Executive Management Team

Dustin M. Shindo
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President & Chief Executive Officer

Dustin is one of our founders, and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hoku Scientific since the company was founded in March 2001. Dustin's primary role is to manage the company's growth and strategic direction, while maximizing shareholder value. Dustin has previously overseen successful ventures in both the software and manufacturing industries. In 1995, Dustin started Mehana Brewing Company, a microbrewery located in Hilo, Hawaii. Since then, Mehana Brewing Company has become the largest bottling brewery in Hawaii and ships product to five states and to the Far East. In 1999, Dustin founded Activitymax, Inc., a software company that develops reservation software for the travel industry. As CEO of Activitymax, Inc., Dustin managed the development of the company's software applications and spearheaded contracts with several of Hawaii's largest travel companies. In addition, Dustin has previous experience as a business consultant at The Lucas Group, a strategic consulting firm in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Dustin earned an MBA from the Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, and earned a BA in Accounting from the University of Washington.

Karl M. Taft III
Chief Technology Officer

Karl is a founder of Hoku Scientific and has been the company's Chief Technology Officer since 2001. In that capacity, Karl manages the company's product development efforts. Hoku Scientific leverages Karl's broad experience at PCC Structurals, a leading international aerospace manufacturer based in Portland, Oregon, where he served in a variety of capacities including lead manager for research and development, industrial engineer and research chemist. At PCC, Karl co-contributed to multiple patents and also co-authored numerous research papers in the chemistry field. He has extensive experience optimizing electrode performance, synthesizing advanced electrolytes and streamlining system designs.

Karl earned an MS in Environmental Science and Engineering from Oregon Graduate Institute, an MBA from Portland State University, and a BA in Chemistry from Pacific University.

Darryl S. Nakamoto
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Secretary

Darryl has been Hoku Scientific's Chief Financial Officer since January 2005, and is responsible for managing all of the company's finance, accounting and public company reporting functions. Prior to joining Hoku Scientific, Darryl was the Finance Analyst at Frito-Lay where his responsibilities included budgeting and forecasting for selling expense, along with manufacturing and distribution cost centers. The position also involved advisory over product supply and coordination of other finance matters. Before that Darryl was the Sales and Marketing Executive for Syntera Solutions, a division of Profitability of Hawaii (POH), a software development/digital imaging company Prior to POH, Darryl was the Regional Director of Activitymax, a software company that develops reservation software for the travel industry. Prior to Activitymax, Darryl began his career at KPMG, LLP where he earned his CPA and planned and executed multiple audit engagements in various fields including insurance, hospitality, and government.

Darryl earned his BA in Accounting and Finance from the University of Washington.

Scott B. Paul
Vice President, Business Development & General Counsel

Scott has been Vice President, Business Development & General Counsel of Hoku Scientific since July 2003. Scott's primary role is to grow the company's revenue by developing customer relationships and partnerships for Hoku's solar and polysilicon businesses. Scott is also responsible for various strategic and operations efforts, as well as legal matters. Prior to joining Hoku Scientific, Scott worked as Director of Business Development and Associate General Counsel at Read-Rite Corporation, a publicly-traded multi-national company. Previously, Scott worked as an attorney at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP representing high tech emerging growth and large-cap public companies on financing and M&A transactions.

Scott earned his JD cum laude from Santa Clara Law School and his BA from University of California, Los Angeles.

Board of Directors

Karl E. Stahlkopf, PhD

Karl E. Stahlkopf, PhD has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2002. Since May 2002, Karl has been Senior Vice President, Energy Solutions and Chief Technology Officer of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Since December 2002, Karl has also served as President of Renewable Hawaii, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. From November 1973 to April 2002, Karl served as Vice President of Power Delivery and Utilization at Electric Power Research Institute, or EPRI, an independent, non-profit center for electricity and environmental research. During his tenure at EPRI, Karl was also a founder and served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of EPRI Solutions, a subsidiary of EPRI, and was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sure-Tech, LLC, a manufacturer of power electronic devices. Karl has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Naval Science from the University of Wisconsin and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Kenton T. Eldridge

Kenton T. Eldridge has served as a member of our board of directors since April 2004. From March 1983 to August 1997, Kenton served in various executive positions for DFS Group Limited, a traveler retailer, including Regional President, Taiwan Region, Regional President, Asian Marketing and Regional President, Alaska Division. Since January 2000, Kenton has served as a director and a member of the audit committee of American Savings Bank, F.S.B., a subsidiary of HEI Diversified, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Kenton has a B.A. and an M.A. in History and an M.B.A. from the University of New Hampshire.

Dean K. Hirata

Dean K. Hirata has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2007. Since 2006, Mr. Hirata has been Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Central Pacific Financial Corp., the holding company of Central Pacific Bank. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Central Pacific Financial Corp. From 2002 to 2004, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CB Bancshares, Inc., a bank holding company, whose principal subsidiary was City Bank. From 1999 to 2002, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CB Bancshares. Prior to joining CB Bancshares, Mr. Hirata served as Controller during his 9-year career at First Hawaiian Bank. His projects included the development and implementation of a bank-wide performance reporting system and various M&A financial analyses, including the merger of the former BancWest Corporation with and into First Hawaiian, Inc. in 1998. Prior to First Hawaiian Bank, Mr. Hirata began his career at KPMG, LLP where he earned his CPA and he supervised audits and other services for several industries, including financial institutions, hotels and non-profit entities. Mr. Hirata holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii.

Dustin M. Shindo

Dustin is one of our founders, and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hoku Scientific since the company was founded in March 2001. Dustin's primary role is to manage the company's growth and strategic direction, while maximizing shareholder value. Dustin has previously overseen successful ventures in both the software and manufacturing industries. In 1995, Dustin started Mehana Brewing Company, a microbrewery located in Hilo, Hawaii. Since then, Mehana Brewing Company has become the largest bottling brewery in Hawaii and ships product to five states and to the Far East. In 1999, Dustin founded Activitymax, Inc., a software company that develops reservation software for the travel industry. As CEO of Activitymax, Inc., Dustin managed the development of the company's software applications and spearheaded contracts with several of Hawaii's largest travel companies. In addition, Dustin has previous experience as a business consultant at The Lucas Group, a strategic consulting firm in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Dustin earned an MBA from the Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, and earned a BA in Accounting from the University of Washington.

Karl M. Taft III

Karl is a founder of Hoku Scientific and has been the company's Chief Technology Officer since 2001. In that capacity, Karl manages the company's product development efforts. Hoku Scientific leverages Karl's broad experience at PCC Structurals, a leading international aerospace manufacturer based in Portland, Oregon, where he served in a variety of capacities including lead manager for research and development, industrial engineer and research chemist. At PCC, Karl co-contributed to multiple patents and also co-authored numerous research papers in the chemistry field. He has extensive experience optimizing electrode performance, synthesizing advanced electrolytes and streamlining system designs.

Karl earned an MS in Environmental Science and Engineering from Oregon Graduate Institute, an MBA from Portland State University, and a BA in Chemistry from Pacific University.