Krissy Izumi-Nitao

Sustainer Krissy Isumi-Nitao

Sustainer Krissy Izumi-Nitao leads a very busy and full life. This Junior League past President currently serves as Executive Director of the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission.

In this busy midterm election year, Krissy plays a critical role in ensuring that state and county political candidates and committees are complying with campaign finance laws and rules through education and enforcement actions.

Her husband, John Nitao, is Vice President & General Counsel of The Queen’s Medical Center. Together, Krissy and John are raising two very active 16-year-old twins, Tom and Emma.

When did you join the Junior League and why did you join?

Maybe it was 1995 or 1996. I joined because my mother, Dana Izumi, is a Sustainer and I thought it would be a great way to meet people and reconnect having just moved back from the mainland.

What positions did you hold in the League?

Impact Honolulu, Community Assistance Fund, PICS 808, Nominating, President-Elect and President … there may have been others.

Which of these was your favorite position and why?

JLH President – because I had such an incredible board and truly ended up with some of the best of friends!

When you gave birth to twins Tom and Emma, did that happen during the year you served as President-elect? And how did you manage all of that while still working full-time?

I had Tom & Emma in September 2002 during my PE year. They were born 2 months early! Tom was 2 pounds, 13 ounces, and Emma was 3 pounds, 4 ounces. I took 6 months off from work and returned full-time to the Attorney General’s Office – Criminal Justice Division. I had the help of my family (especially my mom), John, and we hired a nanny to help during the day. She stayed on with us until Tom and Emma were 2 years old whereupon we enrolled them into The Cole Academy located downtown.

What kinds of activities/sports are your kids involved in and do you and John participate in any way?

Emma started playing soccer when she was 4 years old and I was her soccer coach until she was in 3rd grade. She then went on to play club soccer with Leahi. She now plays club soccer with Surf and also plays ILH Punahou soccer as well as participates on the Punahou Cross-Country team. Tom is a swimmer and water polo player with Punahou. He used to play tennis with Waialae Country Club’s junior team and paddle with Outrigger Canoe Club. John volunteers as an official for the swim meets. Emma and Tom are both 10th graders at Punahou and currently learning how to drive!

Krissy, Emma, Tom and John vacationing in Xi’an, China.

Are you currently involved with other charitable/volunteer activities?

Presently, here are my activities: 1) Council on Governmental Ethics Laws – Steering Committee, 2015 to present; Nominating Committee, 2015 to present; 2) Hawaii State Bar Association, Board of Directors – 2015 to present; 3) Punahou Alumni Association – Reunion Committee 2018-2019; and 4) Punahou School – Sophomore Parent Shadow Prizes Exchange.

Favorite pastime?

Traveling and hanging out with my family

Favorite vacation?

Loved them all – New Zealand, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Europe, Egypt, Jackson Hole!

Favorite junk food?

Chocolate cake

Favorite poem/line from a poem?

“Just do it!” (haha)

Can you tell us something about yourself that not many people know?

I am the first 6th generation Japanese person to be born in the U.S.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I don’t know. I am very happy here to be with my friends and family!

What is your favorite Junior League moment?

When a girl from the PICS 808 class was in disbelief that we would volunteer our time to spend a Saturday with them. This question hit me to the core of what impressions and expectations this girl grew up with and truly inspired me as to the effect of JLH community programming.

Who is your most inspiring mentor in the League and why?

I cannot say. I am so blessed to have met so many wonderfully diverse, fascinating, committed, and caring women at JLH, all of whom have impacted, guided or counseled me at some phase of my JLH life and beyond. The best thing about a JLH friend is that your friendship is forever and no matter how much time has passed, when you see them again, it is as if time had not gone by and I walk away feeling so reenergized, reconnected, and refreshed!