Washington, D.C., Sept. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a strategic move to bolster the global fight against financial crime, ACAMS, a leading global membership organization dedicated to ending illicit finance, is pleased to announce the inauguration of its 66th chapter worldwide - the Hawaii Chapter. The establishment of this chapter represents a significant step in fortifying Hawaii's defenses against financial crime, recognizing the archipelago's distinctive economic and geopolitical landscape.
The unveiling of the chapter – which provides a platform for local anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals to connect with the broader ACAMS community, was attended by more than 100 key industry representatives. The event featured in-depth discussions highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in Hawaii, particularly battling financial crimes that affect Hawaii such as customer due diligence and drug trafficking; emphasizing the role of the chapter in strengthening these alliances.
Speakers at the launch included:
- Ryan Shiroma – Co-Chair ACAMS Hawaii Chapter, Central Pacific Bank
- Kelly Uyeda – Co-Chair ACAMS Hawaii Chapter, First Hawaiian Bank
- Clare E. Connors – U.S. Attorney, Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official in the State of Hawaii
- John Tobon, CAMS – Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI)
- Craig S. Nolan – Chief, White Collar Crimes, U.S. Attorney’s Office - Hawaii
- Lynn Antolin – Special Agent, IRS-CI
- Monica Gould – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Jessica Munoz – Ho’ola Na Pua
- Leslie Nollie – Ho’old Na Pua
- Maleka Ali, CAMS, CAMS-Audit – President, Arc-Serv, LLC
“The ACAMS Hawaii Chapter underscores the undeniable truth: collaboration is the cornerstone of the fight against financial crime,“ said ACAMS CEO, Neil Sternthal. “By uniting AFC professionals, the Hawaii Chapter will drive innovation in anti-financial crime strategies that will safeguard Hawaii’s financial system and protect its community.”
“The ACAMS Hawaii Chapter is a direct result of the true spirit of collaboration between AML professionals throughout the state of Hawaii and our law enforcement partners,” said ACAMS Hawaii Chapter Co-Chair, Ryan Shiroma, VP and BSA Officer, Central Pacific Bank.
“It is truly an honor and a privilege for us to help lead and grow this Chapter into the future as we continue to improve our abilities to collectively fight financial crime,” ACAMS Hawaii Chapter Co-Chair, Kelly Uyeda, Investigations Unit Manager, First Hawaiian Bank.
Learn more about the ACAMS Hawaii Chapter here.
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About ACAMS®
ACAMS is a leading international membership organization dedicated to providing opportunities for anti-financial crime education, best practices, and peer-to-peer networking to AFC professionals globally. With over 110,000 members across 200+ jurisdictions and territories, ACAMS is committed to the mission of ending financial crime through the provision of anti-money laundering/counterterrorism-financing and sanctions knowledge-sharing, thought leadership, risk-mitigation services, ESG initiatives, and platforms for public-private dialogue. The association’s CAMS certification is the gold-standard qualification for AFC professionals, while its CGSS and CCAS certifications are for sanctions professionals and AFC practitioners working in the crypto space, respectively. ACAMS’ 60+ Chapters globally further amplify the association’s mission through training and networking initiatives. Visit acams.org for more information.
