This story originally appeared in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Harker Magazine, which can be read and downloaded from Harker’s issuu page.
Words by Vikkie Bowes-Mok
Photographs by Nicole Caldwell and provided by Lori Okimura MS ’84
Lori Okimura MS ’84 was born in paradise, Hawaii to be exact. Her early years were spent in the warmth of her ohana – her family and tight-knit community – walking to school barefoot and visiting her grandfather at the library where he worked. When she was 6 years old, her mother remarried and the family relocated to Silicon Valley, where Okimura began attending Harker. She traveled back and forth between the islands and the valley for several years before settling into Harker Academy through eighth grade.
“From the moment I arrived at Harker as a new sixth-grade transfer, Lori stood out as the most together person I’d ever met. Her example inspired me to take chances I never thought I could, even trying out for sports just to be part of the energy she created,” said Suzanne Groth, a Harker classmate and now CEO of Groth Wines in Oakville. “Lori has an incredible work ethic, kindness and natural leadership that drew us to follow her, so it’s no surprise her passion for volleyball carried her all the way into the professional world.”
Okimura had played volleyball for as long as she can remember, so when she graduated from Harker and moved on to high school at Menlo School (Harker didn’t yet have an upper school), earning a spot on Menlo’s volleyball team was a natural fit. A standout athlete, she secured a college scholarship until an accident during her senior year caused a serious lower back injury that left her temporarily paralyzed.
Losing the full athletic scholarship was devastating, but it ultimately led her in a new direction. Instead of pursuing a volleyball scholarship elsewhere, Okimura attended the University of Southern California on a partial academic scholarship where she worked to put herself through college.
In a surprising twist of fate, seven volleyball players suddenly left USC’s program, creating opportunities for walk-ons. Okimura tried out and played briefly before transitioning into a team manager role after being unable to perform at the same level as before her injury. When her playing days ended, an internship in the USC Athletics Sports Information Office proved pivotal, equipping her with the skills that would carry her into the workforce and lay the foundation for her career in volleyball.
“For nearly four decades, I’ve worked almost every job in volleyball, from manufacturing the balls to running events, giving me a true 360-degree view of the sport,” Okimura said. “A hallmark of my career has been pairing every paid role with volunteer service, which opened doors and deepened my connection to the game. Helping beach volleyball on its path to the Olympic Games reminded me how powerful community and opportunity can be in shaping a career.”
Okimura’s professional accomplishments are extensive. She served as the first Asian American Pacific Islander female president and board chair of USA Volleyball and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2019. She also served as the first female and Asian American Pacific Islander president and sport director of World ParaVolley, as well as a Paralympic vice president and international technical official. After nearly 10 years with World ParaVolley, she now serves as a strategic advisor with the Sport Ability Foundation.
“I first met Lori in 2012, and she immediately stood out as someone who led with kindness while always keeping athletes’ best interests at heart,” said Nicky Nieves, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist. “She doesn’t crack under pressure, leads by example and truly supports the people around her. Lori has taught me that your voice matters and how to use it professionally, and even today she’s someone I can call for mentorship and advice.”
She will always be supportive of beach volleyball and volleyball in all forms, but her focus now is on para sports organizations and athlete safeguarding.
“Lori has always worked to elevate the integrity of volleyball at every level, from grassroots programs to the Olympic and Paralympic stage, both in the U.S. and around the world,” said Gary Sato, an assistant coach on three U.S. Olympic teams and in his 11th year as an assistant coach with the USC men’s volleyball team. “I have known Lori for more than 30 years and would describe her as loyal, fearless and a true champion for Olympic sports. I remember the 2012 London Olympic Games, when we shared a moment congratulating Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings after their beach volleyball gold medal. That moment reflected Lori’s generosity, leadership and her commitment to the sport. To me, she is ohana; family isn’t only defined by blood, and Lori has always embodied that spirit.”
Though her career has taken her to Olympic arenas and international leadership roles, the values that shaped Okimura began much earlier in Hawaii, in the close-knit circle of her ohana. That sense of family has followed her throughout her life in volleyball, guiding how she mentors athletes, leads organizations and protects the integrity of sport. For those who know her, the global volleyball community she has helped build is simply an extension of that same spirit of ohana.
Vikki Bowes-Mok is a freelance writer and editor.
