Robert Kalani Uichi Kihune (born 15 June 1937) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral. He served as commanding officer of the Naval Education and Training Command from 1992 to 1994. Kihune earlier served as

commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific (COMNAVSURFPAC) is a United States Navy vice admiral, who leads the Naval Surface Force, United States Pacific Fleet. The commander is also designated as commander, Naval Surface Force (COMNAVSURFOR), a "du ...

from 1988 to 1990. He was the Navy's first native Hawaiian vice admiral.

Early life and education

Born in

Lāhainā Lahaina ( haw, Lāhainā) is the largest census-designated place (CDP) in West Maui, Maui County, Hawaii, United States and includes the Kaanapali and Kapalua beach resorts. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a resident population of 12,702. Laha ...

Maui The island of Maui (; Hawaiian: ) is the second-largest of the islands of the state of Hawaii at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2) and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is the largest of Maui County's four islands, which ...

and raised in Kāneʻohe,

Oʻahu Oahu () ( Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island of O’ ...

, Kihune is a 1955 graduate of

Kamehameha Schools Kamehameha Schools, formerly called Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate (KSBE), is a private school system in Hawaii established by the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate, under the terms of the will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, who was a formal membe ...

Kapālama High School. Appointed to the United States Naval Academy, he graduated in June 1959 with a B.S. degree in marine engineering. Kihune later earned a second B.S. degree in communications engineering from the

Naval Postgraduate School The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a public graduate school operated by the United States Navy and located in Monterey, California. It offers master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 70 fields of study to the U.S. Armed Forces, DOD ci ...

in May 1965. He attended the Naval War College in August 1977.

Military career

A career surface warfare officer, Kihune commanded the guided missile destroyer USS ''Cochrane''. Deployed to Southeast Asia, he conducted nightly attacks on North Vietnam while successfully avoiding any damage from enemy fire. Promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, he assumed command of Destroyer Squadron 35 in July 1980 and then became chief of staff to the commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific in August 1982. As a commodore, Kihune served as director of Command, Control and Communication Systems for the United States European Command in Stuttgart, West Germany. In this position, Kihune provided support during the capture of terrorists of the Achille Lauro hijacking. Promoted to

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

, he was given command of Cruiser Destroyer Group 5 in September 1986. On August 27, 1988, Kihune assumed command of the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. In January 1991, he became Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Surface Warfare. In August 1992, Kihune became director of Naval Training and Doctrine and chief of Naval Education and Training. In 1993, while serving in this capacity, Kihune was involved in a congressional dispute regarding the Navy's Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training (UHPT) program, where he was accused of leaking the Navy's position of retaining the program by lawmakers to delay its consolidation with the Army's equivalent, defying the wishes of Secretary of Defense Les Aspin.

Post-retirement

In 1999, Kihune was appointed chair of the board of trustees of the Hawaiian private school system

, where he was praised for his participatory style of leadership. He also serves as a member of several non-profit boards, including the USS Missouri Memorial Foundation since 1998. Kihune was appointed as vice president and member of the board of directors of Hawaiian telecommunications firm Sandwich Isles Communications in the 2000s, and became CEO in 2012 after his predecessor, Albert Hee (brother of state senator Clayton Hee), was indicted for tax fraud. As CEO, Kihune gave testimony in support of HB2325, a state bill intended to expand Hawaii's broadband infrastructure.

Personal life

Kihune married Hope Puanani Zablan. They have three children.

Awards and decorations

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kihune, Robert Kalani Uichi 1937 births Living people People from Lahaina, Hawaii Military personnel from Hawaii American military personnel of Native Hawaiian descent United States Naval Academy alumni Naval Postgraduate School alumni United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War Naval War College alumni Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States) Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Navy vice admirals Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal