Asano was born in Hawaii. He graduated from
Pearl City High School in Hawaii in 1981, studied Japanese and trained in judo at
Tokai University for two years, then went on to study at
San José State University where he graduated in 1989 in
accounting. In 2008, Kevin Asano's autobiography,
Step Onto the Mat: Journey to True Success, was published by
White Mountain Castle Publishing. He co-founded Pacific Rim Legacy Group, a financial planning organization and Personal Transformation International , a 501(c)3 organization. He has served as President of Hawaii Judo, Inc., the state judo governing body of USA Judo and President of the
United States Judo Federation, a grassroots national judo organization. He is also the head instructor of Leeward Judo Club in Hawaii. ==Awards and honors==