Army, Vasconcellos always had the vision of an entrepreneur.  In 1997 he founded Akimeka, LLC, an information technology services company.  From there, the small business community took notice, naming him the Small Business Person of the Year (SBPOY) in 2009.  For his service to the Native Hawaiian community he received the Maui Chamber of Commerce’s KO’I Award in 2009 and the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce’s O’O Award in 2013.  Today, Vasconcellos is the Principal of the Alaka’ina Foundation, a Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO) non-profit that is focused on STEM education and leadership programs for Hawaii’s youth.

Vasconcellos also has a place in his heart for Chaminade University. He is the current Board of Regents Chair and long-time supporter of Chaminade Athletics through student-athletes scholarships, the Hui ‘Ahinahina Booster Club, Intercollegiate Athletics Gala, and annual golf tournament. In honor of his late brother, Albert Akana Burns, Vasconcellos funded an athletic endowment for student-athletes. In May 2015, Vasconcellos contributed a major gift towards the construction of the new Coaches’ Office Complex in support of the women’s volleyball program.