Hawaii 24/7 Staff
Hawaii 24/7 has confirmed reports that Guy Toyama, Friends of NELHA executive director, has died.
Toyama, 42, finished the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Miracle Mile fun run Saturday evening and later collapsed.
He was rushed to Kona Community Hospital and later airlifted to The Queens Medical Center on Oahu, but could not be saved.
“It’s shocking and very sad. He was a great, great advocate of deep water technology,” said Bobby Command, mayor’s executive assistant who serves on the NELHA board of directors.
“I traveled with him to Japan two years ago and they really, really respected him all over. Everyone we met was his friend,” Command said. “Guy’s gift was his personality. He was always able to put people together and build partnerships. Not only do we lose all the contacts he had, but his willingness to work for the community as a whole. We’ve lost a very good friend.”
A native of Maui, Toyama was an active member in the community in Hawaii. He was president and CEO of H2 Technologies, a developer of renewable fuels in Hawaii. He had been executive director at Friends of NELHA since 2006.
He also served on the board of directors of the Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Kanu Hawaii and also was active in the Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association.
Toyama received B.A. in Marketing from the University of Oregon and had more than 15 years experience in advertising, marketing and publishing.
Having lived in Tokyo for seven years, Toyama was fluent in Japanese.
He is survived by wife, Rika.
UPDATE:
Statement posted on Facebook by Mayor Billy Kenoi:
“Guy was a true visionary, and a passionate advocate for affordable, renewable energy and sustainability. Through his involvement with NELHA, H2 Technologies, the Mayor’s Energy Advisory Commission, and many other boards and organizations, he used his gift for bringing people together and building partnerships toward making Hawaii Island a better place for all. His loss is a huge loss to all of Hawai‘i Island, and we will miss him. Aloha to Guy’s wife Rika and all of his ohana.”
UPDATE:
Services for Toyama are set.
* Family service 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 at Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary, Oahu
* Memorial service and celebration of his life 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 at Kona Hongwanji
I am devastated, he was a friend. We had many a long talk about more subjects than one can imagine. He made a dent in the universe and left a hole that won’t easily be filled.
Very sad to learn this . Randy your correct, Guy made his dent and we are all better for it.