A Big Island educator who has filled a variety of roles at Hawaii Community College has been honored by the University of Hawaii system.

James Yoshida has been awarded the Willard Wilson Award for Distinguished Service for 2012.

Yoshida’s colleagues describe him as a “man who wears many hats with integrity and dedication.”

He currently serves as vice chancellor for administrative affairs at HCC.

Since becoming a faculty member in 1984 Yoshida has taught marketing, management and a variety of computer-related courses. He has also assumed temporary assignments as registrar, researcher, division chairman and interim dean.

Born and raised on Maui, Yoshida has a bachelor’s degree in business administration in marketing and a master’s degree in educational administration, both from UH-Manoa.

Outside of school Yoshida says he enjoys traveling and working in his yard.

The Willard Willson award was established in 1969 by the UH Board of Regents to recognize exemplary service by a UH employee. It is named after a long-time secretary to the regents.

Yoshida is the only recipient of the past 10 awardees from the Big Island although the 2006 winner, Wayne Nishijima, associate dean for cooperative extension for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at UH-Manoa, was known to frequent CTAHR’s Hilo facility.