Halemanu Villiarimo started out fixing and modifying his own pedal bikes as a kid. He later worked on dirt bikes, then eventually hot rod cars. He got his start in the repair business apprenticing under Ray Benarao, owner of Certified Truck and Highlift Repair in Wailuku, with whom he worked with on and off for 20+ years. He went on to work for Tropical Rent-a-Car for a few years, then worked as a dealer technician for Island Dodge. A position he held for 7 years, eventually becoming shop co-leader alongside Tim Hultquist. In 1992 he became the first undergraduate student in the Maui College automotive program to achieve ASE Master Tech status.

In 1998 Hollis Lee, the head of automotive program at University of Hawaiʻi Maui College asked him to teach credited courses. He taught part-time until 2006, all the while working as an automotive tech for various shops around Maui. He went back to teaching part-time in 2023 while also operating Rock and Roll Auto Maui Inc. Alongside his auto career, he has also been a professional musician and composer for over 30 years.

Credentials

1990 Alu like Scholarship  Awardee

1990 Maui Automotive Dealers Scholarship  Awardee 

ASE Master Tech Certified since 1992

AS Degree in Automotive Technology

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Factory Trained 

Mitsubishi and Subaru Factory Trained

ASE L1 and Light Diesel Truck Certified

Hybrid and EV Training from ACDC

UH Automotive Instructor (1998-1999, 2002-2007, 2023-Current)