UHPA Appoints Dwight Takeno
Dwight Takeno Named Associate Executive Director of
University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA)
Dwight Takeno, who has nearly 30 years of human resources, public administration and union leadership experience, has been named an Associate Executive Director with the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA), the union representing 3,700 faculty across 10 University of Hawaii campuses statewide. His appointment became effective Feb. 10, 2020.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Dwight’s caliber as part of our team,” said Christian Fern, UHPA Executive Director. “His extensive experience in the administration of large, complex programs and in collective bargaining representing both unions and employers will be valuable as UHPA continues to work collaboratively with others in our community.”
Prior to joining UHPA, Takeno had been Administrator of the Employee Claims Division of the State of Hawaii’s Department of Human Resources Development from August 2018 to February 2020. He had been responsible for administering multiple programs, including the statewide self-insured workers’ compensation program for the executive branch, public charter schools, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, the legislature, the state’s safety program, and the State’s Return to Work Priority Program.
Takeno also has nearly 10 years of leadership experience within the University of Hawaii’s System. He initially joined the UH as a Senior Human Resources Specialist in 2007 for a year and, after serving as Interim Executive Director and Chief Negotiator for the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA), he rejoined the UH in January 2010 as the Assistant to the Senior Executive for the Vice President for Academic Planning and Policy to provide consultation to senior leaders on issues relating to academic human resources management and strategic initiatives.
A year later, he was promoted to Director of Collective Bargaining & Employee Relations to provide consultation to UH chancellors, senior executives and personnel administrators on collective bargaining agreements as well as personnel policies and procedures of the UH Board of Regents and UH. Takeno served in that role for five years before being named Director of Administrative Services in the UH Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation where he served for two years. In that role, he was responsible for directing, planning, and administering the strategic and programmatic administration for the Research and Innovation Office.
Takeno also has private sector experience, having served as Vice President – Operations and General Manager for Progressive Communications, LLC, from March 2003 to March 2007.
In addition to HSTA, Takeno’s union leadership experience includes serving as Interim State Director and Director of Research & Legislation with the United Public Workers, Local 646, AFL-CIO for 12 years, from February 1991 to January 2003.
Takeno, a Kaneohe resident, holds both a bachelor’s degree in education and a professional diploma in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has served on the boards of a number of nonprofit organizations and currently serves as Chair of the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Education.
