Shidler College of Business 60th Anniversary

Ross Murakami (BBA ’87)

Founding Partner, KMH LLP

Ross R. Murakami is a partner in KMH LLP, a Hawai‘i firm that specializes in delivering audit, tax, risk management, accounting and business consulting services.

Murakami began his public accounting career in 1987 with Arthur Andersen, where he became the first locally hired professional to become a Partner. In 2002, Murakami, together with Peter Hanashiro and Randy Karns, made the decision to sever ties with Andersen by purchasing the Hawai‘i practice. This resulted in the only Andersen office in the country where an entire practice remained intact.

Their philosophy was to build a firm that was locally owned and managed, with the level of quality provided by the best firms in the country. Since then, KMH added four partners from other national accounting firms, growing to be one of Hawai‘i’s largest professional services firms. Many of Hawai‘i’s largest public and private organizations are among their clients.

Over his career, Murakami has been committed to giving back to the community through his support of youth and education programs. Having been a Boy Scout as a youth, he recognized the life and leadership skills that he developed through that experience and has been an active supporter of scouting. He currently serves as President of the Aloha Council Boy Scouts of America. This scouting program includes nearly 20,000 youth throughout Hawai‘i and the Pacific Basin.

Murakami is a member of the UH School of Accountancy Advisory Board and the Shidler College of Business Advisory Council, and has been a generous supporter of the College. He also serves as one of Hawai‘i’s representatives on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a board member and past president of the Hawai‘i Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Murakami is married to Shidler accounting alumna Dayle and together they have two children Connor and Cameryn.