Dennis Tanimoto

Dennis Tanimoto, President/CEO
Hawaii Credit Union League

Dennis Tanimoto has been president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Credit Union League (HCUL) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, HCU Services Corporation, since July 1992. HCUL is a trade association representing the interests of all 85 credit unions domiciled in Hawaii and two credit unions domiciled in Guam. It is one of the credit union leagues across the entire United States affiliated with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA).

Prior to joining HCUL, Dennis was an officer at two community banks in Hawaii for 19 years. He spent most of those years in various lending and administrative capacities—including vice president and manager of the residential mortgage loan department, vice president and corporate loan officer, vice president and consumer loan administrator, as well as assistant vice president and executive assistant to the chief executive officer (heading the bank’s management by objectives program). He was also a member of Hawaii Bankers Association’s legislative committee.

Dennis is one of four people in Hawaii who holds a Certified Association Executive professional designation conferred by the American Society of Association Executives. He received his bachelor of business administration and executive master of business administration degrees from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and is a life member of Beta Gamma Sigma (international honor society of accredited business colleges). He is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, and earned all three certificates then offered by the American Institute of Banking.

Active in industry, association, and community affairs, Dennis currently represents HCUL as a leader in numerous nonprofit organizations, including: member of the CUNA board of directors; member of the CUNA audit committee; member of the board of directors of HEDCO Local Development Corporation (a Honolulu-based certified development company that grants loans to small businesses in Hawaii and Guam under the U.S. Small Business Administration 504 loan program); director and immediate past president of Aloha Society of Association Executives; as well as a member of Trade Association Executives of Honolulu. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Aloha United Way board of directors and community building committee, and is chairman of its financial stability and independence impact council. Dennis is also a director and past president of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii; and director, past president, and chairman of the strategic planning committee of Susannah Wesley Community Center. He has been recognized as an inductee in the 2008 edition of Who’s Who in America’s Credit Unions, as a senator (highest honor) of Junior Chamber International, and as an ambassador (highest honor) of the United States Junior Chamber.

His hobbies and interests include collecting vintage and limited edition fountain pens, fine wristwatches, and German automobiles. Dennis resides in Honolulu with his wife Dale and has two adult children.