Our Management Team
We are a team of entrepreneurs, operators, and investors dedicated to providing disruptive companies with the mentorship and momentum needed to thrive in the public sector.
Executive Leadership
Dustin Shindo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Shindo is an entrepreneur, executive, technologist, and a seasoned advisor with more than 25 years of industry experience. Mr. Shindo currently serves as the managing member of Mehana Management LLC, the manager of our sponsor, Mehana Ventures LLC. Mr. Shindo formerly served as Chief Executive Officer of Pono Capital Corp (NASDAQ: PONO), Executive Chairman of Pono Capital Two, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTWO), Executive Chairman of Pono Capital Three, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTHR), the managing member of Pono Capital Corp’s sponsor, Mehana Equity LLC, and the managing member of Pono Capital Two, Inc. and Pono Capital Three Inc.’s sponsor, Mehana Capital LLC. Mr. Shindo has also been retained for a number of consulting and advisory positions since July 2014 for companies working in the health care, travel, technology, construction, and non-profit industries.
Mr. Shindo served as the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Junify Corporation from September 2016 to June 2022, a company operating in California and Japan to offer zero trust network access software (software defined border) to help companies better secure their cloud resources. From December 2012 to December 2018, Mr. Shindo served as the Chief Executive Officer of Pono Health LLC (“Pono Health”), where he provided consulting, data management, analytics, and software development services. Pono Health managed healthcare data for individuals in Hawaii and for clinics in Washington, Oregon and Arizona. Pono Health also developed an analytics platform used to calculate gaps in care, cost savings, and other health metrics.
From March 2001 to March 2010, Mr. Shindo served as the Chief Executive Officer of Hoku Scientific, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he led the company through an IPO on the NASDAQ Global Market and signed customer contracts totaling over $2 billion. In June 1995, Mr. Shindo received his Bachelor of Art’s degree in Accounting, Finance and Marketing at the University of Washington based in Seattle, Washington. In May 1999, Mr. Shindo received his Master’s in Business Administration at Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia based in Charlottesville, Virginia. In August 2015, Mr. Shindo completed the SEP program at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University.
Gary Miyashiro
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Miyashiro is a skilled Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”) with over 30 years of experience. Mr. Miyashiro formerly served as Chief Financial Officer of Pono Capital Three, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTHR). Since January 2011, Mr. Miyashiro has served as a President at MC Group Hawaii, Inc., Manoa Consulting Group’s successor, where he performs professional services to the public in the areas of assurance, taxation, and accounting. He also served as a Member of Manoa Consulting Group, LLC from November 2002 to December 2010, where Mr. Miyashiro performed the same functions. From May 2001 to October 2002, Mr. Miyashiro served as CFO and Treasurer of Island Title Corporation, during which he directed all financial operations and maintained the internal control structure. From March 1999 to April 2001, Mr. Miyashiro then served as Vice President of GE Capital Hawaii, Inc., where he was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the company’s financial reporting, accounting, and tax operations. From August 1990 to March 1999, Mr. Miyashiro began his career with Grant Thornton LLP where he performed and coordinated financial statement attest services, supervised audits, performed multiple-level consolidations, tax accruals, and presentation of financial statements.
Mr. Miyashiro holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants, the Hawaii Society of Public Accountants and the State of Hawaii Board of Public Accountancy.
Our Independent Board of Directors
Darryl Nakamamoto
Independent Director and Chairperson of the Board’s Audit Committee
Mr. Nakamoto has agreed to serve as an independent director and Chairperson of the Board’s Audit Committee. He is an entrepreneur and executive with over 20 years of industry experience, including his former role as CFO of a publicly traded company. Mr. Nakamoto was previously the CEO and Director of Pono Capital Two, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTWO). Since 2017, Mr. Nakamoto has served as President and Owner of Viv, LLC, a successful accounting and finance solutions provider. Since August 2025, Mr. Nakamoto has also served as CFO of Elite Mechanical, Inc., and from June 2020 to May 2024, as Controller of Hawaiian Springs, LLC. From May 2016 to July 2017, Mr. Nakamoto served as President and CFO of DKI808 LLC, dba Premier Restoration Hawaii, where he secured financing for the purchase of Maui Fire & Flood and expanded the full-service restoration business from Maui to Oahu. Between March 2014 and March 2016, Mr. Nakamoto served as President of Island Flooring. Mr. Nakamoto served as President of Kaiuli Energy from April 2012 to February 2014, a seawater air conditioning startup where he was responsible for strategic decisions and project developments. Since 2024, Mr. Nakamoto has served as a Board Member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hawaii. From 2014 to 2020, Mr. Nakamoto served as Treasurer, Vice Chair and Board Member of the Japanese Cultural Center of Honolulu.
From January 2005 to March 2012, Mr. Nakamoto was CFO, Treasurer and Secretary of Hoku Scientific, a then publicly traded clean energy firm based in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he managed all finance, accounting, and treasury functions. Between January 2003 and December 2004, Mr. Nakamoto was a Finance Analyst for Frito-Lay of Hawaii. From March 2001 to January 2003, he worked as a Consultant for Akamai Consulting Group/Syntera Solutions. He was a Regional Director for software development startup ActivityMax from 2000 to 2001. Mr. Nakamoto began his career as an Accountant at KPMG from 1996 to 2000. Mr. Nakamoto is a CPA, not in public practice. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in Finance. Mr. Nakamoto is a former Treasurer and board member of the Make-A-Wish foundation of Hawaii.
Mike Sayama, Ph.D.
Independent Director
Dr. Mike Sayama has agreed to serve as an independent director. Dr. Sayama was formerly the Executive Director of Community First since it was established in July 2016 until January 2021. As the founding executive director, he was responsible for operations, developing a strategic plan for an accountable health community in East Hawaii, community relations, and fund raising. From January 2021 to June 2021 he served as the Director of Strategy to facilitate the transition to a new management team.
From October 2013 to December 2018, Dr. Sayama served as a Vice President at Pono Health and was Director of Learning Health Homes, a project where he was responsible for managing the East Hawaii Independent Physicians Association and implementing a data platform integrating health plan, hospital, and physician data. Dr. Sayama also facilitated the reorganization of EHI and development of its strategic direction. Community First, a 501(c) 3 non-profit, which serves as a neutral forum for healthcare stakeholders in East Hawaii, grew out of the Learning Health Homes Initiative.
From August 1997 to October 2013, Dr. Sayama served as a Vice President of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, first in Health Benefits Management and then in Customer Relations. In the first position, he streamlined preauthorization and appeal processes, including the elimination of preauthorization for inpatient admissions without increase in inpatient utilization. In his second position he established call centers in Hilo which stabilized the call center work force and improved the timeliness and accuracy of customer service.
From April 2001 to April 2005, Dr. Sayama was a Director on the City Bank Board, and from April 2005 to April 2009, was a Director on the Boards of Central Pacific Bank and Central Pacific Financial Corporation. He was also on the board of Pono Capital Corp (NASDAQ: PONO), Pono Capital Two, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTWO) and Pono Capital Three, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTHR). He currently serves on the board of Pono Capital Corporation and SBC Medical Group Holdings Inc.
Regarding education: In May 1975, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Yale University, and in August 1979, his Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from University of Michigan. In August 1982, Dr. Sayama received his Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology from University of Michigan. He is the author of several books on psychotherapy and Zen Buddhism.
His community service includes having been a Director on the Bay Clinic Board (the Federally Qualified Health Center in East Hawaii) and the Abbot of Chozen-ji, International Zen Dojo.
Davin Kazama
Independent Director
Mr. Kazama has agreed to serve as an independent director. Mr. Kazama is an entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in public offerings, capital markets, finance, real estate development, and investment strategies. He is a seasoned professional in raising capital from angel investors, venture capitalists, and the public capital markets. In 2023 as Chief Executive Officer of Pono Capital Three, Inc (NASDAQ: PTHR). Mr. Kazama led the company to a $115 million IPO on the NASDAQ. In 2024, the Company achieved its goal of a merger with New Horizon Aircraft, Ltd., an advanced aerospace engineering company and developer of one of the world’s first hybrid-electric VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. In 2012, Mr. Kazama founded and continues to serve as Manager of Driven PV LLC, which develops and manages clean energy systems. In this position, he educates and consults parties on clean energy systems and the benefits of such products, including tax incentives and clean energy benefits. From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Kazama served as an Advisor to Kai Medical, Inc., an award-winning developer of state-of-the-art medical technology. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Kazama served as Chief Operating Officer of the company. In these roles, he was responsible for raising angel and venture capital investment, managing relationships with the investor base, and financial reporting. Mr. Kazama holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Puget Sound (1998), an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (2003), and a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies in Finance at Harvard University (2022).
Adam Bauer,
Independent Director
Mr. Bauer has agreed to serve as an independent director. Mr. Bauer currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of HPM Building Supply, a 100% employee-owned company based in Hawai‘i that provides lumber, hardware, and building materials through retail and design showrooms, as well as manufacturing and factory-built housing solutions, a position he has held since 2024. Mr. Bauer joined HPM Building Supply in 2012 as Director of Finance and has since held a series of leadership roles, including Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Regional Manager overseeing multiple branch locations. In these roles, he has had responsibility over multi-branch operations, manufacturing, supply chain, strategic sourcing, and organizational development. During his tenure at HPM, he has helped lead the company through significant growth, geographic expansion, and major capital investments while implementing an employee-first, people-centered leadership culture grounded in accountability and self-awareness.
Prior to joining HPM Building Supply, Mr. Bauer worked in public accounting, providing audit and forensic accounting services to clients in a variety of industries, and later held financial leadership roles at Elkay Manufacturing, a large privately held Midwest-based manufacturer of sinks, drinking fountains, cabinets, and faucets. In these positions, he developed broad experience in financial reporting, audit, internal controls, and supporting complex manufacturing and distribution operations, as well as financial planning and analysis, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions evaluation, and operational improvement initiatives.
Mr. Bauer currently serves on and holds leadership roles with several nonprofit and community boards in Hawai‘i, including Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, PBS Hawai‘i, and Vibrant Hawai‘i. These organizations focus on education, public media, and community resiliency. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 2004 and his Master of Science degree in Accounting in 2005, both from Northern Illinois University.