As vice chair and chief operating officer at Central Pacific Bank, David Morimoto, MBA ’97 keeps a breakneck schedule, overseeing banking at 27 branches along with CPB’s business and commercial banking, commercial real estate and wealth management lines of business.
But no matter how busy Morimoto gets, he still makes time to give back.
It’s a “good habit” he says was instilled in him growing up in the islands and working hard to make an impact.
“I think Hawai’i is more philanthropic than most states. Part of that comes from our upbringing and the spirit of aloha,” he said.
“Giving to those who are less fortunate—I hope that is what my two daughters see in me. “
Morimoto started at Central Pacific Bank in 1991, and has served across the company. Before being promoted to chief operating officer in March, Morimoto was senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Central Pacific Bank.
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In the community, Morimoto has long been active with Aloha United Way and homeless services nonprofit Institute for Human Services (IHS).
At IHS, he is the nonprofit’s board chair—a role that he says has afforded him the opportunity to better understand the complexity of Hawai’i’s homeless crisis. “Homelessness is a large and growing problem,” he said. “It’s about helping as many people as you can to improve their situation.”
Also in a volunteer capacity, Morimoto serves with the U.S.-Japan Council, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations. Morimoto said as a yonsei, or fourth-generation Japanese-American, the council’s mission of education and relationship-building has resonated with him.
Chaminade’s mission of service also struck a chord with Morimoto while he pursued his MBA.
He attended classes at night to attain his MBA—as online learning wasn’t an option at the time. Morimoto recalled that many of his fellow students were professionals or members of the military and he appreciated learning about their unique perspectives to business and the community.
“I enjoyed the diversity,” he said.
It’s one of the reasons that when he has a chance to talk to younger people, especially college students, he encourages them to get outside of their comfort zones and seek out opportunities that will challenge them—and help them to grow.
“Work ethic has also been a lot of what I think has led to my success,” he added. “I waited tables in college and carried that work ethic into the day job. It served me well.”
