GTP Story Detail
Kellie M.N. Sekiya ’82
Kellie M. N. Sekiya graduated from Punahou School in 1982 and from the University of Hawai‘i with a BS in Business Administration in 1986. Kellie received her Juris Doctor in 1989 from the John A. Burns School of Law.
Besides her family and friends, Kellie’s loves were Punahou, tennis, and the color blue, but not necessarily in that order. She was one of a few students who were accepted into Punahou in the 1st grade. From day one, she loved being at Punahou, and by cosmic coincidence, it turned out that the school colors were buff and BLUE.
When Kellie was in the fourth grade, she started taking tennis lessons at Punahou. After just a few months, the Punahou Pro Tom Mauch registered her in a tennis tournament. That first tournament was a doubles match, and her partner was Lori Mizoguchi ’82, a life-long friend.
Kellie sharpened her tennis skills by playing with her dad and uncle, and by the age of 11 she started to regularly beat them. She eventually was ranked in the State of Hawai‘i and was also a four-year Varsity player at Punahou. She became a Hawai‘i State Champion in doubles her senior year in high school.
In addition to her athletic skills, her music and academics were also outstanding. She was a member of the Punahou Concert Orchestra, the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony, the National Honor Society, and she graduated with honors from Punahou. At the University of Hawai‘i, she earned a spot on the tennis team as a walk-on.
In her senior year, she was given the Top Scholar-Athlete Award. She studied very hard at the John A. Burns School of Law, and was in law review, receiving multiple awards. After several years of practicing real estate law, she became a partner at the prestigious law firm of Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn, and Stifel. Kellie’s true passion throughout her life was always tennis. She regularly taught tennis in the summer program at Punahou, where she encouraged young players to do their best and, more importantly, have fun.
The Kellie M.N. Sekiya ’82 Endowed Financial Aid Fund was established by her family and friends in 2022, what would have been her 40th Class Reunion at Punahou School. This Financial Aid Fund will support students at Punahou with a preference for those like Kellie who have an interest and passion for tennis. Kellie’s legacy will continue to give young tennis players from Punahou every opportunity to do their best and, of course, have fun.
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When Kellie was in the fourth grade, she started taking tennis lessons at Punahou. After just a few months, the Punahou Pro Tom Mauch registered her in a tennis tournament. That first tournament was a doubles match, and her partner was Lori Mizoguchi ’82, a life-long friend.
Kellie sharpened her tennis skills by playing with her dad and uncle, and by the age of 11 she started to regularly beat them. She eventually was ranked in the State of Hawai‘i and was also a four-year Varsity player at Punahou. She became a Hawai‘i State Champion in doubles her senior year in high school.
In addition to her athletic skills, her music and academics were also outstanding. She was a member of the Punahou Concert Orchestra, the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony, the National Honor Society, and she graduated with honors from Punahou. At the University of Hawai‘i, she earned a spot on the tennis team as a walk-on.
In her senior year, she was given the Top Scholar-Athlete Award. She studied very hard at the John A. Burns School of Law, and was in law review, receiving multiple awards. After several years of practicing real estate law, she became a partner at the prestigious law firm of Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn, and Stifel. Kellie’s true passion throughout her life was always tennis. She regularly taught tennis in the summer program at Punahou, where she encouraged young players to do their best and, more importantly, have fun.
The Kellie M.N. Sekiya ’82 Endowed Financial Aid Fund was established by her family and friends in 2022, what would have been her 40th Class Reunion at Punahou School. This Financial Aid Fund will support students at Punahou with a preference for those like Kellie who have an interest and passion for tennis. Kellie’s legacy will continue to give young tennis players from Punahou every opportunity to do their best and, of course, have fun.
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