Hawaii Business Magazine June 2025

33 HAWAI‘I’S GOT PRIDE, AND PLENTY OF FIGHT TOO HAWAIIBUSINESS .COM

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THESE LOCALS REVE RSE THE BR AIN DR AIN P. 46

ROADMAP FOR A DYNAMIC LOCAL ECONOMY P. 50

, s e k Li s a n d w o l l Fo yc h ec ks Pa P. 1 8

, Cash In s r e c n e l Influ y a c o L e t Get B s Som u J s r t he While O

D.E.I. STILL HAS A FUTURE IN HAWAI‘I P. 43

“SO MUCH RESPONSIBILIT Y, SO LIT TLE TR AINING – UNTIL NOW”

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F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N O R T O S U B M I T A N A P P L I C AT I O N, V I S I T H E C O U N C I L . O R G / L E A D E R S H I PA C A D E M Y 2 0 2 5 SUPPORTING SPONSOR

THE HAWAII LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HAWAII EMPLOYERS COUNCIL AND HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE. 2 | JUNE 2025

ILLUSTRATION: HAWAII BUSINESS

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FEATURES

IN 2023, ABOUT 12,100 HAWAI‘I-BORN INDIVIDUALS MOVED BACK TO THE STATE, WHILE APPROXIMATELY 6,400 MOVED OUT, ACCORDING TO A UHERO STUDY. WE LOOK AT THAT REVERSAL OF THE BRAIN DRAIN ON PAGE 46.

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What It Takes to Be a Local Social Media Star Influencers describe how they gain followings and make money in this cuttingedge profession. It’s riches for a few and much harder for the rest.

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It’s Pride Month, and LGBTQ Rights Are Under Attack Here’s what activists and allies say about how they’re fighting back and moving forward, despite the hostile climate.

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DEI Is Being Demonized But Still Alive in Hawai‘i We talk to local leaders who say the underlying values of diversity, equity and inclusion still play an important role in the future of the Islands.

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Locals Coming Home With Thriving Careers After their years on the mainland, Hawai‘i has lured them back and the reasons vary: aging parents, local culture, the weather and a desire to give back to their home.

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A Roadmap to Revive Our Economy & Future Two local leaders say an effective combination of human capital, infrastructure and policy can create a growth economy that benefits everyone in Hawai‘i.

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CONTENTS PHOTO COURTESY: IRONMAN

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My Job Is Guiding the Ironman Triathlon Diana Bertsch describes her path to the role of Ironman’s Senior VP of World Championship Events and what it takes to make the annual Kona event a success.

Meet Jennifer Ablan, Our New Editor in Chief Raised in Kalihi, a graduate of Radford High and UH Mānoa, she spent 28 years in New York City covering the biggest business stories. Now she’s coming home to her dream job.

6 Training Program Provides Second Chance after Prison Inmates get initial carpentry and drywall training before their release.

The aim is to “break the cycle of reincarceration while meeting our industry’s workforce needs.”

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This Maui Nonprofit Has Helped Locals for 60 Years Maui Economic Opportunity promises the people of Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i that “when life takes a bad turn … we will be here to offer help and hope.”

12 Lots of Local Industries Are Watching Tariffs: Here’s One A 25% tariff of papayas from Mexico was imposed, then paused and is currently eliminated. Here’s how local papaya growers and processors view the situation.

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Expert Woodworker Makes Furniture that Endures Dae Son describes his work as the owner of Wood Hi, a woodworking shop in Hālawa. What he builds for you “will last you forever,” and you can likely pass it on to your children.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISI NG SECTIONS Banking & Finance Report Leaders in the local banking industry discuss current financial news and trends.

16 Emerging Legal Stars Meet eight attorneys who are redefining excellence early in their careers.

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ON THE COVER: AMANDA YEE AND FELIX LE OF YOUTUBE’S “AMANDA & FELIX EATS” PHOTO BY AARON YOSHINO

Shipping, Air & Transportation Your 2025 guide to one of Hawai‘i’s most vital industries.

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HB EVENTS C O N N E C T W I T H H AWA I I B U S I N E S S M AGA Z I N E L O C A L LY OW N E D , L O C A L LY C O M M I T T E D SINCE 1955.

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Publisher KENT COULES kentc@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 364-5869 Editor & Executive Publisher STEVE PETRANIK stevep@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 534-7584 Editorial Managing Editor CYNTHIA WESSENDORF cynthiaw@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 224-7943 Staff Writer RYANN NOELANI COULES ryannc@hawaiibusiness.com Staff Writer SHELBY MATTOS shelbym@hawaiibusiness.com Copy Editor ELROY GARCIA Editorial Interns: SAVONNA ANDREWS, LAUREL GALVIN, ALLYSON WHALEY

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DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS, BUILD YOUR NETWORK FRIDAY, JULY 25 Hilton Hawaiian Village The 12th annual Leadership Conference is dedicated to the advancement of Hawai‘i’s emerging leaders.

SEPTEMBER Organizations chosen as finalists for Hawai‘i Excellence in Business Awards are recognized at this evening celebration, where we announce the winners for 2025.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Chairman DUANE KURISU Chief Executive Officer SUSAN EICHOR Chief Operating Officer BRANDON KURISU Director of Finance JADE CARREL

OCTOBER 24

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Wahine Forum

Money Matters Financial Conference

Wahine Forum is the largest professional development conference for women in Hawai‘i. The conference is attended by top female executives, entrepreneurs, and up-and-coming leaders intent on advancing their careers.

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For more information on events, visit hawaiibusiness.com/events or contact Madelene Martinbianco, Events Manager, at madelenem@hawaiibusiness.com H AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 5

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Meet the New Editor in Chief of Hawaii Business Magazine

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the helm as editor in chief and chief content officer at Pensions & Investments. She also spent over five years at Barron’s magazine and was U.S. assistant managing editor at the Financial Times during Lane.” That meant going to the Covid crisis.

New York City – a real-life Her stories had impact and often drama. “One version of Lane’s Metropolis – and being a reporter of the biggest highlights of my career was covercovering the city’s biggest stories. ing Bill Gross, a co-founder of PIMCO known as the And that’s what she’s done for 28 years, including original ‘Bond King.’ When I started business jourreporting on some of the most powernalism, I was asked to ful people and companies in business cover what’s known as and finance: Warren Buffett and Charjunk bonds and other lie Munger of Berkshire Hathaway; bonds – not the sexihuge investment asset management est thing – and that was companies like PIMCO, DoubleLine the best career move, Capital and Bridgewater Associbecause it was not only ates; and financial powerhouses like complex but also had Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Vanguard, all these major characBlackRock and Fisher Investments. ters,” Ablan says.

And she’s connected and tenacious, “Bill Gross was having landed coveted, hard-to-get involved in all sorts of interviews with power players like controversies. I wrote Jeffrey Gundlach, Mellody Hobson, a long story about the David Einhorn, Jim Chanos, Cathie end of his legacy and Wood and Greg Jensen. ended up in the midJennifer took over as editor in dle of the fighting and chief of Hawaii Business Magazine arguing between Gross in May, while I, after 16 years in the and Mohamed El-Erian, role, have moved into a part-time job who were PIMCO’s as senior editor. I am certain that co-chief investment Jennifer will preserve the best of officers.”

Hawaii Business while bringing new One tense but amusenergy and great ideas into every ing moment happened – JENNIFER ABLAN when Jennifer boldly part of our work: print, online, in our newsletters and events, and in fresh, INCOMING EDITOR IN CHIEF, asked Gross if she could exciting initiatives. The magazine is HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE see the evidence for one in excellent hands. of Gross’ allegations “I have big shoes to fill but I know against El-Erian. Gross Steve Petranik will always be one call replied: “You’re on his away,” she says. side. Great, he’s got you, too, wrapped around his charming right finger.”

Reporting on these powerful Wall Street players HOLDING THE POWERFUL ACCOUNTABLE taught her a lot. “We all know billionaires really care about their reputation,” she says, and will fiercely Jennifer comes to the role with almost three protect it, and they get angry when you ask probing decades of reporting and editing experience in New questions “because they are used to being in control York City. She spent over a decade at Reuters, where of their own narrative.” she was U.S. investments editor and co-host of the In one of her great understatements, Jennifer says, Reuters Global Investment Summits before taking “I’m not afraid of doing hard stories.”

HILE GROWING UP IN KALIHI AND ATTENDING RADFORD HIGH SCHOOL, JENNIFER ABLAN HAD A PLAN: “I wanted to be Lois

“

THERE ARE A LOT OF UNTOLD STORIES IN HAWAI‘I AT THIS MOMENT OF GREAT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SHIFTS. I WANT TO BE RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL.”

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HER LUCKIEST MOMENT

In another career highlight, Jennifer was tapped to run the buy side coverage at Reuters. “Buy side coverage is following the money, talking to very big investors and asking them, ‘What are you buying? What are you selling?’ A lot of high-profile investors are loath to tell you what they’re doing with their money, but that became my specialty. I was able to build a network, a Rolodex of sources, who would tell me what they’re buying, what they’re selling, where the money is going, where it’s not going. So I did a lot of networking in person, phone calls, everything under the sun.”

In the luckiest moment of her life, Jennifer avoided being part of history on 9/11. “I was working for Barron’s magazine and had attended the first day of a two-day conference at the World Trade Center. I was supposed to return at 8 a.m. the next day, but I overslept. I was getting ready, and my husband said, ‘Don’t go. Something happened.’ And we watched it unfold on TV.” I first met Jennifer when my wife, professor Ann Auman, described her as one of her best students in the Journalism Department at UH Mānoa – though Jennifer admits she had so much going on that she was not a perfect student. The extracurriculars included on-the-job learning by writing for Ka Leo O Hawai‘i, the student newspaper, and eventually becoming its editor in chief.

That sounds a lot like my time at university so when Ann recommended Jennifer, I hired her for an entrylevel position at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, when I was news editor there. At the time, Jennifer was recovering from bone cancer surgery on her right knee.

“If I were at the World Trade Center, I don’t know how I would run. Everyone ran for their lives” that day, she says. “I came to New York with a very weak knee, and yes, I survived bone cancer. I didn’t have chemotherapy, but I did get a total knee surgery.”

“That was probably one of the reasons I also came to New York. Life is fragile. You just don’t know what’s going to happen. And if I didn’t do it in my 20s, I don’t think I would do it at all. So that was a very big, life-changing experience.”

“IT FEELS LIKE A FULL-CIRCLE MOVE”

I had offered her jobs at Hawaii Business in the past but she turned me down. This time she said yes, partly because of the opportunity to become editor in chief, partly to help care for her parents and partly just to come home to Hawai‘i. Her reasons for coming home parallel those of the people she interviewed for her story in this issue about local professionals returning to Hawai‘i after successful careers on the mainland. (see page 46) “The world is a chaotic place right now, which is one reason people are coming home. But more importantly, you can have a thriving career in Hawai‘i,” she says.

“It feels like a full-circle move, Steve. To be your heir is a dream come true. To come home as editor in chief of Hawaii Business, the oldest regional business magazine in the United States, is special.”

“I’m a local kid who grew up in Kalihi. There weren’t a lot of women in big roles when I was a child.

I am screaming inside with joy and pride because I can build upon what you are giving me. I also wanted to work with Duane, Susan, Brandon and Kent (the leaders of parent company aio and Hawaii Business). It’s the opportunity of a lifetime in my home state.”

Coming home is also about the place you are leaving.

I laughed when she described on a video call from New York City how the Big Apple can wear you down.

“Living here is like dog years. I feel like I’m 104 years old.” Her decades there included good times and hard times, like the dot-com bust, 9/11, the Great Recession and the pandemic – all of which she reported on.

Jennifer’s tenure at Hawaii Business will be different from mine but she’ll continue to focus on the big topics that drive life and the economy in Hawai‘i – including the high cost of living and housing and how to create conditions for business success and economic growth in the Islands. She also promises to continue publishing stories and information useful to our readers, their careers and their lives.

“There are a lot of untold stories in Hawai‘i at this moment of great economic and political shifts,” she says.

“I want to be right there in the middle of it all.”

STEVE PETRANIK EDITOR AND EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

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LUCY CHARLES-BARCLAY WON THE 2023 IRONMAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN KONA. BELOW, THE FINISH LINE IN KAILUA-KONA.

NAME: DIANA BERTSCH JOB: SENIOR VP OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS COMPANY: IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

My Job Is Leading a Race that Changes Lives BEGINNINGS: Diana Bertsch now oversees the very races she once watched from the sidelines. She says her journey from passionate spectator to event leader speaks to her love of the Ironman triathlon and what it stands for.

In 1990, Bertsch was vacationing on Hawai‘i Island. On the final day of her stay, she woke early and

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made her way to the Kailua-Kona seawall to watch as Ironman contestants splashed into the ocean on the first leg of the grueling three-part competition. And she promised herself, “I’m going to do this one day.”

Two years later, she moved to the island to work on that goal.

“I’d always been so passionate

about Ironman and just how it changes lives and how this community … gives to make this event possible.”

She volunteered for the event in all kinds of capacities for three years, then participated in a qualifying race, where she earned a coveted spot in the Ironman World Championship.

PHOTOS COURTESY: IRONMAN

A few years later, she joined the Ironman organization, at the urging of its race director. Then in 2003, after three years working for Kona resorts, she became the Ironman race director herself. Today, she’s the Ironman’s senior VP of world championship events.

“Each year, we’ve worked to be better than the year before, to grow the success of the event, and to continue expanding on what’s made us our most successful. And that all starts with the foundation of who we are – Hawai‘i,” Bertsch says.

“It starts with our culture and the people who have always believed in the event to make it possible.”

THEN AND NOW: The event began on

O‘ahu in 1978 with just 15 athletes; it moved to Kona in 1981. In a typical year, 94,000 athletes from around

the world participate in Ironman World Championship qualifying events. The organization manages 40 such events worldwide.

Since 2023, the annual Ironman World Championship competitions for men and women have been held separately: in Kona during October and Nice, France, during September. Last year, the men competed in Kona; this year, it’s the women’s turn in Kona. Organizers expect the 2025 Kona triathlon will have 2,500 competitors, 5,500 volunteers and 11,000 spectators, in addition to exhibitors, medical support, media members and staff.

Men and women follow the same three-part course in Kona: a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike course and 26.2-mile marathon.

“The spirit of Ironman is the spirit of Hawai‘i,” says Bertsch. “To

me, it’s about never losing sight of the beauty of what Hawai‘i has given us – the culture and everything that’s come with it. The most important thing we can do when we plan a new year is never forget where we came from.”

FULFILLMENT: “I thrive on planning,

execution and attention to detail.

When everything comes together with the team, that’s where the reward lies. Events are stressful, but incredibly rewarding,” she says.

“I have the greatest team in the world, and we have this incredible community that supports us. Our 5,000-plus volunteers play a critical role in making it all happen.”

THE START OF THE TRIATHLON, THE 2.4MILE OCEAN SWIM.

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 9

BY ALLY WHALE Y

A New Path After Prison A program launched last year provides initial carpentry and drywall training for inmates who are soon to be released. The aim, according to the program’s leader, is to “break the cycle of reincarceration while meeting our industry’s workforce needs.”

TWENTY-FOUR MEN AND WOMEN HAVE GOTTEN HEAD STARTS ON FUTURE CAREERS AND BETTER LIVES AFTER PRISON.

While nearing the end of their sentences, they completed a six-week pre-apprenticeship program run by the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund. The classes covered math, job safety, blueprints, framing and other topics that carpenters and drywallers need to be well-versed in.

The training for inmates at the Waiawa Correctional Facility and the Women’s Community Correctional Center began last year and is similar to training provided at HCATF’s facility in Kapolei. Some graduates are already working in the industry, says Edmund Aczon, executive director of HCATF. “This program helps break the cycle of reincarceration while meeting our industry’s workforce needs. By providing comprehensive skills and training and a clear career pathway, we’re not just creating skilled craftspeople – we’re offering an opportunity for genuine second chances and sustainable careers.”

Lokahiokalei Liu, a graduate of the program, says the training has given him the chance to be productive and responsible and to care for his kids. “This program was really good for me,” he says. “It gave me confidence and hope for myself. I also learned how this is a career opportunity, not just a job. … I didn’t know where I wanted to go in life, but this program has given me direction.”

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PHOTOS COURTESY: HCATF

AT LEFT, EDMUND ACZON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HAWAII CARPENTERS APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING FUND, OVERSEES A SIX-WEEK PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR INMATES ABOUT TO BE RELEASED THAT IS “AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GENUINE SECOND CHANCES AND SUSTAINABLE CAREERS.” PARTICIPANTS STUDY MATH, JOB SAFETY, BLUEPRINTS, FRAMING AND OTHER ASPECTS OF CARPENTRY AND DRYWALL INSTALLATION.

The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provided funding for last year’s training and for the pre-apprenticeship program this year at the women’s prison.

After the graduates are released from prison, they can continue the next stage of their apprenticeship training with HCATF. Aczon says seeing apprentices successfully complete their training and get jobs in construction makes him and his team proud. “I started as an apprentice as well and know what these individuals could do after the apprenticeship.”

And he acknowledges the challenges the newly trained workers will face, including the cyclical nature of construction. The industry in Hawai‘i is booming now and skilled construction workers are in demand.

“We all depend on the economy and the contractors for the jobs. For me, timing is so important as well.

Everything we do depends on it.”

HCATF hopes to extend the pre-apprenticeship programs to more incarceration facilities, including on Kaua‘i and Maui.

HCATF is a partnership among the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, the General Contractors Labor Association, the Building Industry Labor Association, the Hawaii Wall & Ceiling Industry Association, the state and federal government, and UH. Learn more about the apprenticeships at hicarpenterstraining.com.

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BY A L LY W H AL EY

PHOTOS COURTESY: MAUI ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

60 Years of Serving Maui County The nonprofit called Maui Economic Opportunity helps people of all ages with food, rent assistance, transportation, preschool, business development and a host of other services

MAUI ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PROMISES THE PEOPLE OF MAUI, MOLOKA‘I AND LĀNA‘I that “when life

takes a bad turn and you are facing eviction, power disconnection, piles of debt, we will be here to offer help and hope,” says CEO Debbie Cabebe.

The nonprofit, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, says its work touched 55,000 lives in the 2023-24 fiscal year, including more than 6,500 individuals and 700 businesses impacted by the wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023.

MEO’s services cover five areas: transportation, early childhood, community services, business development and youth services.

The mission is to “strengthen the community while helping people in need restore their hope, reach their potential and enrich their lives,” says Cabebe, who has been with MEO for 25 years, including eight as CEO. “I enjoy working with our staff to meet the needs of our community, by helping people in need, helping empower them, to find better for them and their families.”

As examples of its work in the latest fiscal year, the nonprofit says, it provided:

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• 973 households with disasterrelated rental assistance and helped 481 households avoid eviction and homelessness.

• More than 260,000 rides to work, medical appointments, shopping and other activities to over 5,300 low income and disadvantaged individuals by operating paratransit services under government contracts.

• Prevention programs that helped 1,400 youths avoid risky behaviors.

• Employment services that helped 378 people get jobs and 132 acquire industry credentials through training programs.

• Head Start preschool at no cost to 180 3- and 4-year-olds.

• Financial literacy skills to over 500 people through its Business Development Center programs.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables to 1,500 seniors.

CEO DEBBIE CABEBE

MEO has a staff of nearly 250 and an annual budget of $39.2 million, but funding has always been a challenge.

“We’re funded heavily by the government – different arms of government – with all the different political requirements that come with that,” Cabebe says. Federal spending cuts by the Trump administration could eliminate some of that money, so MEO is looking for alternative ways to raise money. meoinc.org

TOP, MAUI ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY’S HEAD START PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM IS OFFERED ON MAUI AND MOLOKA‘I AT NO COST TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH SERIOUS FINANCIAL NEEDS. BELOW, MEO GAVE 260,000 RIDES TO WORK, MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, SHOPPING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES LAST YEAR, AND RAN PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT HELPED 1,400 YOUTHS.

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ERIC WEINERT (SHOWN WITH HIS WIFE, JENNIFER) IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HAWAII PAPAYA INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND OWNER OF HAWAII PAPAYA DIRECT. HE SAYS THE EFFECT OF A TARIFF ON PAPAYAS IMPORTED FROM MEXICO “WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A POSITIVE ONE” FOR HAWAI‘I GROWERS AND PACKERS.

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BY CY N T H I A SW EEN EY

Tariff Policy Draws Attention of Hawai‘i’s Papaya Growers MANY BUSINESSES IN HAWAI‘I ARE WATCHING TARIFF DECISIONS BEING MADE – and then sometimes

reversed – 4,800 miles away in Washington, D.C. For them, the predominant feeling can be anxiety, hope or confusion.

Like a lot of sectors, the local papaya industry tracks tariff decisions with interest. A general 25% tariff on Mexico was announced by the Trump administration – which would have included Mexican papayas imported to the U.S. – but then the tariff was paused and at press time had largely been withdrawn, though some other new tariffs on Mexico remain in effect.

Trade among the three nations is once again largely governed by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that took effect in 2020.

That means no tariff on papayas from Mexico, which supplies about 85% of the papayas consumed in the U.S. “The stated reason for the tariffs is to bring back American production and level the playing field,” says Eric Weinert, president of the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association and owner of Hawaii Papaya Direct.

“If there were to be an impact on

our papaya industry it would absolutely be a positive one.”

In Hawai‘i, about 95% of the papaya crop is grown on Hawai‘i Island, in the district of Puna; the rest is grown on Maui and O‘ahu.

The local papaya association, which comprises about 100 growers and half a dozen packing houses, says about two-thirds of Hawai‘i’s papayas are sold within the state, about 5% is sent to Japan, and the rest is shipped to the mainland.

HPIA growers do not consider themselves in competition with Mexico. For one thing, Mexico’s papaya is different. Maradol is commonly larger, with a muskier flavor that’s less sweet than the papaya grown in Hawai‘i, like the popular Rainbow variety, a hybrid of the Solo.

The cost of growing and selling papayas in Hawai‘i, compared to Mexico, is also high. “We pay to import fertilizer and export our products by ship or by air,” Weinert says.

“And as American producers we have the strictest agricultural regulations in the world. We also pay American wage rates and taxes.”

Because of those costs, Hawaii Papaya Industry Association

producers haven’t concentrated on expanding into other markets, Weinert says. “We’ve been primarily concerned with getting good quality and satisfying the markets that we do have.”

Should a market vacuum present itself and the demand for more papayas from Hawai‘i increase, HPIA has the capacity to ramp up production, Weinert says. “It would just be a matter of planning, as it takes about a year after planting for the first production to come in.”

If tariffs cause the price of Mexico’s papayas to go up, however, HPIA’s pricing structure wouldn’t be affected, Weinert says. With tariffs, he says, the price of Hawai‘i-grown papayas would just be “more attractive” than Mexico-grown papayas. “At this point we are charging as much as the consumer is willing to bear. We’re not getting rich, just covering our costs and making it all work.

“We’re not a subsidized industry, and from our perspective, the tariffs are a good thing for our papaya producers” – leveling the playing field and making local producers more competitive, he says.

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BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRIVATE BANKING

AT CENTRAL PACIFIC BANK Financial transactions that require the help of a banker usually require time and effort.

Like making a trip to the bank or calling a 1-800 number.

Private banking is different. Included in high levels of service are direct phone numbers for calls and texts, and an email address where help is available virtually any time. A private banker will also meet you at your home, office or somewhere more convenient.

“I have signed loan documents at the airport,” says Anna-Lena Zanolini, vice president and senior private banking officer for Central Pacific Bank.

Private banking services can often save the day. Zanolini says she once handled a transaction for a client who called from a ski lift in Utah, while she was having dinner in Italy.

“At CPB, we focus on specialized markets with a high level of customization, personalized service, and industry expertise,” says Zanolini, who has 28 years of experience in the industry. “The banker-client relationship is a priority in everything we do.”

Indeed, it’s not unusual to be invited to clients’ family weddings and graduations, Zanolini says.

Not all financial institutions offer private banking or wealth management services, however. Those that do, have different qualifications for levels of net worth, income and investable assets.

Although each banker-client relationship at CPB is confidential, unique, and customized

Under the umbrella of the bank’s Wealth Division, a coordinated team of professionals works in tandem with private banking, personal trust and investment services. “We bring in the subject matter experts as appropriate. The private banker often acts as a quarterback in that relationship,” Zanolini says.

When turbulent financial markets strike, availability and proactive communication are especially key. “During times of uncertainty and elevated volatility I remind clients of their long-term goals and objectives, and how those align with their investment portfolio,” Zanolini says. “We reassure clients that the fundamentals are in place.”

CPB was founded by World War II Nisei veterans who served in the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 100th Infantry Battalion, and Military Intelligence Service.

“There is a very strong legacy there. It resonates with a lot of people here in the local community,” Zanolini says.

CPB is considered a smaller bank in Hawai‘i, which it uses to its advantage over larger banks. “We use our ‘smallness’ to make the banking experience more intimate and higher touch. Our clients love being a bigger fish in a smaller pond,” Zanolini says.

One of CPB’s niche programs caters to medical and dental professionals. The White Coat Program uniquely services and provides private banking angles exclusively for them.

“We are the preeminent bank for dentists in Hawai‘i, hands down,” Zanolini says.

While the banking business is highly commoditized, and “you can get a CD anywhere,” Zanolini says, “what sets us apart is ourselves, our service level. The speed, the professionalism, ultimately, it comes down to service. It comes down to relationships.”

WHY YOU – YES, YOU – NEED A PRIVATE BANKER. Private bankers aren’t just for billionaires.

If you’d like help managing your financial life so you can spend more time doing the things you love, a private banker may be just what you need.

THE ULTIMATE IN CONVENIENCE.

CPB Private Banking offers boutiquestyle banking services that work for your lifestyle and your schedule. Their private bankers offer personal meetings at your own home or office, at their offices, over the phone or email, or over a cup of coffee.

The private banking services they provide are designed to expedite everything and remove the stress and hassles from managing your money.

SPECIALTY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

Your private banker will give you access to: • Customized credit financing • Innovative deposit solutions • Personalized planning • Products and services tailored to your needs • Financial planning, estate planning, and more HELP MANAGING YOUR WEALTH.

Often, people don’t think of themselves as wealthy even though they’ve built up or inherited significant assets. This is particularly common in Hawai‘i, where high real estate values create so many “millionaires next door.”

You may never have considered private banking. But if you’ve amassed wealth that you’d like to protect and grow for yourself, your family, and future generations, a private banker can help.

Learn more at CPB.BANK/PRIVATEBANKING SPONSORED BY CENTRAL PACIFIC BANK. MEMBER FDIC. EQUAL HOUSING LENDER.

CENTRAL PACIFIC BANK 220 S. KING STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96813 CPB.BANK

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 17

BY RYANN NOELA N I C O UL E S A N D S H E L BY M AT TO S

Hawai‘i’s Social Media

Stars

Hawaii Business Magazine spoke to local influencers about how they gained followings on social media and how they make money in this cutting-edge profession

T

HE TERM INFLUENCER WAS ONLY ADDED TO THE MERRIAMWEBSTER DICTIONARY IN 2019,

but today it refers to the millions of people whose words and images on social media carry clout with their followers.

We’re not talking about athletes, actors or politicians whose fame generates millions of social media followers on their names alone. Influencers used social media to become well known and influential. A growing number make social media their full-time job, while most do it as a side gig. The vast majority gain little or nothing financially, though they may have many thousands of followers.

This article profiles a cross section of local influencers to see how they got started and gained their followings. Some prefer the label “content creator” over “influencer,” because they create unique content rather than just posting submissions from other people. All follower numbers are from early May.

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PHOTOS COURTESY: HYRAM, HUNGRYHUNGRYHAWAIIAN, INSTAGRAM

HYRAM

5.7 MILLION FOLLOWERS ON TIKTOK; 4.47 MILLION ON YOUTUBE; 777,000 ON INSTAGRAM

Hyram Yarbro says his passion for skin care comes from his “own personal battle with notso-great skin” while growing up on “a cattle ranch in Arizona in the middle of nowhere.” That fascination with skin care stayed with him even after his own skin cleared up.

Yarbro moved to O‘ahu in 2015 for classes at Brigham Young University-Hawaii in Lā‘ie.

After dropping out of BYU-Hawaii, he stayed in the Islands and in 2017 created his own YouTube channel, where he continues to post videos about skin conditions and treatments, product reviews, reactions to celebrity skin care routines and the like.

“I saw that a lot of people were primarily getting skin care information from salespeople or would have to dish out a lot of money to go to a dermatologist or an aesthetician. ... So that’s when I decided to start creating YouTube videos, because I want to help people navigate the product market a little bit easier so that they’re not spending as much money on products that are inevitably not meant for their skin or not going to give them the results that they want.”

Building an audience was a “slow burn” for the first year and a half, he says, but “once I started seeing the sense of community that was online when it came to skin care, that’s when I kind of had the light bulb moment of like, maybe this could be something that’s bigger than just a little side hobby.”

In 2019, he went from having 50,000 subscribers to 500,000 in less than two weeks; he hit a million by the end of the year. His growth continued to soar in 2020, amplified by people’s increased screen time and interest in skincare during the pandemic lockdown.

Yarbro says the income he generates from social media is “about 50% from sponsorships, about 30% from

only has quality products that I truly want to integrate into my daily routine, but also has formulations that would align with the skin concerns of my audience,” he says, adding that he’s turned down six-figure deals in the past because he couldn’t “in good faith” promote certain products.

He says his rate depends on the size of the sponsor, its prices, the length of the partnership and other factors. Although sponsorships with larger companies pay better, Yarbro says he’s open to working with smaller brands for lower rates if he loves their products.

Affiliate links are unique web addresses that pay commissions for referred purchases; affiliate programs connect creators to companies that are good matches.

“I am grateful to be with affiliate programs that partner with magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan,” says Yarbro. When he uses them, he includes the disclosure: “These are affiliate links that generate a small compensation that supports me and my channel. I would appreciate it if you used these links as you shop, but no pressure whatsoever!”

Yarbro also makes money through YouTube’s advertising program, which pays creators for running third-party advertisements before and during their videos. But many of these ads are skippable after a few seconds and creators are only compensated when the ad plays all the way through.

In 2021, Yarbro launched his own skin care product line, Selfless

by Hyram. “This space tends to be very focused on self and beauty and looking amazing,” which he says motivated him to start a product line

Forbes named Mr. Beast (real name Jimmy Donaldson) as the most profitable content creator in 2024, with $85 million earned. In contrast, a 2023 study by the Keller Advisory Group found that more than half of all creators make less than $10,000 a year and one-third make $2,000 or less. affiliate programs and about 20% from YouTube ads.” Sponsorships are when companies pay influencers to promote their products. Yarbro says he’s picky about the sponsorships he accepts, because, as the saying goes, trust is hard to earn, easy to lose and even more difficult to regain.

“I typically turn down about 90 to 95% of sponsorship requests because I really want to make sure that any company that I’m working with not

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 19

PHOTOS COURTESY: THE HAWAII VACATION GUIDE YOUTUBE

that “generates some positive global impact with every purchase.” For example, “we’ve been able to protect over 300,000 acres of rainforest through one of our partnerships.”

Not all of his content is focused on skin care. He recently posted a video supporting Millie Bobby Brown, a 21-year-old actress whom the tabloid media criticized for supposedly looking older than her age.

“The normalization of using a skin care routine and taking care of yourself, it’s kind of forming these new age beauty standards that I think can be super unhealthy, and … it’s affecting the way that we talk about other people’s appearance.”

HHHNEWZ

227,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM

One of three news curators on this list, Isaac “HUNGRYHUNGRYHAWAIIAN” Scharsch reposts videos, images and tips sent in from the public and clips from local news networks on his Instagram account, hhhnewz.

His page features posts about politics, thefts, drugs, car accidents, weather, scams, homelessness, the search for missing people, assaults and other news. “All hours of the day, people send in all kinds of stuff going on around the Islands,” says Scharsch. But he also posts more lighthearted content “to show the

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other side of Hawai‘i,” including his own scenic drone footage.

Scharsch says he started hhhnewz in 2013, while he was working in Waikīkī and witnessing all sorts of debauchery, like “people getting arrested, police chases, fights. … So I started just recording everything and posting it, and then I did some voiceover comedy. People just started sending the same kind of content in and then it kind of blew up from there.” Today, hhhnewz has over 8,000 posts.

On average, Scharsch says he receives about 50 tips a day from the public and sometimes he gets over 100. “Some days it’s really slow, which is good. I never hope for it to be busy, because that means there’s bad stuff happening,” he says.

“There’s a lot of people that send me things that they would like to see me post, like Palestine stuff and Trump, [but] I just try to stick with what’s going on locally.”

Nearly half of his Instagram feed is promotional content that he posts to his page and on his story. Scharsch says his advertising rate for local companies is donation-based – they give what they can, but he charges anyone that’s not kama‘āina more.

“All the funds that I get from the page only goes to the growth of the page.

I don’t use this money at all for my life,” says Scharsch, adding that he teaches surf lessons to pay the bills.

Unlike on Instagram, the content on his website (hohungryhungry-

hawaiian.com) is uncensored and sometimes contains nudity, including lewd public acts. The homepage states that “Hungry Hungry Hawaiian started as an Instagram page to bring awareness to the grim reality the residents of Hawaii are faced with on a daily basis and has become a movement to show the major housing crisis and drug epidemic. ... The people of the Kingdom of Hawaii deserve so much better. We are here to bring people together to talk about the tough topics.” Below that is an “I’m 18 years old, ENTER” button, which takes you to the content.

Most videos posted on his website receive ratings, ranging from “funny” to “serious” to “hardcore” to “XXX.” “Hopefully in the future, there will be more people putting out more positive and better behaviors for kids to follow on social media,” he says. “I’ve been trying to navigate that myself.”

But there’s no getting around the negative behaviors. They’re real. “I grew up around a lot of stuff like that, a lot of mental illness, suicide, drugs, you know, substance abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence,” Scharsch says. “So I’m kind of used to it.”

Sharing sensitive information and content that some find disturbing has led to controversy: “Some things, by posting, will just make the situation worse. Before, I didn’t really think about that kind of stuff. … I’m not perfect and I do make mistakes.”

Scharsch says he tries to be “really transparent” when he does screw up.

Rather than running his account anonymously, Scharsch says, “I actually decided to go public with my identity because I knew it would make me have to be more responsible and hold myself accountable for what I post. … And it has, so far, kept me responsible and accountable.”

He says his main motivation for running hhhnewz is to help his community. That could mean facilitating animal adoptions, providing information when people go missing and sharing GoFundMe pages for local causes.

“I reach out to people all the time, and I should have been

keeping track of how many people I’ve helped in specific, personal situations because there’s been so many,” says Scharsch. “I don’t really care about [building a following], and I never really did. But then recently, I’ve been thinking, more views, more followers, more people I can help.”

THE HAWAII VACATION GUIDE 137,000 FOLLOWERS AND OVER 400 VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

Married couple Erica Gellerman and Jordan Fromholz met through mutual friends at a Super Bowl party during their last semester at UC Santa Barbara. After graduation, she worked as a freelance writer for accounting companies and he as a chemical engineer. Gellerman came to the Islands to do work for First Hawaiian Bank and Fromholz tagged along.

“He decided he liked Hawai‘i so much he wanted to move there, and a job opportunity presented itself,” says Gellerman. They jumped at their chance and lived together on O‘ahu, “but then the job transferred him away.” Yearning to return, Fromholz took a sabbatical from the company he was with after 15 years and Gellerman continued freelance writing. The couple moved back to Hawai‘i, this time to Maui, in 2019.

“As we started looking for things to do with our son, we realized there was a lot of information, but it felt like a lot of it was not great or outdated or faceless information, so you didn’t really know if somebody was actually doing this stuff,” Gellerman says. Seeing a need, they started sharing information shaped by their own experiences, which led to the creation of The Hawaii Vacation Guide two months after they arrived on

Maui. Their content covers the unique characteristics and personalities of each island, along with recommendations for beaches, hikes, hotels, tours and restaurants, plus more practical advice for prospective travelers.

They began with a website and then expanded to YouTube a few months before the pandemic hit, which made for a rocky start. Fromholz contributed to The Hawaii Vacation Guide full time from the get-go, while Gellerman continued freelance writing. She says they started to see growth in summer 2021, when travel started picking back up.

Their posts touch on typical “touristy Hawai‘i” attractions as well as experiences that reflect the authentic culture of the Islands. “For years, we were hesitant to recommend lū‘aus,” Fromholz says. Gellerman finishes the thought: Then, “somebody told me this quote – ‘You have to give people what

The Pew Research Center studied “news influencers” – people who regularly post about current events and civic issues on social media and have at least 100,000 followers. Pew found that about 1 in 5 Americans – including 37% of adults under 30 – say they regularly get news from influencers on social media.

they want, and then you can give them what they need.’ ” Fromholz says they try to balance their more touristy suggestions with “other cultural activities, like visit Bishop Museum, go out on an outrigger canoe ride, go visit a heiau, there’s amazing national monuments and parks.”

As they gained more subscribers and engagement in 2021, Gellerman decided to pivot her career towards running The Hawaii Vacation Guide full time alongside her husband.

While Fromholz mainly focuses on the YouTube side, including capturing drone footage and editing, Gellerman contributes most of the writing and administrative work.

“Never did we think, ‘This is gonna be our job,” says Gellerman, to which Fromholz adds, “It started out as a hobby, sharing our experiences and trying to give the best advice possible, just having fun with it.”

They moved to California at the end of 2022 to be closer to Gellerman’s parents, but Fromholz says they still visit Hawai‘i “four or five times a year.” Operating costs are expensive, factoring in flights and hotels, and Gellerman says they pay for “95% of the activities that we do.”

They say this gives them the ability to speak honestly, but Fromholz says they avoid publishing negative reviews even when they have poor experiences.

“We make like $3,000 a month on YouTube through advertising. So that doesn’t even cover the cost of doing this stuff.” They also earn commissions when they post affiliate links to rental car services, tours and hotels, and they sell crafted itineraries for cruises and visits to O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island, Maui and Kaua‘i, for $37.

“We’re not living a lavish life, but we can support ourselves and our two kids,” says Gellerman. She says they build their savings through other side hustles.

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808 VIRAL

438,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM

Daniela Stolfi first started posting funny videos in 2014 on Vine – an app that allowed users to make and share videos no longer than six seconds – and formed friendships with other local creators.

Despite its popularity, Vine shut down in 2017. “We had all this great content that I downloaded from Vine that I wanted to keep alive, and so I started a Facebook page originally.

I started posting things we had all done, whether it was like friends of mine or things I had done.” 808 Viral was born.

The page gained traction with a post about a fictitious Spam-flavored Oreo. “That went really viral, like, ridiculously viral, to the point where Snopes had to debunk it and Nabisco had to make a statement. It was totally a joke, but I guess people took it seriously. We got 30,000 followers just from that.” Stolfi has since expanded to YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. As 808 Viral developed, Stolfi says she not only saw an opportunity to share creative and comedic content about Hawai‘i, but also to capture local people’s perspectives: “I made sure that we always had all 22 | J U N E 2 0 2 5

kinds of representation in our group – Hawaiians, Tongans, Samoans, LGBTQ – so they’re a little bit of everything. And I think that’s why it did so well, because everybody saw themselves in the content.”

Today, Stolfi manages the 808 Viral page almost entirely by herself and it’s grown into something much bigger than just a comedy page.

Mixed in with silly videos are posts about community events, news items, archived footage of the Islands, things related to Hawaiian culture and more.

“I run a large, organic media page that is independent. We keep our pulse on the community, and we try to support it in any way we can, with humor and education, and I take it really seriously,” says Stolfi.

Stolfi sometimes monetizes her content through Instagram’s inviteonly Reels Bonuses, where earnings are based on the number of bonus plays or post views. She also makes money by selling 808 Viral merchandise and occasionally gets paid to post promos on her page.

But Stolfi’s biggest moneymaker is social media consulting. “I’ll take over a brand. I’ll help them get their sites up and situated, get their entire digital presence done and then teach their people internally how to do it.

And I manage some people’s social media for short amounts of time.”

Running social media accounts is not all rainbows and sunshine, however. Stolfi admits there’s a dark side to being chronically online and she sometimes has “blackouts,” or periods where she refrains from social media activity. She warns that a lot of platforms “are not here to help us and it’s making people crazy. … I’ve watched friends of mine that I had to separate from because they got so wound up in social media that it changed who they were and made them go down these like crazy rabbit holes to where they weren’t even speaking sensibly anymore.”

But still, she says, a lot of good can come from social media when it’s done right. And that motivates

her to continue. “I worked at the city and county for years, and I saw firsthand how posting and getting people behind certain things and pushing for legislation and for change was what had to happen to make things work.”

Stolfi helped found Hawai‘i Creators, today a group of 224 Hawai‘i content creators, which she considers the “chamber of commerce for creators.” Its community of creators get together to talk about how much to charge and to share knowledge with each other.

“We wanted to bring them together and try to set some kind of standard, not only to protect businesses because they’re getting ripped off a lot by scammer influencers,” but also to protect influencers, making sure that they’re charging enough and that they have standards that make sense. “It helps when you have a community of other people now that kind of understand what it’s like to be on social media. … If something goes wrong, we all come on and we vent about it, or we help share information.”

She says that when creators use their pages to support businesses for free, or when they undervalue their services, nobody gets paid properly.

AMANDA & FELIX EATS

63,700 SUBSCRIBERS ON YOUTUBE

Seven years into dating, the nowhusband-and-wife team of Amanda Yee and Felix Le turned their love for food into a YouTube channel, Amanda & Felix Eats. “I used to work in the tourism industry. So when the pandemic hit, I was furloughed and had nothing to do,” says Yee. “I realized during that time that I’m kind of an artistic person that likes making videos.”

Driven by a desire to help eateries survive the pandemic, the couple began documenting their takeout dining experiences. “We were trying to encourage friends and families to

Estimates of the size of the global influencer economy vary widely - Goldman Sachs’ estimate of $250 billion a year is more than 12 times that of Fortune Business Insights’ estimate. One thing is certain: The influencer economy is growing by leaps and bounds each year. built a rapport with. In other words, she says, they focus on engagement “quality” over “quantity.”

Yee says they started accepting PayPal and Venmo donations because “subscribers were asking us, ‘Hey, like, we want to treat you to a coffee,’ or ‘How can we treat you to a meal?’ kind of thing.” But that’s a very small portion of the funds they raise, she says, adding that “99% of our money is through YouTube ads.”

So just how much money do they generate from their channel?

“We just finished our taxes for last year, and we didn’t make any money. We actually overspent. …

All the money we make on YouTube

via ads, it just goes straight back to making content, whether it’s paying for food or upgrading our gear – video cameras, tripods, hard drives, computers, microphones, all of these things we upgrade every couple of years.”

And while they haven’t yet figured out how to turn a profit from their channel, Yee and Le still find the work fulfilling.

“Every now and then we would revisit these businesses and actually get to talk to the owners,” Yee says. “Making friends with them and hearing their story about how our video made an impact is very rewarding for us. It’s gratifying to know that we helped them in some way.”

PHOTOS COURTESY: 808 VIRAL, MY KAILUA, INSTAGRAM

also support local, so we wanted to combine our love for food and our home, and put ourselves out there,” Yee says. According to Le, they pay for 90% of their meals, which mitigates any conflicts of interest and makes it easier to give honest reviews. It also means they’re putting their money where their mouth is, Yee says, since their channel encourages people to support local businesses.

“We started in September of 2020 and then we hit the 1K subscriber benchmark I want to say in January of the next year,” Yee says.

Amanda & Felix Eats’ top two performing videos, which each have over 200,000 views, were filmed in Japan. Their other most popular videos, with over 100,000 views, include “Old School Eateries in Hawaii,” “Hawaii Street Food Tour!” and “Full Day of Eating Filipino Food in Hawaii!”

Both Yee and Le contribute to running their channel, but Yee takes on more responsibilities since Le still works full time as a radiologist. “I do all the editing, most of the filming and thumbnails, the uploading, most of the social media, and then Felix does a lot more of the research and the planning, because he really loves those low-key spots,” Yee says.

Le says planning is essential since they need to work around his busy work schedule. For example, if they leave town to film content on O‘ahu’s North Shore, they’ll try to hit several food outlets to maximize productivity.

Although Yee says their videos haven’t reached viral status, “we kind of pride ourselves in having a closeness with our foodie ‘ohana.” She cites frequent commenters who leave positive feedback and who they’ve

MY K AILUA

108,000 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK AND 87,700 ON INSTAGRAM

Daniel Casler says he created My Kailua first as a Facebook page to reconnect with the community he grew up in after moving to California and touring the world with his rock ’n’ roll band, Pennywise. Casler visited Hawai‘i frequently during that whirlwind chapter of his life before eventually settling down on O‘ahu.

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 23

“I think Kailua is such a magical place. Growing up, being in waterfalls and rivers and surfing and paddling out to the Mokes, and just having that life was like, ‘God, I wish everybody could experience that,’ you know?”

Casler says. So, he created an account dedicated to the east side of O‘ahu, which he considers everything from Kahuku to Hawai‘i Kai. “Sometimes I post stuff that’s outside of the community if I think it’s important because it brings awareness to a situation, but I try and really focus on Kailua and the Windward Side,” says Casler.

Casler says he used to run free advertisements on his page, but that ended when the pandemic led to the demise of the Pacific Ink & Art Expo, one of his moneymaking ventures. After the expo was cancelled, he says “local businesses started coming to me and being like, ‘Hey, you really helped my business through the years. ... I saw that your business is shut down,

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and I really want to help you.’ ” Casler says he didn’t want to accept money at first, but reluctantly agreed after his wife told him “they’re blessing you, and you bless them.” And once he received his first $500 for helping a company with its own social media – he used the money to support his two newborn babies – he recognized that the community was willing to pay for social media help.

He and his wife now help other businesses with social media, marketing and even responding to Google and Yelp reviews. They charge based on what the business needs help with.

“It can be very simple, or it can be way more involved,” Casler says.

“That’s where I’ve kind of grown into, I don’t want to call it an agency, but me and my wife have grown and understood how to work this social media thing and so it’s enabled us to be a proxy of these businesses and help them run their business.”

One of their clients, Ali‘i Animal Hospital, started with one location and, since working with Casler, has added five more locations, with further expansion expected. “That’s what social media can do,” he says.

“When you work with the right people – not saying we are – but if you work with the right people that can really get your message out there to the demographic that you’re trying to reach, you can have a lot of success with that.”

Like hhhnewz and 808 Viral, My Kailua mostly posts items sent in from the community, along with original and promotional content. Although their feeds are comparable, they each have their own flare – hhhnewz posts more graphic content and 808 Viral more comedy, while My Kailua posts a lot of scenic photos and videos.

“Over the years, it became a very powerful networking and news sharing site,” says Casler. And he says it’s led him to connect with leaders in the community, including some of the state’s highest officials.

“Next thing you know, I’m sitting with the governor and the mayor, and we’re talking about what we can do with policy,” he says.

Politicians aren’t the only ones who see the benefit of connecting with local news content curators.

“It’s also attractive to law enforcement, because they’re like, ‘Hey, you’re getting information that way. So how do we partner?’ ” says Casler, who adds that he often meets with law enforcement officials behind the scenes. “It’s a part of My Kailua that nobody really knows about.”

Casler says My Kailua “changed my life because it gave me a perspective, to see different sides of my community that I didn’t know existed, to meet different individuals I would have never met. Like, I’m just a regular guy, but now I’m sitting with different organizations of the government. I’m sitting with the mayor and the governor and then I’m meeting like the historic families of my town that I would have never met before.”

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION PHOTOS COURTESY: HCATF

E M E RG I N G L E G A L

S T A R S

MEET EIGHT ATTORNEYS WHO ARE REDEFINING EXCELLENCE EARLY IN THEIR CAREERS H AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 25

EMERGI NG LEGA L STA RS |

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

JOELLE YAMAMOTO GOODSILL ANDERSON

UNDERGRADUATE: University of Washington; LAW DEGREE: UH Mānoa

JOELLE YAMAMOTO is a partner at Goodsill Anderson

Quinn & Stifel LLP, where she advises clients on estate planning, trust and estate administration, and trust and estate dispute resolution. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Hawai‘i Estate Planning Council, is a Past Chair of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association Elder Law Section, and is a past presenter for the Hawai‘i State Bar Association Probate and Estate Planning Section. Joelle has provided pro bono assistance to the Hawai‘i Estate Planning Council, Hawai‘i State Bar Association Legal Lines, Volunteer Legal Services Hawai‘i, and the Access to Justice Room.

WAS THERE AN EVENT OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO A CAREER IN LAW?

“I grew up in a family of medical professionals and initially thought I would follow the same career because I was drawn to a career where I could help people remedy their existing ailments as well as prevent future ones. While that objective never changed, over time, I recognized my skill set aligned more naturally with law than medicine. I realized I could serve others best as a lawyer, by helping people find solutions to their legal issues and prevent future problems by identifying legal risks and taking preventive measures.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE SELF?

“I would tell myself to not be afraid to ask questions, remind myself that I’m not expected to know everything right away, and encourage myself to embrace the discomfort of challenging new experiences. I would also tell myself that every case, issue and conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, refine my approach and build on my experience.”

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LINDSEY BARRIOS GOODSILL ANDERSON

UNDERGRADUATE: Life Pacific University; LAW DEGREE: Southwestern Law School

LINDSEY BARRIOS is part of the Business Litigation practice group and concentrates on defending healthcare providers in medical liability cases.

She graduated magna cum laude from Southwestern Law School, where she participated in the Moot Court Honors Program and served as Senior Lead Articles Editor of the Southwestern Law Review.

Before relocating to Hawai‘i, Lindsey worked in the litigation department of a full-service law firm in Los Angeles, handling a wide range of civil litigation matters, including insurance defense, premises and products liability, and contract disputes. After a year of practice in L.A., she moved to O‘ahu and clerked for the Honorable James H. Ashford at the First Circuit Court.

WAS THERE AN EVENT OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO A CAREER IN LAW?

“My interest in law grew over the course of my college studies, but my parents will tell you they knew I’d be an attorney when I drew up a contract in high school allowing myself to date.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE SELF?

“It doesn’t get easier, so embrace being uncomfortable. View the challenges and added responsibilities as opportunities.”

SPECIAL ADVERTISING ADVERTISING SECTION SECTION SPECIAL PHOTOS COURTESY: HCATF

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EMERGI NG LEGA L STA RS |

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DARENE

K. MATSUOKA CADES SCHUTTE

SHANNON

KIM HACKETT COATES FREY & HACKETT

UNDERGRADUATE: Graceland University; LAW DEGREE: University of Kansas

SHANNON KIM HACKETT is one of the youngest named

partners at a major Hawai‘i law firm. In 2023, she became Managing Partner at Coates Frey & Hackett, where she leads a team of 10 attorneys and support staff. Under her leadership, the firm increased its profitability by about 20% in her first year.

A committed community advocate, Shannon volunteers with Volunteer Legal Services Hawai‘i and Kapolei Family Court Access to Justice Room.

She is also a member of the firm’s Asian Language Practice Group and uses her Korean language skills to serve Korean-speaking families across O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands.

WAS THERE AN EVENT OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO A CAREER IN LAW?

“There wasn’t an ‘aha’ moment. My parents didn’t speak English, so from a young age, I became their voice. Whether it was filling out school forms or translating at parent-teacher conferences, I learned early on what it meant to advocate for others.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE SELF?

“That you can’t help everyone. I still struggle with that, but I remind myself of it often.”

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UNDERGRADUATE: UH Mānoa; LAW DEGREE: UH Mānoa

DARENE K. MATSUOKA is a litigator at Cades Schutte specializing in commercial and real property disputes, land use and water rights. She is one of the few attorneys in Hawai‘i with experience before both the Commission on Water Resource Management and the Public Utilities Commission.

Her notable work includes a successful verdict in a complex land contract dispute involving 330 acres on Maui. Darene also provides pro bono assistance in various legal aid initiatives and serves on her firm’s Attorney Training and Development Committee.

At the William S. Richardson School of Law, she was Executive Editor of the UH Law Review, President of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, and a research assistant to Professor Andrea Freeman. She also served as a judicial extern to Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald and Judge Karl K. Sakamoto.

WAS THERE AN EVENT OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO A CAREER IN LAW?

“In a roundabout way. While volunteering at the Hawaiian Humane Society, I realized the system was reactive. That inspired me to pursue legal change to better protect animals.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE SELF?

“Remember why you’re here. I became a lawyer to help people and solve problems. Early on, that perspective can be hard to maintain. I’d also remind myself what a privilege it is to be an attorney, and that pro bono work is part of that responsibility. And finally, enjoy the people you work with.”

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION PHOTOS COURTESY: HCATF

TAYLOR GRAY JANNA

WEHILANI AHU

PORTER KIOKANA KOPPER UNDERGRADUATE: UH Mānoa; LAW DEGREE: UH Mānoa

DENTONS

UNDERGRADUATE: UH Mānoa; LAW DEGREE: UH Mānoa

JANNA WEHILANI AHU is a Managing Associate at Den-

tons’ Honolulu office, where she handles business disputes, commercial litigation, construction and medical malpractice cases, real estate law, and civil rights.

Her civic involvement includes serving as the Patsy T. Mink Legislative Fellow for U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, where she worked on simplifying the financial aid process for students and advocating for statewide implementation of Gear Up programs. Janna was born and raised in Hilo and is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i.

WAS THERE AN EVENT OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO A CAREER IN LAW?

“My grandma’s family lived in Hawai‘i’s last fishing village, Miloli‘i. I wanted to protect that legacy. Summers in Alaska exposed me to strict regulatory systems for native populations, and I saw how Native Hawaiians lacked similar protections.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE SELF?

“Set boundaries and stick to them. I wouldn’t call it ‘work-life balance’ – it’s about living your best life.

That’s especially important to me now as a parent.”

TAYLOR GRAY became a partner at Porter Kiokana Kopper in 2024. He focuses on community association and condominium law, regularly advising clients on governing documents and rule enforcement.

He is an experienced litigator in multimillion-dollar construction defect cases and has secured favorable outcomes through mediation and arbitration.

Recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star since 2022, Taylor also serves on the board of the Hawai‘i Council of Community Associations and is a member of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association.

WAS THERE AN EVENT OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO A CAREER IN LAW?

“In college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. But after taking a few constitutional law classes, something clicked. I was drawn to how legal arguments are built and how law influences everyday life.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE SELF?

“Don’t take everything personally. Law is high-pressure and full of strong personalities. Early on, it’s easy to internalize things. But most of the time, it’s not about you. Stay grounded, and don’t let the noise shake your confidence.”

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ALANA

PEACOTT- RICARDOS TRAVIS KUWAHARA KOBAYASHI SUGITA & GODA UNDERGRADUATE: UH Hilo; LAW DEGREE: UH Mānoa

FINANCE FACTORS

UNDERGRADUATE: Boston University; LAW DEGREE: UH Mānoa

ALANA PEACOTT-RICARDOS serves as in-house General

TRAVIS KUWAHARA has been with Kobayashi Sugita & Goda since 2019, focusing on estate planning, probate, and trust and estate litigation.

He previously worked at the Probate Court, giving him valuable firsthand experience in trust and estate matters. During law school, Travis earned multiple CALI Awards and clerked for Chief Judge R. Mark Browning of the First Circuit’s Probate Court. He also earned an MBA concurrently with his JD.

Counsel at Finance Factors, where she specializes in banking, finance, insurance and real estate law.

Her career began in commercial litigation, then expanded into public policy advocacy at a nonprofit addressing sexual violence. In 2014, she joined Goodsill, gaining experience in medical malpractice defense and health law.

Today, Alana ensures regulatory compliance across multiple sectors and serves on the boards of the Hawai‘i Women’s Legal Foundation and Volunteer Legal Services.

WAS THERE AN EVENT OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO A CAREER IN LAW?

WAS THERE AN EVENT OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO A CAREER IN LAW?

“I originally intended to pursue business, but didn’t meet the managerial experience requirement for most MBA programs. UH’s joint JD/MBA program gave me a path forward – and I discovered I wanted to practice law.”

“As the Medical-Legal Coordinator at the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, I planned to become a prosecutor.

But once at Richardson, I explored new areas of law and met people with diverse goals. That curiosity led me to where I am today.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE SELF?

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE SELF?

“Embrace uncertainty. Working under time pressure with unfamiliar issues can be stressful, but staying calm and applying your skills will help you navigate those challenges.”

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“You won’t have all the answers – and that’s okay.

Don’t let it shake your confidence. Take initiative, stay open to feedback and focus on growing. Your determination will set you apart.”

PHOTOS COURTESY: HCATF

HAWAI‘I’S GOT PRIDE, AN D PLENTY OF FIGHT TOO LGBTQ RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK. HERE ARE SIX ESSAYS FROM AC TIVIS TS AND ALLIES WHO ARE PUSHING BACK WITH S TRENGTH, SUPPORT AND FRESH IDE A S.

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IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, DECADES OF PROGRESS HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT INTRODUCTION BY CYNTHIA WESSENDORF

J

UNE IS PRIDE MONTH, A TIME TO CELEBRATE HAWAI‘I’S RICH LGBTQ HISTORY AND THE DIVERSE SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, GENDER IDENTITIES, ETHNICITIES AND CULTURES OF THE ISLANDS –

all the intertwined lives that are sometimes fractious, often harmonious and generally tolerant.

But with an openly hostile administration in the White House, this year is markedly different from recent years. For Pride 2025, Hawaii Business Magazine reached out to people active in the local LGBTQ community, or those in positions to advocate effectively, to express what Pride means to them today, in their own words.

The essays capture their joy, sorrow, worry and determination to maintain a vibrant community where everyone is valued. Because the reality is that basic rights are being steadily chipped away by executive orders, many targeting transgender people.

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THE FIRST 100 DAYS

On Jan. 20, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stating that only two genders, immutable “at conception,” would be recognized by the U.S. government. Passports marked with a gender that’s different from a person’s sex at birth, or the nonbinary X designation, would no longer be issued.

The order also required all programming, grants and other initiatives that “inculcate gender ideology” be reviewed, and employees associated with the programs be placed on administrative leave.

The following day, an executive order revoked protections for transgender employees of the federal government and LGBTQ employees of federal contractors and subcontractors. According to a UCLA School of Law Williams Institute brief, the order affects nearly 14,000 transgender federal employees and over 100,000 LGBTQ employees of federal contractors.

On Feb. 7, the Department of Defense, expanding on another

executive memo, banned transgender people from enlisting in the military. Later that month, the department began the process of identifying transgender troops for removal from their positions. At press time, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the ban could be enforced while legal challenges proceed.

Also in February, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission dropped seven pending lawsuits involving discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people – all considered by its staff to be clear-cut and winnable – leaving harassed and unfairly fired employees to pursue lawsuits on their own.

Grants for medical research have been severely cut since January. The science journal Nature reported that, as of April 7, the U.S. National Institutes of Health had canceled about 770 grants. Of those, 29% were related to HIV/AIDS and 24% were related to transgender health.

This is the short version of what’s happened so far. Each week brings another restriction, another round of firings, another

funding freeze, most of which are being challenged in courts. All the measures spring from the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, seen by many as a blueprint for the Trump administration’s second term.

David A. Graham, author of the book “The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America,” writes in the Atlantic that “Trump has already moved to limit transgender rights, but the Project 2025 agenda is much wider, aiming to return the United States to a country of married families with male breadwinners and female caregivers.”

So what’s next? Will Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry, be challenged? Could adoptions by LGBTQ people be banned, as they were in autocratic Russia in 2014? Will the U.S. emulate Hungary, which has passed a raft of anti-LGBTQ laws, including one in March that outlaws Pride events? After all, the former Soviet satellite state is viewed by many on the right as a “natural” ally of the U.S., according to a Wall Street Journal article.

In the U.S., Bloomberg reported that organizers of Pride festivals and parades across the country were scrambling for funding. Corporate donors were pulling back, with 2 in 5 planning to reduce their Pride month engagement this year. Even powerful companies fear blowback.

A LONG, HARD FIGHT FOR RIGHTS

This sea change happened quickly.

Yet it wasn’t long ago that members of the LGBTQ community were routinely denied housing, jobs and services. And police abuse was common, with law enforcement often specifically targeting LGBTQ people and businesses.

It was a violent raid by New York City police on a Greenwich Village gay bar that sparked the

Stonewall uprising of 1969 – six days of angry clashes and protests – that ultimately galvanized the gay rights movement.

Marsha P. Johnson, an early activist for transgender rights, participated in the uprising. Called “Saint Marsha” for her generosity, the transgender icon was arrested more than 100 times, sometimes based on discriminatory laws that criminalized cross-dressing. In 1992, her body was found in the Hudson River. Police ruled her death a suicide, but the case was reopened in 2012 and remains unsolved.

The AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s – and the indifferent national response, including from the medical establishment – triggered a highly visible grassroots movement called ACT UP. Activists helped bring needed attention, resources and research to battle an epidemic that claimed 362,004 lives in the U.S. between 1981 and 1999, according to data from the nonprofit research foundation amfAR. More recently, and locally, the popular nightclub and drag venue Scarlet Honolulu filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging assault and harassment of transgender customers by the Honolulu Liquor Commission.

The suit was joined by Gay Island Guide. On Oct. 8, 2024, they were awarded a $670,000 settlement.

Scarlet Honolulu co-owner Robbie Baldwin told Hawaii News Now at the time of settlement: “[What] I want people to know is to not stop fighting for what’s right. It’s hard, it’s stressful, but if you keep at it, you can really make change.”

One of the most important legal decisions regarding LGBTQ rights happened as late as 2020.

In Bostock v. Clayton County, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Yet the impact of this landmark decision is now tenuous, as the Trump administration has instructed the U.S. attorney general to reevaluate how the ruling is applied. According to the Human Rights Campaign website, “If implemented, this directive could allow federal agencies to refuse to acknowledge discrimination against the full LGBTQ+ community in the workplace, education, housing, health care, and more.”

The backlash against transgender, nonbinary and intersex people is fully underway, and the lives of everyone in the LGBTQ community have been rendered less secure, less free from discrimination.

These measures affect millions of people, including my own daughter, 23 and living in Berlin, who can’t safely travel to Hawai‘i, where she was born and raised.

With a U.S. passport that lists a name and gender different from the one she had as a child, the document could be destroyed by a petulant border control agent, or she could be accused of traveling under a false identity.

Her German passport also puts her at additional risk of detention, as many international travelers have discovered, including two teenage travelers from Germany who were detained and then expelled when they arrived at the Honolulu airport in April without hotel reservations.

As the age of progress swings into a time of setbacks, the activism of the past seems relevant and vital again. In an interview about her 2021 book “Let the Record Show,” which documents the raucous ACT UP movement and its impact, writer Sarah Schulman said: “I think the biggest thing was that we changed how people with AIDS and queer people were seen all over the world and how we felt about ourselves. And that’s been lasting.”

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PHOTO COURTESY: U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO

“WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN FIGHTING BACK AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND HATE”

BY U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO

F

OR OVER 50 YEARS, JUNE HAS BEEN A TIME OF COMMEMORATION FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

During Pride month, we celebrate the community’s joy, diversity and vibrancy in Hawai‘i and across the country.

Perhaps especially in our current political climate, Pride is also an opportunity for reflection and appreciation of the bravery and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities in the face of adversity. From the first Pride protesters at Stonewall, to the activists who demanded action to address the AIDS epidemic, to the dedicated advocates who work on behalf of the community today, generations of LGBTQ+ Americans have fought tirelessly for equity and their right to live freely and authentically.

Thanks to their advocacy, we’ve made real progress toward equality.

HIV, once thought to be a death sentence, can now be treated and managed with just one pill a day.

In June, we’ll celebrate one decade since the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision made marriage equality the law of the land. From the halls of Congress to corporate board-

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rooms, and everywhere in between, LGBTQ+ Americans are showing up and leading as their authentic selves in increasing numbers.

In Donald Trump, however, we have a president and an administration hellbent on undoing that progress and intentionally making life harder for queer communities.

In just his first 100 days, he signed an executive order solely recognizing two sexes, eliminated LGBTQ+ and HIV content from the websites of federal agencies, and ordered an end to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives nationwide.

These attacks only serve to highlight the importance of showing up for our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends and family, especially transgender people and LGBTQ+ people of color who are disproportionately impacted by this perpetuation of inequality, discrimination and hate.

Gay, queer and transgender rights are human rights, and I am proud to have stood beside the LGBTQ+ community as we fought for that recognition. As Hawai‘i’s lieutenant governor, I advocated for equality on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. In Congress, I’ve continued this work, and was proud to help pass the Right

to Marriage Act in 2022 to protect the right to marry who you love. I am staunchly committed to continuing my work with advocates in Hawai‘i and across the country to create a more inclusive future for all.

We all have a part to play in fighting back against discrimination and hate. As vulnerable communities face a barrage of attacks from Trump and his Republican bullies, we can all use our voices to fight back. From organizing protests, to raising awareness on social media, to advocating for legislation, now is the time to use our voices to defend the diversity that makes our state and our country so special.

Again, these are not normal times – we can and must fight back.

I remain steadfast in my support for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as for every other group being targeted by this administration. We are in this together.

Sen. Mazie Hirono has served in the U.S. Senate since 2013 and is the first Asian American woman elected to the Senate and first female senator from Hawai‘i. Before that, she served in the U.S. House of Representatives, as the Hawai‘i lieutenant governor and in the state House. She immigrated to Hawai‘i from Japan when she was 8.

LGBTQIA+

PHOTO COURTESY: RANDY SORIANO

STANDS FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QU EER, QUESTIONING, INTERSEX, ASEXUAL. THE “+” HOLDS SPACE FOR AN EXPANDED UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSE GENDER AND SEXUAL IDENTITIES.

WORKING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN TROUBLING TIMES

BY RANDY SORIANO HAWAI‘I LGBT LEGACY FOUNDATION

A

MVPFAFF+

IS AN ACRONYM TO DESCRIBE GENDER-DIVERSE PACIFIC ISLANDER IDENTITIES: MĀHŪ (HAWAI‘I AND TAHITI), VAKA SA LEWA LEWA (FIJI), PALOPA (PAPUA NEW GUINEA), FA‘AFAFINE (SAMOA), AKAVA‘INE (COOK ISLANDS), FAKALEITĪ (TONGA) AND FAKAFIFINE (NIUE).

CROSS THE COUNTRY, THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY IS NAVIGATING A TROUBLING AND UNCERTAIN TIME.

From federal efforts to narrowly define gender to the rollback of employment protections for transgender individuals and the reduction of funding for HIV/ AIDS research, hard-won progress is being threatened. These policy changes not only affect services and support but also send a dangerous message that our identities and rights are up for debate.

In Hawai‘i, we are reminded daily that aloha is more than a greeting. It is a value rooted in care and respect, and it defines how we show up for one another.

At the Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation, we carry this value into every aspect of our work.

Since our founding in 2008, we have been committed to building an inclusive Hawai‘i where LGBTQIA+ / MVPFAFF+ people (see notes at left) are safe, seen and supported.

We are fortunate to live in a state where many of our elected leaders advocate for inclusion, but we must remain vigilant. The national climate impacts our local communities, especially our most vulnerable.

There is a continued need for mental health support, affirming health care, housing security and education that reflects the full spectrum of identities. These needs are not abstract. They are urgent.

In response, the foundation launched Pride365 in 2024 to provide consistent, year-round programming rooted in community care. Pride365 reflects our belief that Pride is not a moment but a daily commitment to visibility, connection and progress.

Through Pride365, we have expanded outreach through various programs, including: • Kūpuna Movie Mornings: In collaboration with the Hawai‘i Theatre Center, over 900 LGBTQIA+ elders have gathered to enjoy films and build intergenerational bonds.

• Rainbow Town Halls: Forums for dialogue on pressing issues such as youth mental health, access to gender-affirming care and the role of inclusive education.

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“WE ARE STILL HERE, AND WE ARE NOT BACKING DOWN”

BY PETER TUI SILVA KUMUKAHI HEALTH + WELLNESS

A

FEW WEEKS AGO, AS I WAS PREPARING FOR OUR BIG ISLAND AIDS WALK, my staff

confronted me with something that had become a larger dilemma than I thought.

The problem grew over the past few months. I had been glued to my desktop, anticipating and analyzing every executive order and news report that had come out against our māhū/LGBTQ+ community. In response, letters and testimonies flowed through my fingers into a virtual keyboard abyss that seemed to get darker and demand more and more.

As a 30-year Hawai‘i advocate and leader of an organization that predominantly serves sexual and gender minorities, I felt the weight of those now in power pinning me in from all directions.

To meet these new funding directives, I asked leaders within my community how to change the names of our services and sanitize our outward-facing media from the executive internet bots.

I asked my friends what new identifiers would be acceptable to satisfy this new wave of colonialist grantors. And in moments of silence and bouts of paralysis, I asked my kūpuna for guidance on where to draw the line.

Two genders. No inclusion. No diversity in thought or civic participation. No equity for our humanity and honoring our lived experiences.

Is this the new world I would have to accept to keep our services alive?

As I walked into my finance director’s office just a few weeks ago, it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks, pressing down on my chest.

I tried to talk but only tears came down my face. She jumped up to close the door and sat with me. I explained that the first hours of this presidency directly targeted our māhū/LGBTQ+ community.

And every hour since, for two months, our community has been trying to “justify” who we are and why we matter, while many in the country rallied around this entitled battle cry.

PHOTO COURTESY: PETER TUI SILVA

• The Rainbow Support Circle: A peer-led monthly group for those navigating complex family dynamics, personal identity and community belonging.

• Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival: Amplifying queer voices through storytelling that reflects both our modern challenges and cultural roots.

• Honolulu Pride: An expanded destination event, with more than 30,000 parade attendees, 85,000 live-stream viewers and 8,500 festival-goers in 2024.

This year, we also launched the Rainbow Legacy Scholarship Fund to support LGBTQIA+ / MVPFAFF+ high school seniors who demonstrate leadership, service and a commitment to Hawai‘i’s future. The first award will be presented at Rainbow Graduation 2025, our annual celebration for queer-identifying college and university graduates from across the state.

These programs are possible because of a strong network of support. Our volunteer board, local advocates, generous donors and community partners all help make our mission real, and their commitment ensures that our foundation continues to grow in impact and reach.

As we look to the future, we know that the work ahead will involve all of us. Whether you donate, attend an event, volunteer or advocate for inclusive policies, your contribution matters. We also encourage everyone to uplift LGBTQIA+ / MVPFAFF+ voices in everyday life, whether at work, in school or around the dinner table.

Visibility matters. Respect matters. Aloha in action matters.

Together, with intention and care, we can ensure that Hawai‘i remains a place where LGBTQIA+ / MVPFAFF+ people live with pride and purpose, every day of the year.

Randy Soriano is the executive director of the Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation, and has worked in marketing and communications with many Hawai‘i companies and nonprofits.

To learn more or get involved, visit hawaiilgbtlegacyfoundation.com.

MĀHŪ IS A HAWAIIAN WORD FOR A PERSON OF DUAL MALE AND FEMALE SPIRIT.

“GIVE YOURSELF GRACE” AND FIND THE SUPPORT YOU NEED

Q

BY WALTER KINOSHITA SAFEHAUS WELLNESS SERVICES UESTION OF THE YEAR: “HOW ARE YOU DOING?”

My answer? It can vary from day to day, but I try to keep it neutral or upbeat: “As good as I can be for now.” Or “I’m doing well, thank you for asking.”

Now is that completely accurate?

Well, maybe not, but the reality is that if I say I’m safe and OK, then it shall be that.

Since I am a massage therapist by trade and the director of community engagement for SafeHaus Wellness Services, my feelings and energy have to be calm. If I were to exhibit anything other than that, the negativity could be transferred to whoever I am with.

And many in our community are struggling and need help. They’re hurt, scared, angry and anxious, as they have every right to be. However, I try to stay balanced and be OK in the moment.

How do I cope? By not taking to heart everything I see on social media. By going out with friends and sharing meals. By attending support groups in the community, which thankfully SafeHaus Wellness Services leads on the first Wednesday of every month. If you or anyone you know needs the

PHOTO COURTESY: WALTER KINOSHITA

I described it as having permanent whiplash, trying to field questions from scared clients and staff, trying to make sense of the nonsensical. And in this moment, like many others in positions like mine – Indigenous, kama‘āina or otherwise – I felt like I was letting down all of my community, my friends, my kūpuna.

As we talked, she helped me realize that I had done all I could for this agency with what was known and understood thus far. But for two months, I had been hiding in my office, and I needed to get back into the coalitions and chambers of commerce and public spaces to let them know we are still here, and we are NOT backing down. We are not sanitizing our dignity.

We are not going to dishonor all the lives of our people lost to HIV/AIDS by going back into the closet, while critical AIDS research is being cut.

So, when I announced that we were holding our first Big Island AIDS Walk in seven years, to my surprise, we were flooded with sponsors, walkers, clinics, corporations, businesses and individuals who need us to be around for the next 40 years.

I am so proud to be the CEO of Kumukahi Health + Wellness, in an island community that supports us. Our people are proud to be standing up to censorship and erasure in a public event that uplifts and celebrates our diversity of genders, experiences and beliefs.

Now the tears I cry are those of joy and gratefulness, and I wipe away those who stand in our way and try to silence our people.

Peter Tui Silva is CEO of Kumukahi Health + Wellness, which provides HIV and LGBTQ+ health services in its Hilo and Kona offices. Before that, he was an epidemiological specialist with the state Department of Health. For more information, see kumukahihealth.org.

extra support, please join us. It’s free and nonjudgmental.

The most important thing is to give yourself grace in these moments of hard times. Be nice to yourself. I try to do this every day because at the end of the day, I cannot control anything other than how I feel, and I choose to be OK. Walter Kinoshita is director of community engagement for SafeHaus Wellness Services in Honolulu, a licensed massage therapist and a member of the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce. For information on coaching and community services, visit safehauswellness.com.

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THE QUEST FOR A PERMANENT AIDS MEMORIAL AND SITE OF MEMORY

W

HEN WE LAUNCHED A NEW NONPROFIT PROJECT CALLED LEI PUA ‘ALA QUEER HISTORIES OF HAWAI‘I IN 2023,

we were excited about creating new ways to bring Hawai‘i’s long history of gender and sexual diversity to a wide public audience.

From the early kānaka embrace of same-sex love and gender fluidity to the influences and experiences of missionaries, plantation workers and so many others who have come or were brought to these shores over the centuries, we knew that illuminating the little-known struggles and accomplishments of LGBTQ+ Māhū people in the unique context of these islands could inspire those seeking better lives for themselves, and those still working for justice and equality in communities near and far.

We never could have imagined that just two years into such work, a new president and administration intent not just on marginalizing and scapegoating our diverse communities, but on erasing our very

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PHOTO: AARON YOSHINO

BY DEAN HAMER AND JOE WILSON LEI PUA ‘ALA QUEER HISTORIES OF HAWAI‘I

existence, would give the project an alarming new sense of urgency and importance.

Now at our weekly performances of “The Return of Kapaemahu” in Waikīkī, we feel obliged to explain that despite President Trump’s executive order claiming that there are only two genders, individuals of dual male and female spirit do, in fact, exist and have long been an important part of Hawaiian culture.

The attempt to erase the accomplishments of the 442nd Japanese American soldiers in World War II, along with the defunding of the National Endowment of the Humanities, including our valued collaborators at the Hawai‘i Council for Humanities, was further evidence that we can no longer trust our own

JOE WILSON, LEFT, AND DEAN HAMER

PHOTOS: JEFF SANNER

federal government to acknowledge that diversity is an essential element of our nation and people.

Equally concerning has been the campaign of the new administration to destroy the public health programs and agencies responsible for infectious disease control and preventative medicine. The recent display of the Hawai‘i AIDS quilt panels at the Capitol Modern was a poignant reminder of the devastation that HIV/AIDS brought to Hawai‘i, but also of the resourcefulness of our local LGBTQ+ Māhū community and state Department of Health, which responded with one of the most effective awareness and prevention campaigns in the country.

Now, our national health and human services agency is headed by a person who denies even the most basic facts about AIDS – that it is caused by HIV, and that anti-HIV drugs can both prevent and treat the devastating effects of the virus.

As the intent of the new regime to erase every trace of queer history and existence has become clearer, the fragility of our work and progress at the Lei Pua ‘Ala Queer Histories of Hawai‘i project has emerged.

Websites can be erased, exhibitions taken down, performances canceled, historical markers removed, funding threatened, and other acts of censorship and intimidation unleashed.

How can we respond? While there are many possible answers to that question, one theme that has emerged from our conversations with a range of LGBTQ+ Māhū community members, students, kūpuna, people living with HIV/AIDS and others is the desire to create a permanent, visible and public reminder of our existence, and the challenges encountered and accomplishments made.

Thus was born the idea of a new AIDS Memorial and Community Memory Site for Hawai‘i – a place where people can gather to mourn those who have been lost or suffered from HIV/AIDS and other forms of oppression and erasure, honor Hawaiian traditions of diversity and inclusion, and celebrate those who

have struggled and are continuing to pave the way toward a more just and equitable future for all.

We are fortunate to have two strong collaborators for this community-centered effort. One is the Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, the first and largest AIDS service organization in the Pacific and a leader in public health and fighting stigma and discrimination. The other is the City and County of Honolulu, which has worked closely with us on a variety of projects to illuminate the people, places and events that make our city a shining example of why diversity, equity and inclusion is good for all. The city’s Rainbow Employee Resource Group, UH’s John A. Burns School of Medicine Student Pride Alliance, the Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation and other community groups are also involved.

The proposed site for the monument is the overlook at Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park, a magical place with encompassing views, ready public access, a history of association with the infectious disease epidemics that have devastated Hawai‘i over time, and a deep sense of spirituality.

While there are many steps ahead, our goal is to create a place where all our diverse communities can meet, reflect and rejuvenate; a place where our stories are literally written in stone – too large, visible and important to be ignored or erased.

Without Trump, such a memorial might or might not have come to fruition. With him in power, it must.

We hope all those who value equality and justice will join us.

Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson are co-founders and co-directors of the nonprofit Lei Pua ‘Ala Queer Histories of Hawai‘i; co-directors with Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu of the Oscar short-listed animated film “Kapaemahu”; and Emmy-winning documentary filmmakers. For more information, see queerhistoriesof hawaii.org.

SCENES FROM “THE RETURN OF KAPAEMAHU,” WHICH RECOUNTS AN OLD HAWAIIAN STORY ABOUT FOUR TAHITIAN MĀHŪ WHO VISITED WAIKĪKĪ AND LEFT HEALING STONES. WEDNESDAY PERFORMANCES AT THE KUHIO BEACH HULA MOUND ARE PRODUCED BY LEI PUA ‘ALA QUEER HISTORIES OF HAWAI‘I.

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BY CAMARON MIYAMOTO LGBTQ+ CENTER AT UH MĀNOA

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OW, MORE THAN EVER, I AM SO LUCKY TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE LGBTQ+ CENTER AT UH MĀNOA. I could

not imagine a better job for me, as I get to work for the well-being and success of LGBTQ+ students, and I get to fuse that work with a mission grounded in social justice for the good of everyone in Hawai‘i.

The growth of the LGBTQ+ Center during my tenure feels immeasurable, but it’s not. There are clear markers that our programs are reaching more people, and with more impact.

Coffee Hour, a drop-in group for students, is one example. While students used to meet once a week in the LGBTQ+ Center lounge, meetings are now twice a week in a large conference room, with about 40 participants.

I now offer training on LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion for the entire UH community, including the Safe Zone Program of allyship and advocacy. And we recently started the Rainbow ‘Ohana Program service and honors society that pairs accepted students with peer mentors and clusters them in cohorts.

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Our programs are designed to engender the feeling of having an extended family of support, where we share responsibilities for one another and our larger community.

Keeping each other informed about our challenges and successes, and supporting each other on our journeys, is what we do. We also have a student lounge where students can relax, study, eat lunch and use the Wi-Fi network. And I am always available as a resource to help people access services, to talk about issues, and to work for the success of our LGBTQ+ and māhū students.

Two of our biggest celebrations are Rainbow Graduation, where we honor the accomplishments of our students and confer rainbow certificates and tassels, and the National Coming Out Day Fair that kicks off Honolulu Pride Parade and Festival week.

Our students are excited to have such visibility – and to be their true, authentic selves – at the National Coming Out Day Fair that happens every October in the Campus Center Courtyard. The fair features over 20 community resource tables, a DJ and drag queens. Mahalo to the Marina Del Rey family for its continued

PHOTO COURTESY: CAMARON MIYAMOTO

ADVOCATING FOR STUDENTS AND THE “HEALING POWER OF LOVE”

support, and for the ongoing partnerships with the Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, and Hawaiian Airlines.

I am motivated to ground my work for LGBTQ+ communities in love as I pursue intersectional strategies for social justice. It is so important to lean into the transformative and healing power of love as we collectively face injustice.

I hope in these turbulent times, the LGBTQ+ community, māhū leaders and the MVPFAFF community will continue to come together for the good of Hawai‘i. I believe it is in our best interest to strategize how to ensure that our future LGBTQ+ generations will be able to live with aloha, mutual respect and shared responsibilities to one another as they care for the land and this Hawai‘i that we call home.

Camaron Miyamoto is the founding director of the LGBTQ+ Center at UH Mānoa, a position he has held since 2002, and a tenured faculty member in the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success. For more information, visit manoa.hawaii. edu/lgbtq/.

ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES, HAWAII BUSINESS

BY K AT H RY N D R U RY WAG N ER

Not Canceled in Hawai‘i DEI has been demonized by many, but the underlying values of diversity, equity and inclusion still play an important role in the future of Hawai‘i

I

N JANUARY, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ISSUED SEVERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGETING DEI PROGRAMS at public and

private institutions, including an order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” and another, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”

As Hawai‘i’s businesses and nonprofits navigate the implications of these orders, what has the effect been? Do diversity, equity and inclusion programs still have a role to play in the state, now and in the future?

DEI arose from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. But many people don’t know about the laws, policies and programs that emerged from DEI initiatives, says Randy Soriano, executive director of the Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation. Parental leave, mentoring programs, protection from workplace harassment, ramps for disabled workers and height-adH AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 43

“ justed workstations for those who need them are all examples. At its root, DEI is “about trying to create a comfortable place for everyone to live the healthiest, most efficient, most effective lives that they can,” Soriano says.

While groups in Hawai‘i are impacted by rhetoric and policies on the continent, “in general and historically, the tone and atmosphere around DEI feels different than what we’ve seen in other parts of the country,” says Greg Waibel, president and CEO of the Honolulu YMCA. The Islands’ ingrained cultural values of aloha and ‘ohana, he says, result in “conversations that tend to be more community focused and less politically charged than what many of our colleagues are facing elsewhere.”

IS DEI EVEN NECESSARY IN HAWAI‘I?

“It’s not necessary in Hawai‘i – it’s essential,” says Waibel. While the state is and should be proud of its ethnic and cultural diversity, he says, “true equity and inclusion goes far beyond heritage and race.”

Part of YMCA’s staff training includes the use of a Diversity Wheel graphic, which represents the various dimensions of individuality, including the factors that often come to mind when people hear the term “DEI” – such as race and gender − but also a wider view of what shapes our sense of self, including issues like parental status, educational background and geographic location. People who use narrow definitions to describe what constitutes diversity, the YMCA training posits, miss opportunities to engage with and serve everyone in the community.

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“In Hawai‘i, a major source of disparity stems from economic challenges,” says Waibel. “The high cost of living creates barriers to basic needs, things like childcare, education, transportation and food, and these make it harder for families and individuals to access the tools that support their well-being. That’s why DEI matters. It helps us see and respond to the actual needs of our community.”

For example, Waibel notes that despite all of the beaches in Hawai‘i, many keiki don’t know how to swim, and as a result, the state has one of the nation’s highest drowning rates among residents. Using an expansive view of DEI, the Y is addressing this problem with programs like free water-safety instruction and financial aid for swim lessons. “When we understand diversity through this broader lens and definition,” he explains, “it helps us break down real-world barriers. DEI isn’t a concept. It’s a commitment to action.”

In the Islands, inclusion is not just about appreciating different individual backgrounds, notes Lori Teranishi, CEO of iQ 360, a business communications consultancy headquartered in Honolulu with teams in San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C. “While we celebrate our cultural diversity in Hawai‘i, we have to acknowledge a growing income disparity, underrepresentation [of certain groups] in leadership roles, and the historical issues that have disproportionately affected Native Hawaiian communities,” she says.

“It’s addressing who has access to opportunity, who gets to lead, and how we as a community address the issues that weaken the fabric of our community, because you cannot

DEI ISN’T A CONCEPT. IT’S A COMMITMENT TO ACTION.” – GREG WAIBEL PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HONOLULU YMCA

have these huge income gaps and have a healthy community, either in the workplace or generally in society at large.”

Still, with constant market gyrations, talk of DEI could take a back seat for some businesses.

“People are just trying to focus on business survival,” says Teranishi. “Small businesses are just trying to make payroll and make sure their employees in Hawai‘i don’t move to the mainland. In the larger scheme of things, is DEI going to be their first priority? I don’t think so. I think it’s going to be like 30th priority.

“When you grow up in Hawai‘i, you grow up with the mindset of being exposed to and more attuned to ethnic differences.” Yet people from some backgrounds are excluded from decision-making roles, she notes. “What I’m hearing is that there is room for this type of [DEI] work and this type of thought process.”

She counsels clients to have a clear sense of purpose and values. “Because then, when you’re confronted with an ethical issue for the company, if you can fall back on your set of values and everyone understands them, you’re in a much better position. That’s broader than DEI, but it relates, because some companies are changing what they say about DEI.” A clear and well-articulated value system allows companies to

authentic way,” says Soriano. “But we never want to, obviously, risk someone losing the sustainability of their company. So, being flexible, whether that is a name change or a reallocation, but continuing the programs.

And I think constant communication and transparency are going to be super important.”

Waibel would like to see a continued focus on diversity with a broader lens.

After all, he says, “Everyone needs safe, welcoming spaces. People need support and resources to reach their goals and to have experiences that create a sense of purpose, joy, accomplishment and connection.

“The difference is in how we present our programs, and we recognize that one size doesn’t fit all, including our communication. This means sometimes we need to adjust, not only how we serve to make sure that we’re inclusive and wel-

coming, but how we communicate that service. The broad concepts of DEI can survive, but only if we’re focused less on the label and more on the lived experience. … If something isn’t working and it’s causing chaos or divisiveness, well, then you have to listen to that, and it means that you have to make some adjustments.”

DEI, Waibel says, can be reimagined beginning with a simple question: “What are the things that prevent people from being their fullest self?”

“We’re not all born into the same circumstances and environments,” he says. “That’s just being honest.

And if we acknowledge that, then we acknowledge that everybody needs different solutions or supports and may have different perspectives. And isn’t that lovely? That’s what makes the world interesting. Do you really want to live in a world where we’re all the same?”

ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES

change how they communicate about DEI for practical purposes, including to avoid losing federal funding, without stepping away from their core values.

It’s similar, Teranishi says, to when investment firms such as BlackRock were targeted a few years ago by conservative opinion leaders for its ESG (environmental, social and governance) policies.

“ESG became a hot potato before DEI became a hot potato,” she says.

“Companies reevaluated how they talked about ESG. They started using terminology like ‘responsible business.’ It’s not quite the same because, you know, the federal government wasn’t threatening to remove hundreds of millions of dollars of funding from a university, but it did cause companies to reevaluate the usage of [the term] ESG.” The term DEI can carry different meanings. For some people, it’s unfamiliar and for others, it’s a positive.

For still others, it carries divisive or political connotations.

“I think DEI really is under attack,” says Soriano. “But the reality is, we have this amazing opportunity now to shift and to be creative in terms of what’s next for the community.”

He and his organization have ensured the business community is aware of Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation’s programs and resources, such as the quarterly Rainbow Town Hall panel discussions. He’s also working to reach out to other nonprofits and organizations within Hawai‘i, “ensuring they feel our presence and they feel supported. It’s been a difficult time for all of us, and the best thing we can do is lean on each other.”

Some organizations will have to be nimble in how they support employees, because they are under increased scrutiny with their funding.

“In an ideal world, we want everyone to live authentically and to be able to promote their resources and their programs in the most

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BY J ENNIFER A B L A N ILLUSTRATION: HAWAII BUSINESS

For Them,

It’s Hawai‘i 2.0 These locals are coming home and bringing their thriving careers along with them

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PHOTO COURTESY: ZACK HERNANDEZ

BRAIN DRAIN REVERSAL

GIGI DAWN AND HAWAI‘I-BORN ZACK HERNANDEZ MOVED THEIR COMPANY, AEP, TO O‘AHU A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

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HERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, BUT WHAT IF “HOME” HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES ON EARTH?

For years, the Islands’ high cost of living and fewer career prospects had convinced many in Hawai‘i to seek opportunities on the mainland. Now a lot of them are reconsidering that decision.

Paul Galindo, a locally born lawyer who practices in litigation, could be the poster child for how to successfully transition home.

Galindo got a phone call from an old law school classmate who works at a Honolulu law firm. This was when Galindo was near his breaking point after 13 years in Washington, D.C. “After spending a warm, sunny, beautiful New Year vacation in Hawai‘i, my spouse and I knew that we were through with Washington, D.C., and its cold, rainy, windy, miserable 33-degree winter weather,” he says.

Galindo flew home to take the Hawai‘i bar exam (he passed the New York bar in 2010) and succeeded on his first attempt.

The Millennial attorney says his relocation home wouldn’t have been possible if he hadn’t already built and maintained a network of classmates and colleagues who could enable and support that return. Advances in remote work also helped.

For his part, Galindo’s husband, also a lawyer, works remotely from Honolulu.

Galindo’s journey underscores a growing countertrend to the long-standing Hawai‘i-tomainland brain drain: Working professionals on the continent are redefining their careers and reshaping their lives by coming home to the Islands.

Greater acceptance of remote and hybrid work has made the transition easier for many as have improved videoconferencing applications such as Zoom and Google Meets, cloud computing and project management software.

Indeed, in 2023, about 12,100 Hawai‘i-born individuals moved back to the state, while approximately 6,400 moved out, according to economist JoonYup Park of UHERO, the UH Economic Research Organization.

“This marks a reversal from pre-Covid trends, when more Hawai‘i-born residents were leaving the state than returning,” Park writes in the blog post “Who Is Moving In and Out? Understanding Migration Trends in Hawai‘i” (tinyurl.com/UHEROpost).

His study shows Hawai‘i has had a net gain in Island-born residents since 2021 – a trend that started during the Covid crisis when remote and hybrid work became the new normal for many professionals.

A large share of those returning home are 25 to 44 years old, which suggests that while many young people leave the Islands when they are 18 to 24 – often to attend college or start careers – many also return later.

In a follow-up interview with Hawaii Business Magazine, Park cites several reasons why people may have returned to Hawai‘i during and after the pandemic.

“The increased availability of remote work likely played a major role, especially at the height of the pandemic,” he says. “Another possible reason is the aging population in Hawai‘i – some may have returned to care for their parents or family members.”

Unfortunately, the data doesn’t tell us why people moved, only that they did, Park notes.

WORKING ADULTS LIVING ON THEIR OWN TERMS

Kurt Osaki is a UH graduate and globally recognized graphic designer who returned home with his wife a decade ago. He points out that younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, have increasingly prioritized work-life flexibility with hybrid schedules over traditional corporate structures and benefits.

“The younger generation is realizing the world is crazy right now. They PHOTO COURTESY: KURT OSAKI

KURT OSAKI, FOUNDER OF OSAKI CREATIVE GROUP, RETURNED HOME A DECADE AGO, AND WORKS FROM OFFICES IN HONOLULU AND BERKELEY.

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 47

PHOTO COURTESY: JOONYUP PARK

ECONOMIST JOONYUP PARK OF UHERO FOUND THAT, IN 2023, NEARLY TWICE AS MANY HAWAI‘I-BORN PEOPLE MOVED BACK TO THE ISLANDS COMPARED TO THOSE THAT MOVED AWAY.

are prioritizing health and mental well-being. They’re saying, ‘I’m going to be with my family and I’m going to enjoy life,’ ” Osaki says. “I think they’re being smarter in terms of how they approach their life as a whole.”

Osaki, founder of Osaki Creative Group, lives a hybrid life himself, residing in Hawai‘i but working from his offices in both Downtown Honolulu and Berkeley, California.

Galindo’s return to paradise with his husband underscores Osaki’s view about how some people are changing their ways of life: Galindo and his husband are savvy investors and savers. They are a part of the FIRE movement – financial independence, retire early – that is popular among Millennials and Gen Xers. The movement’s goal is for people to become financially independent by their 40s or 50s so they can retire if they wish and be freer to enjoy the rest of their lives.

“Shortly after graduating from law school, we knew that we didn’t want to wind up working 30 or 40 years in a legal career that would demand so much of our time, energy, weekends and youth,” he says.

STEMMING HAWAI‘I’S TALENT OUTMIGRATION

For Hawai‘i-born Zack Hernandez, his return to O‘ahu was a no-brainer.

Over a decade ago, the Punahou graduate received a scholarship to be

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team captain of Columbia University’s Division I wrestling team in New York City.

Between studying and sports, he was introduced to the world of Wall Street recruitment by a Columbia University alum who ran a talent-search firm. That exposure inspired Hernandez to choose the same career path.

“While I was in school, I picked up two years of experience and realized something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. But how was I going to get back to Hawai‘i?”

Hernandez asks.

His desire to return home became a personal mission. “With my background as a wrestler and a competitor, I felt that my next fight was to grapple with this talent brain drain and an age-old problem” in Hawai‘i, Hernandez says.

After moving from Manhattan to Seattle, Hernandez began beefing up his expertise in the recruitment and consulting business while working on building his own company, AEP Hawaii.

His firm specializes in building elite teams of executive, technology, finance and career professionals in Hawai‘i and the West Coast. AEP places local residents in high-paying jobs with its clientele of local companies and various startups, Department of Defense contractors and enterprises on the West Coast.

In Seattle, Hernandez ran a couple of recruiting firms. He also met his future wife, Gigi Dawn, then in business development for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.

They began planning their way to the Islands and after several years of running AEP between Seattle and Hawai‘i, they moved the entire company to O‘ahu a year and a half ago.

Along with supporting tech conferences and networking events – AEP was a founding sponsor of the first-ever Honolulu Tech Week – Zack Hernandez and Gigi Dawn are looking to help grow Hawai‘i’s “tech hub” community of web developers, engineers, technologists and executives.

PAY TRANSPARENCY LAWS MADE A DIFFERENCE

Hernandez says two issues transformed Hawai‘i’s workforce landscape: remote work dynamics adopted during the pandemic coupled with pay transparency laws.

“When we saw Covid happen in 2020 and 2021, that’s when we first started to see local companies having to compete with remote opportunities,” Hernandez says.

In May 2020, 48.7 million people, about 35% of the employed workforce, reported they had worked from home in the previous four weeks because of Covid, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (tinyurl.com/ BLSremote).

A McKinsey study (tinyurl. com/3fp5y2du) estimated that 29% of work in the U.S. could be done remotely with no productivity loss.

Another game changer for locals: transparency laws that attempt to reduce pay gaps, particularly the gender pay gap, by requiring employers to disclose salary ranges on job postings.

“Transparency laws also force companies to start paying folks higher, and that’s going to start levering up compensation. It’s going to start making folks realize that we have to be more flexible.

These guys can be remote doing this job. Why do they have to commute for two to three hours from Wai‘anae into downtown?”

Hernandez says.

“It’s the age of productivity, right? So for us, we’re looking at the companies who are the most forward-thinking companies that use technology.”

In September 2022 – during the height of corporate and government DEI initiatives – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new California pay transparency law that expanded already existing state transparency requirements. The law took effect in January 2023.

PHOTO COURTESY: CURT KANESHIRO

CURT KANESHIRO, PRINCIPAL AT CTK MARKETING SOLUTIONS, TRAVELS BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND HAWAI‘I TO SPEND TIME WITH AGING PARENTS.

Hawai‘i’s pay transparency law went into effect Jan. 1, 2024; it requires employers with 50 or more employees to disclose hourly rates or salary ranges in job postings.

Overall, salaries in Hawai‘i tend to be slightly lower than the national average, with wages approximately 7% below comparable mainland averages. That is against the backdrop of Hawai‘i’s cost of living, the highest in the country.

“It comes down to pay,” Hernandez says about relocation. “A lot of folks are afraid to talk about compensation. It’s something that never really was talked about. It was taboo. With salary transparency laws, all companies have to put a range up, which is great, and I think that’s a good first step.

We’re going to raise those ranges up to be comparable to other tech hubs. That’s super exciting for us.”

As an example, AEP Hawaii is hiring a remote senior machine learning engineer to join one of its startup clients, an early stage software as a service company. The base salary for the role – $180,000 to $200,000 plus equity – is closing the gap between Hawai‘i and mainland wages.

COMING HOME TO CARE FOR FAMILY

UHERO’s Park says working adults are also considering returning home to care for elderly parents.

Curt Kaneshiro, principal at CTK Marketing Solutions, is a case in point. “The main reason I go back and forth to Hawai‘i from Los Angeles is because – maybe you’ve heard of this story too as you’ve been talking to locals – as you get to a certain age, your parents are also aging.

So you want to get close to your parents and spend as much quality time as you can,” he says.

The aging demographics of Hawai‘i adds perspective to why working locals are returning home.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2019–2023) estimates that about 198,517 individuals in Hawai‘i are 70 or older – 13.8% of the total population. That aging population is raising alarm bells: The state is experiencing a faster increase in the proportion of residents age 65 and older than the national average – which has implications for caregiving, housing and social services as well as overall resources.

Kaneshiro says that while Hawai‘i is the most expensive state to retire in, it’s also appealing because of its balmy weather and calmer pace.

Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, GOBankingRates this year calculated the minimum savings people need in order to retire and still afford essentials like housing, groceries, transportation, utilities and health care. If they’re collecting Social Security benefits but have no other income, they still need about $2.21 million in savings to retire in Hawai‘i for 25 years, according to GOBankingRates. In the next most expensive states to retire – Massachusetts and California – people need around $1.6 million in savings.

Kaneshiro says Covid became a pivotal period of self-reflection for many locals. “Hawai‘i has a very unique culture, which is why many who have moved away for education and career opportunities have the desire to eventually return to their roots. ‘Ohana is real and recent events such as the pandemic that have significantly impacted people have sparked an even greater desire for a life of comfort that only our

cultural foundations can fulfill.”

Osaki echoes Kaneshiro’s sentiments. “Like many others who’ve lived away, I always carried a part of Hawai‘i with me. And over time, the desire to bring what I’ve learned back home became stronger. That’s what made coming back so meaningful,” he says. “It wasn’t just about returning. It was about a sense of kuleana – it was about reconnecting, contributing and giving back to the place that gave me my roots.”

Top 3 Reasons Locals DON’T Move Home 1. COST OF LIVING

Hawai‘i is known for its beauty, balmy weather and gentler lifestyle, but it is also the most expensive state to live in, with housing especially costly.

2. LIMITED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

High-paying positions are hard to come by in paradise when compared with many areas of the mainland. For instance, salaries across all industries in the San Francisco Bay Area are about 35%-50% higher, on average, than in Honolulu.

3. FAR FROM EVERYWHERE ELSE

While folks often come home to be closer to family, many struggle with being far away from other loved ones on the mainland and overseas, and from some of the attractions and conveniences there. The nearest major cities are still more than five-hour flights away from the Islands.

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ono novative ec n i n a g n i r u t r y nu The brain drain can be reversed b

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my

BY PAT R I C K S U L L I VAN A N D PAU L B R EW BAK ER PATRICK SULLIVAN, PH.D., IS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF OCEANIT; PAUL BREWBAKER, PH.D., IS THE PRINCIPAL OF TZ ECONOMICS AND THE FORMER CHIEF ECONOMIST AT BANK OF HAWAI‘I.

Hawai‘i – Finding the Future The Islands are on a troubling trajectory: stagnant population, too few good-paying jobs and anemic economic growth. But an effective combination of human capital, infrastructure and policy can change that course and create a growth economy that benefits everyone in Hawai‘i.

H

AWAI‘I’S STAGNANT POPULATION, LACK OF GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND ANEMIC ECONOMIC GROWTH POSE EXISTENTIAL THREATS TO OUR PEOPLE AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. This paper, “Hawai‘i –

Finding the Future,” examines how we create economic growth and build an inclusive future, and what is needed to make this happen.

The authors come from different backgrounds.

But each has decades of experience, both locally and across the world, and each cares deeply about Hawai‘i and agrees it is on a troubling trajectory.

The two of us also believe the people of Hawai‘i can change that trajectory if we effectively organize human capital, infrastructure and policy. If we paddle together, we can grow the economy, create lots of good-paying jobs and reverse the out-migration of our children.

The first paper we wrote, “Hawaii – Losing the Future?” (tinyurl.com/HiFuture), pointed to the need for human capital formation, which means increasing knowledge and skills – essentially investing in people to enhance their productivity. When Hawai‘i’s enhanced human capital is combined with the right policies and support systems, economic growth will accelerate.

This paper reframes the central theme of Hawai‘i’s economy for more than two centuries: We need to pivot from thinking that we create prosperity by picking winners – think sandalwood to sugar and pineapple to tour-

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ism – and instead grow the economy by creating a business-friendly environment that enables rapidly evolving innovation, technology opportunities and companies that address global needs – whatever the industry or sector.

Traditional neoclassical economic models based on endowments of labor, natural resources, and physical capital formation reflect factors that drove Hawai‘i’s economic growth in the past. We argue that future opportunities must come from economic growth models that rely on human capital, entrepreneurship, research, development and innovation, which are the core ingredients of today’s sustainable, high-growth economies.

The basic elements needed to grow the economy are already here: leading-edge university research is creating technological breakthroughs; the university graduates are amazing; and the business community is interested and engaged. And it’s all happening in a desirable location.

With a few policy tweaks to supercharge the university and cultivate a supportive and nurturing business climate, Hawai‘i could generate new companies and industries that address global opportunities with well-paying jobs and huge ripple effects throughout the local economy. Although this sounds straightforward, it’s difficult to execute and requires big commitments and changes in mindsets.

The destruction of Lahaina made it impossible to keep ignoring the economic obstacles that Hawai‘i faces.

All of our concerns for the future of Hawai‘i’s economy are further exacerbated by the second Trump administration’s tariffs, disintegration of federal programs, and support for research and development in higher education. These policies undermine what most of the world considers as America’s crown jewel: university research and the development of human capital. These federal dollars have been a huge driver of Hawai‘i’s economy since the 1940s, further underscoring Hawai‘i’s economic brittleness and the need for diversification and growth opportunities. Perhaps with all this chaos, now is the time for change to grow Hawai‘i’s economy.

WHY “SOCIAL CAPITAL” HAS DECLINED Poor economic growth creates a lack of opportunity that manifests itself in many ways, including out-migration, growing economic disparities and unaffordable housing. It results in declining social capital – networks where people can rely on each other and work together toward shared goals. Social capital is built on community trust and positive relationships within a community or network; it fosters reciprocity and cooperation among individuals. When social capital is low, it is difficult to try new things.

REAL GDP PER CAPITA IN CHAINED 2017 DOLLARS (LOG SCALE)

Two decades ago, Hawai‘i’s per capita GDP exceeded the national average. Hawai‘i is now below average, and this alarming trend increases inequality and cost of living burdens and erodes trust and community. Over time, this exacerbates economic stress, out-migration and social tensions.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (March 28, 2025, bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-state); Hawai‘i forecast growth rate calculated from Hawai‘i DBEDT data (March 5, 2025, tinyurl.com/Hiforecast) *Stationary trend regression on U.S. real per capita GDP, 2014-2019.

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“

A PESSIMIST SEES THE DIFFICULTY IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY. AN OPTIMIST SEES AN OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY DIFFICULTY.” – WINSTON CHURCHILL

Well-functioning institutions, which effectively manage social capital, are critical for economic prosperity, as articulated by Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson, winners of the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. When institutions work, economies prosper because people, businesses and institutions share trust.

In 2012, the need to diversify Hawai‘i’s economy was discussed at the “Building Hawaii’s Innovation Economy” symposium hosted by the U.S. National Research Council Committee on Competing in the 21st Century. In the symposium report, Carl Bonham of UHERO, the UH Economic Research Organization, reviewed the Islands’ history of economic dependence on a series of single products. Two centuries ago it was sandalwood, then whaling, sugar and pineapple, the military and now tourism.

“While the state will certainly continue to benefit from visitor-based revenues and military spending, the challenge for this century,” Bonham’s summary concludes, “is to develop the multi-sector, interdisciplinary capacities needed to generate S&T-based (science and technology) innovation and diversify the state’s opportunities for economic growth.”

Twelve years later, UHERO invited discussion with a preliminary blog post entitled “Potential Opportunities to Diversify the Economy of Hawaii” (July 2, 2024, tinyurl.com/Hinext) that suggested recommendations on diversifying Hawai‘i’s economy focusing on location-based industries like finfish and shellfish fishing, boatbuilding, port and harbor operations, finfish farming and hatcheries, and seafood preparation and packaging.

UHERO’s paper was based on the idea that regions are likely to enter or exit economic activities based on the number of related activities in that location – a location-based approach to economic growth. While we believe this can retrospectively provide insights on why an industry emerged, it is less helpful in understanding where future growth opportunities exist. For example, Venice had a trade of fish and salt before it diversified into commerce more broadly, and into finance, supply chain management, technology and tourism.

AN ENVIRONMENT FOR GREAT IDEAS In summer 2024, as it had for nearly 40 years, Oceanit conducted its Summer Intern Program, mostly for STEM undergraduate and graduate students. It exposes these students to “how we think” at Oceanit; in return Oceanit asks the students to share their internship experiences with their families and teachers.

Over 700 interns have gone through this program.

Oceanit now accepts 12-14 interns each summer, out of 1,000-2,000 applicants. Most either grew up in Hawai‘i or have connections to the Islands. At the end of the summer the interns present an innovation “to make the world a better place,” one of their choosing.

They must present their case in five slides over five minutes and answer questions from the audience for five minutes. We invite businesspeople, parents, university administrators and legislators.

A range of great ideas was presented last summer, including developing space-based fuel from orbital debris, forging a new reading technology for the blind and creating an energy efficient computational framework for energy hungry AI systems like ChatGPT. An interesting question was posed by the audience: “Where do these ideas come from?” The answer: from the minds of these young people. But it takes the right environment for those ideas to emerge. The audience’s question was couched in the idea that many UH students focus on “location-based” innovations like T-shirt shops or carving cool designs from coconuts.

The concern is that these students don’t reach outside what they see in front of them and are not exposed to thinking about high growth or high impact ideas that are geographically untethered.

In contrast, Oceanit interns are asked to consider a broad-based philosophic objective: “Propose something to make the world a better place.” That is the only guideline. It is not limited by subject or geography. Oceanit commits to helping the interns find experts in just about any field so they can have conversations or ask for assistance on anything they could imagine.

We know young people are very interested in being part of something impactful. They are not lazy or afraid, given the opportunity.

Contrast this with the suggestion coming out of the UHERO blog post that focuses on diversifying Hawai‘i’s economy with fishing and other geographically based industries. While we appreciate the rigor and methodology deployed by UHERO’s team, we believe this method misses key drivers to growth opportunities – like when human capital collides with research breakthroughs that impact humans and society. This combination, occurring in a supportive business environment, rides the waves of rapidly evolving science and technology and creates explosive growth and lots of good-paying jobs.

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THE WRONG QUESTION When Patrick Suillivan was asked to speak to a group of emerging business leaders, the key question audience members wanted to explore was: “What industry should Hawai‘i focus on?” This is historically a very common question in Hawai‘i. However, it is the wrong question.

The biggest new economic opportunities today originate from educated people and innovation.

Technology changes rapidly and the rate of innovation is increasing, rapidly creating new opportunities.

What was once impossible, becomes possible with advances in science, chemistry, materials, AI and other breakthroughs.

The strategy of “picking” technology or industries is flawed because new tools, methods and techniques are constantly supplanting old ones. Instead, an environment that supports innovation will lead to economic growth and often unforeseeable innovation jobs that have large economic multipliers.

FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS To be clear, bringing back tourism is essential to Hawai‘i’s economy. It provides a platform to create economic growth. New growth will come from creating, building and growing companies.

At a high level, the ideas around this are simple to understand but hard to execute. Startup investing is a numbers game: One needs to consider investing in 100 big ideas where perhaps one or two become unicorns with a market cap of over $1 billion. The other 98 or 99 that become middling enterprises, underperforming companies or failures are financially inconsequential compared to one unicorn.

However, to achieve one unicorn, one needs to consider 100 or even 1,000 opportunities that all swing for the fences – very big, very disruptive ideas, typically driven by breakthroughs in science or engineering.

This “deal flow” makes venture investing work.

Universities are a critical part of the economic growth engine: They need to produce many hundreds of graduates in science and engineering every year.

Keeping this talent and the related high-quality jobs in Hawai‘i requires creating many startups and sustaining their growth in a supportive business ecosystem.

In an ideal world, this supportive business ecosystem already exists. It could be anywhere – Silicon Valley, Israel, Boston or Hawai‘i. However, when the business ecosystem is underdeveloped, policies can help nurture the right business environment.

Think about this metaphorically: Imagine a startup entrepreneur as an explorer with an 80-pound pack,

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then picture them trekking 100 miles up a steep mountain while wearing surf shorts. Entrepreneurs are unprepared for such a journey – which includes freezing temperatures, wild animals and bandits – but most are confident they will “figure it out” along the way. Sadly, most new businesses fail in the first few years.

When policies are in place to support these entrepreneurs, it’s metaphorically like providing a decent pair of boots or fuel at the next campsite. Even small gestures of support lighten the load and reduce risk, increasing the likelihood the entrepreneur will reach the summit. Policies can enable companies to stay in Hawai‘i, compete and thrive.

The role of a university is different from what many expect. From our perspective, the most important role is to produce quality people – human capital.

This includes creative and fearless graduates, as well as highly skilled Ph.D. scientists and engineers who have produced technical papers and dissertations to be proud of.

However, the expectation that universities unilaterally produce economic growth is misplaced.

Universities are an awesome environment to train thinkers from all fields, but industry has little regard for the number of journal citations in your resume.

An article in the Feb. 5, 2024, issue of The Economist, titled “Universities are failing to boost economic growth,” got it right. Major economic growth comes from high-quality graduates working in industry, industrial labs and the private sector where their academic interests are tempered with practical realities, like “payroll every two weeks.” The graduates, in turn, need to understand how to contribute to the puzzle of creating impact and value from innovation.

In Hawai‘i, the example of astronomy and Maunakea is instructive. Whereas UH’s Institute for Astronomy is best of class and produces excellent research, the belief is misplaced that it would produce thousands of jobs in the private sector and deliver economic growth. The institute has produced numerous citations in highly regarded journals, but it has been less notable engaging with the community in meaningful ways. For example, it hasn’t created or sustained significant business opportunities in support of astronomy.

The same could be argued for UH’s tropical agriculture program. In the early 1970s, the program developed a super strain of corn known for its sweet flavor and resistance to diseases and pests, which feeds the world today. But related business opportunities were not created and sustained in Hawai‘i.

These were lost opportunities, but if Hawai‘i develops a more supportive and holistic business environment, the community can benefit from future opportunities that its young people produce through excellent research and training at UH.

DEPOPULATION SPIRALS ARE HARD TO REVERSE Over the years, numerous innovative startups have emerged in Hawai‘i, only to move to the mainland.

Why do they leave? The most common reason is better access to capital. Although there is abundant capital in Hawai‘i, it does not go to early-stage ventures or tech companies. Hawai‘i has not been ready for innovative startups, does very little to sustain them and overall has been uninterested in them.

This is as much a social-political issue as a capital and infrastructure issue. We believe things can change, but it will take a concerted effort from all of Hawai‘i, including policymakers, businesses and educators.

The establishment of “deal flow” in a positive business environment will attract capital and create companies and high-paying jobs.

A host of policy ideas could help “lighten the load” and grow Hawai‘i’s economy. The graphic titled Policy Ecosystem Framework is intended to narrow the focus but is not an exhaustive list. However, we believe the policies outlined in the chart and below could nurture a diverse and supportive business ecosystem, enabling entrepreneurs with interests in disruptive innovation to launch, sustain and grow businesses, create jobs and thrive in Hawai‘i.

The key consideration for Hawai‘i is to decide if economic growth is important enough to experiment with new policies at the risk of making mistakes along the way. If we decide that growing the economy, creating a more resilient economy, and producing well-paying jobs for Island residents is important enough, there are many ways to make that happen.

This framework, although basic, illustrates the abundance of policy ideas and opportunities that could

POLICY ECOSYSTEM FRAMEWORK TO DEVELOP AN INNOVATION GROWTH ECONOMY

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deliver a more business friendly environment. Each policy idea is an expression of Hawai‘i’s interest in change – taking a policy risk to have a positive impact.

Rather than focus on a specific opportunity – such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing or edge manufacturing – focus on the fundamentals that lead to a supportive business ecosystem that enables startups and sustains and grows companies.

Developing human capital – smart, educated people – continues to be table stakes for a successful business. Whereas the kinds, qualities and skills vary, every business needs strong talent. That said, the majority of big, impactful startup opportunities are expected in technical fields driven by breakthroughs in engineering, physics, math, chemistry, computer science and other STEM-related disciplines.

Startups need entrepreneurs who have the ability to tolerate risks that most people will never understand – we call them “roller-coaster riders.” However, without a solid team, the best entrepreneurs flounder.

We also need financial managers, product designers, office managers, scientists, engineers and more, otherwise great ideas wither and fail to mature.

Infrastructure policies can deliver a nurturing environment, enabling business development and growth. Hard infrastructure – including capital, equipment, facilities and supportive utilities – enables businesses to operate. Soft infrastructure – including networking, marketing and branding – enables businesses to thrive and grow. Together, hard and soft infrastructure can fashion a business environment where great ideas can develop and thrive in Hawai‘i.

Our challenges are not geographically limited but self-imposed. Once they are dismissed, national and international markets will open. Examples of policy ideas include the following.

DRIVER OF INNOVATION: HUMAN CAPITAL People are the essential ingredient to building Hawai‘i’s future businesses. Students in K-12 who are exposed to ideas and potential opportunities are more likely to search out related educational opportunities.

Skills beget skills. Policy ideas for consideration that help build human capital include: • Supercharge UH STEM Education: Invest in capabilities and encourage undergraduate and graduate education in the STEM fields, such as physics, engineering, math, chemistry, computer science, molecular biology and genetics. Encourage researchers to pursue big, bold ideas that, if successful, could impact humans and society. For example, consider areas like quantum computing, dark matter, climate engineering, space travel and exploration, human disease and longevity, new energies and artificial general intelligence.

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This partial list is incomplete and possible areas continuously evolve. The one certainty, however, is that the world’s most important problems bring new opportunities.

Many great examples of how this works are everywhere, including in the engineering program at the University of Colorado, Boulder. It hosts close to 1,000 doctoral students who produced 22 of the 35 new startups to come out of that university last year. These new companies plus already established companies spun out of the university attracted roughly $500 million in new investment capital last year.

If one considers only engineering, using University of Colorado numbers, roughly 2% of Ph.D. research creates new investable disruptive opportunities that attract new capital. To create a good number of investment opportunities, one could argue that UH needs to build a major engineering program pursuing hundreds of disruptive new Ph.D. research endeavors across numerous disciplines.

• University Connectivity: To reduce the risk of another community confrontation like the one at Maunakea, adopt a UH program that hires local research and development companies to support 10% of UH’s R&D spending.

• Research Competitiveness Support: Innovation is a competition of ideas and we need to support the “Hawai‘i team” of locally based R&D companies. ° An R&D tax credit or matching grant to match a percentage of R&D performed in Hawai‘i would help local companies compete. Such programs would focus on Hawai‘i-based small businesses engaged in qualified R&D. ° A Small Business Innovation Research match.

SBIRs are nationally competed. The probability of winning a Phase I SBIR grant is roughly 10%: write ten, lose nine, win one. Hawai‘i should support local companies applying for SBIR grants and celebrate those who win.

DRIVER OF INNOVATION: HARD INFRASTRUCTURE Infrastructure can include both hard infrastructures – capital formation, buildings and equipment – as well as supportive infrastructure like affordable electricity, broadband and transportation. Examples of hard infrastructure include: • Venture Capital: Develop capital markets in Hawai‘i by launching a half-dozen new locally based venture capital funds, mimicking the findings from a 2002 study by Grove Street Advisors called “The Case for Investing with New and Emerging Private Equity Fund Managers.” This would require a percentage of Hawai‘i’s state retirement fund alternative asset class to be allocated in venture capital investing, particularly with untested or fresh entrants.

When Hawai‘i provides a more supportive business

environment, it will encourage the world’s wealthiest technology founders (some of whom have homes in Hawai‘i) to allocate part of their vast investment funds in Hawai‘ibased venture capital and private equity investing.

And since successful venture investing requires large numbers, there needs to be many ventures to invest in, including abundant opportunities from places like UH. Nurturing engineering students and Ph.D. graduates in STEM fields will feed successful venture investing.

• Technology Commons: This means shared equipment, spaces and facilities – including access to clean rooms and manufacturing infrastructure. For companies that require equipment and instrumentation, the state government could underwrite partial funding for a Hawai‘i Instrument Pool, ensuring the equipment is later available to other scientists, engineers and technology developers.

Examples of this equipment include oscilloscopes, digital voltmeters and lock-in amplifiers.

• Connectivity to the West Coast: Create special bulk commercial passenger and freight rates on major air carriers to connect Hawai‘i tech businesses to the West Coast.

• Utilities: Discounted pricing on electricity for equipment and facilities could include a price of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour for laboratory equipment used to support R&D and the development of technology. This policy mimics a Honolulu County water pricing policy that gives discounted prices for agricultural uses, to support and encourage agriculture.

• Affordable and Timely Construction: Create a “shot clock” for permitting of new construction and renovations. There is no reason it should take three years to acquire a building permit to renovate an office space, particularly when the tenant seeking the permit has occupied the same space for the last decade.

The same could be said for housing, which continues to be a problem across Hawai‘i. Demand timely and quality performance from local institutions that manage all construction. This would reduce the overall cost of construction.

DRIVER OF INNOVATION: SOFT INFRASTRUCTURE Hawai‘i is a powerful brand recognized around the world. Build on Hawai‘i’s brand to support global connectivity and collaboration with introductions to organizations in national and international markets, including the following: • Industry Connectivity Through Hawai‘i Marketing and Branding: Technology industries all have their key conferences and industrial events. If Hawai‘i-based technology developers attend these meetings, Hawai‘i’s brand could make it easier for them to connect with industry leaders and financiers.

Support for local developers could include sharing the cost of attending these conferences.

• Hawai‘i Early Adopter Participation: Locally based companies that develop or produce technology should have preference in Hawai‘i government purchasing as “early adopter” customers. Although developing criteria for this is complicated, starting close to home, using feedback from the community and other factors can make a big difference as technology moves to bigger national and global markets.

CHANGE IS ESSENTIAL Most businesses in Hawai‘i agree the climate here is anti-business. It does not have to be this way. Fixing the business environment requires revisiting policies and creating new ones to support opportunities – making Hawai‘i’s institutions more likely to say “yes” to a business.

However, good policy is difficult to create. Effective policy to support economic development and growth is difficult to create, too – every idea that attempts to create economic opportunity simultaneously generates risk of abuse. The public has a long memory of what didn’t work, which can overshadow attempts to try something new. This lack of confidence produces institutions that say “no.” While this is understandable, it harms communities in the long run.

One great example of policy that created economic growth came in 1982 when President Reagan signed the Small Business Innovation Development Act into law. It required all federal agencies to set aside about 3% of their funding to support small businesses in all 50 states. The only requirement is that the business is a “small business,” which generally means less than 500 employees.

The premise of the program is that small teams are where innovation lives. For innovators, it’s essentially a nationwide intellectual cage match: only 1 in 10 walks out of the cage. However, this has supercharged economic growth in all 50 states and has resulted in the development and growth of companies in every field.

Those that make it to the “ultimate cage match” eventually compete for billion-dollar federal programs. Successful techno-warriors learn to compete against the very best minds across the U.S. When these companies operate in supportive business ecosystems, they rapidly expand – creating lots of high paying jobs.

For Hawai‘i, we have fundamentally two options: Continue on the same path or try something new.

If we continue on the same path, all trends indicate Hawai‘i’s economy will get worse – declining GDP, out-migration, growing social and economic inequality and more. We believe the correct choice is simple: Bet on Hawai‘i’s people and take a chance on new ideas and policies.

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HAWAIIBUSINESS.COM/NEWSLETTER-SIGNUP

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HAWAI‘I’S 2025 GUIDE TO

Shipping, Air and Transportation

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June Shipping & Transportation Guide

s one of the largest import and export states in the country, consistent and reliable shipping services remain top priorities for Hawai‘i’s shipping companies.

The state imports about 90% of goods by ocean cargo. In January, Hawai‘i was the 54th largest exporter and 50th in total imports in the U.S., including Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to The Observatory of Economic Complexity.

Sustainability is also a top priority as Pasha Hawaii prepares for the opening of the new Kapalama Container Terminal in Honolulu, and Matson continues making headway on its Sand Island Terminal modernization project.

PASHA HAWAII

In January, Pasha told Hawaii Business Magazine it was projecting a f lat to 1% growth rate, citing more conservative spending by Hawai‘i residents and tourists.

George Pasha IV, the company’s president and CEO, reports that as of April, “Container volume has remained steady, with the overall Hawai‘i economy expected to maintain current levels, buoyed as construction activity from both public and private sectors remains.”

Consumers and transportation providers agree that transparency of data and real time shipping information are critical to making sound, efficient and effective supply chain decisions, Pasha says. “Knowing your customers well, and how they interact with their own suppliers and downstream vendors is central to Pasha’s ability to serve, anticipate and adjust in real time to meet clients’ needs.”

Pasha Hawaii continues to work closely with its state partners to keep the Kapalama Container Terminal project on track for completion in the fall. The project will help drive efficiencies into the overall shipping network, including its connections with Young Brothers’ service to the Neighbor Islands, Pasha says.

Pasha’s Hawai‘i operations continue to be bolstered by the ‘Ohana-class natural gas-powered containerships MV

George III and MV Janet Marie introduced in 2022-2023 and the repowered MV George II in 2024. Pasha Hawaii now has three vessels that operate on liquified natural gas, sailing between Oakland, Long Beach and Honolulu.

“Deploying these vessels with larger tonnage, designed specifically for the Hawai‘i trade, offers additional dry and refrigerated capacity on a consistent, weekly basis,” Pasha says. “From ship to shelf is a uniquely Hawai‘i market dynamic, and the larger vessels provide the ability to handle both normal and peak or surge volumes.”

Minimizing the environmental footprint is another important benefit of operating the new vessels within the Hawai‘i trade lane. Operating on natural gas results in a 99.9% reduction in particulate matter and sulfur, a 90% reduction in nitric oxide and a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to Pasha’s previous fleet.

“Pasha Hawaii’s three LNGpowered container ships significantly reduce emissions compared to diesel, making a positive impact on our port communities and beyond,” Pasha says.

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the highest level of service to our customers,” says Len Isotoff, senior vice president of Matson’s Pacific division.

Sustainability is also one of Matson’s top priorities, and the Sand Island project aligns with its environmental stewardship and sustainability goals, Isotoff says. Matson has already replaced diesel-powered cranes with electric ones to help reduce emissions and is planning to expand its terminal gate for quicker cargo access and shorter truck wait times.

“The improved container flow is expected to not only streamline operations for truckers but will also result in

substantial environmental benefits by reducing truck emissions,” Isotoff says, adding it will help improve air quality for surrounding communities and help mitigate negative impact to the climate.

Matson is also enhancing resiliency by installing additional backup generators to maintain consistent service during severe weather or other disruptions and continues to evaluate additional sustainability measures such as photovoltaic and battery storage systems.

“This modernization project supports Matson’s commitment to fostering a more efficient and sustainable shipping operation,” Isotoff says.

Matson provides industry-leading on-time delivery of essential goods to the economies of Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia, and South Pacific islands, and premium expedited service from China to the U.S. West Coast. A key supply chain partner, its dependable U.S.-built, -owned and -operated ships and dedicated terminal assets can be relied upon to consistently deliver the goods that sustain Hawaii’s communities and businesses, as it has for generations.

In recent years, Matson has com-

mitted approximately $2 billion to building new, more advanced ships and terminal upgrades that improve its Hawaii service while reducing its environmental impact.

Last year, Matson contributed $7.7 million in cash and in-kind services to 719 charitable organizations and non-profit programs in the communities it serves. Since the pandemic, the company has committed to providing $10 million in shipping services to support community food bank networks through 2026.

Matson is full steam ahead with the Sand Island Terminal modernization project, which is designed to provide increased capacity, efficiency and speed to accommodate Hawai‘i’s current and long-term shipping needs.

“With updated infrastructure and sustainable technologies, the modernization helps ensure we consistently deliver essential goods to our Island communities now and into the future, reduce our environmental impact, strengthen the lifeline services Hawai‘i depends on, and continue delivering

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MATSON

MATSON – SERVING HAWAII SINCE 1882 A proud American shipping company with Hawaii roots dating back to the days of tall ships and horse-drawn carriages, Matson introduced cargo containerization in the Pacific – an innovation that revolutionized the industry and became the worldwide standard – as well as the first automobile-carrying ship in the Pacific.

Matson was also among the first containership operators to recognize an obligation to protect the environment and set another industry standard decades ago with its Zero Solid Waste Discharge policy.

Today, the company is working toward goals of reducing fleet greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and achieving net-zero total Scope 1 GHG emissions by 2050.

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“Representing TradeWind Group and our family of companies, the Hawaii Business Magazine Best Places to Work event is a true celebration of companies that prioritize people, local values, and purpose. I was inspired to see organizations across the islands leading with heart and setting the standard for excellence in the workplace.”

— KELLY UEOK A , PRESIDENT OF PACX A , PART OF THE TR ADEWIND GROUP

On March 28, 2025, Hawaii Business Magazine celebrated the companies recognized in this year’s Best Places to Work list, featured in our April issue. Set against an Old Hollywood theme, the evening featured an expo showcase, networking, a seated dinner, and an awards program honoring outstanding workplaces across the state. Best Places to Work serves as an annual chance to gather your team, network with fellow Best Places to Work, celebrate many incredible achievements, and have fun!

PRESENTED BY

MAHALO TO OUR SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

AWARD SPONSORS ROOKIE AWARD

PHOTO BOOTH SPONSOR

BEST FAMILY OWNED AWARD

FAMILY FRIENDLY AWARD PRIZE SPONSOR HEALTHIEST AWARD

NEIGHBOR ISLAND AWARD

“Congratulations to this year’s Best Places to Work honorees! At Systemcenter, we’re proud to support organizations that put their people first—from offering meaningful benefits and growth opportunities to investing in inspiring workspaces. It was an honor to celebrate so many of our past clients and see how thoughtful design contributes to thriving cultures. The event was a meaningful reminder of how the right environment can elevate the employee experience—and how important it is to recognize companies where people feel supported, valued, and excited to come to work each day.”

—STEPHAN EDWARDS, PRESIDENT, SYSTEMCENTER

“In 2025, UHA is proud to celebrate its second consecutive year being recognized as a Best Places to Work.

Health and well-being have always been core to our workplace culture, playing a key role in the success of our organization. We believe the key to well-being is to create a culture of working with a purpose, creating meaningful social activities, education on financial wellbeing, supporting physical wellness, and connecting with our community. This recognition is a testament to the collective effort and dedication of our team in creating a positive and supportive work culture.

As we continue to prioritize elements of well-being in our daily lives, we want to express our deepest gratitude to every associate for their support. It is you that makes UHA a Best Place to Work!”

— HOWARD LEE , PRESIDENT & CEO. UHA HEALTH INSUR ANCE

”Celebrating our team’s commitment to excellence, WestPac® Wealth Partners is honored to be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work. At WestPac, we foster a culture of collaboration, growth, and dedication to our clients’ financial success. This prestigious accolade reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a supportive environment where every team member thrives. We are proud to be a part of shaping a workplace that values integrity, innovation, and professional development. Thank you to our exceptional team whose passion and expertise drive us forward every day.”

—SPENCER DUNG , MANAGING DIRECTOR , WESTPAC WEALTH SOLUTIONS

“At M. Dyer Global, our people are the heart of our success.

Being recognized among Hawai‘i’s Best Places to Work is a powerful reminder that investing in culture, growth, and belonging matters. We’re proud of the team environment we’ve cultivated—where innovation thrives, collaboration is celebrated, and everyone feels valued. As a locally grown company with a global reach, we’re committed to creating careers with purpose and impact. Mahalo to our incredible employees for making M. Dyer Global not just a great place to work—but a great place to grow.”

—ANTHONY SHIPP, PRESIDENT & CEO, M . DYER GLOBAL

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PHOTOS: JOHN KIRTLEY & WYATT SMITH

PHOTOS COURTESY: HCATF

“Congratulations to all the companies recognized in Hawaii Business Magazine’s 2025 Best Places to Work! Making this esteemed list is no small accomplishment—your commitment to fostering positive, people-centered workplaces strengthens our community and improves the lives of thousands of employees in Hawai‘i.

We’re especially proud of our many Hawaii Employers Council members who were recognized this year. Mahalo for your leadership, innovation, and heart in building organizations where employees can thrive. Finally, special recognition to Service Rentals and Supplies LLC for their receipt of the Best Place to Work on a Neighbor Island Award.”

—SAR AH GUAY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, HAWAII EMPLOYERS COUNCIL

“Celebrating the accomplishments of the Atlas Insurance Agency team and the dozens of other organizations at this year’s Best Places to Work celebration was exceptionally rewarding. Being a ‘Best Places to Work’ isn’t just a title; it reflects our people and the culture we have collectively created. I’m incredibly proud to witness the support and encouragement from the community and our fellow nominees.”

—VINCE MIYOI , SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ATL AS INSUR ANCE AGENCY

“Being honored at Hawaii’s Best Places to Work event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the top companies that excel in creating outstanding work environments.

This recognition highlights our commitment to fostering a supportive, innovative, and inclusive workplace. For the past nine years, we have been proud recipients of this prestigious award, thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team. We are thrilled to be part of this event, which showcases the best of Hawaii’s business community and inspires us to continue striving for excellence every day.”

— LISA DAIJO, OWNER , EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS OF HAWAII H AWA I I B U S I N ES S | 65

PA R T I N G

LOCATION: HĀLAWA

S H O T

BY RYA NN NO E LA NI CO ULE S

| PHOTOGRAPHER: AARON YOSHINO

Local Wood, Lasting Art IF YOU NEED SOMETHING MADE FROM WOOD – whether it’s for home,

office or store – Dae Son can probably make it. Son is the owner of Wood Hi, a woodworking shop in Hālawa. He says the shop has been commissioned to make custom pieces as small as intricate pocketknife handles and as large as 12-by-4-foot dining tables.

“We never turn down anyone on a project. We actually find a way to do it one way or another,” says Son. “I always tell clients, ‘If you have a budget, just let me know, and we’ll work with it. We can still build it for you, the right way, which will last, and you don’t have to worry about it falling apart.’ ” Mass-produced furniture does not last, he says, but creations by expert woodworkers provide enduring quality. “That piece will last you forever and [you can] pass it on to your kids probably.”

And except for the plywood he uses, Son says Wood Hi sources locally. “We always try to use sustainable wood. Koa, monkeypod, mango, anything you find on-island that’s a hardwood, we use.” woodhi.co

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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Helping Leaders Lead T H E H A N O F E L LOW S P R O G R A M O F F E R S K N OW L E D G E , S K I L L S , A N D SUPPORT TO NEW NONPROFIT LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE ISL ANDS.

W

tions’ (HANO’s) Fellows program, in 2022.

HANO Fellows is a multi-month cohort OF CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY program for nonprofit executives designed NONPROFIT BLUE PLANET FOUNDATION IN to support leadership development, share 2021, SHE FELT SOMEWHAT DAUNTED. She nonprofit management principles, and had been with the organization for almost foster peer relationships. a decade, but this would be her first time Each year, the program brings together taking on the lead role.

15 emerging nonprofit “Nonprofit “Nonprofit leadership can directors, who represent be so all-encompassing,” she leadership diverse missions and persays. “Many people come spectives, but have a shared can be so allto the job because they’re encompassing dedication to serving the subject-matter experts and communities of … There are all people on a nonprofit’s mission.

Hawai‘i. these layers to But, especially at a smaller Miyashiro says the Felthe role that organization, a nonprofit lows program taught her CEO also has to be an HR can make it feel skills that directly helped professional, and a profesoverwhelming.” her lead Blue Planet Foundasional fundraiser, and have tion effectively.

-MELISSA MIYASHIRO an understanding of budget “The curriculum was and finance. There are all very comprehensive,” she these layers to the role that says. “There were sessions can make it feel overwhelming.” on financial management and budgeting That’s why she was excited to apply to and accounting best practices. There and be accepted into the first cohort of the were sessions around fundraising and Hawai‘i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizadevelopment work. There were even HEN MELISSA MIYASHIRO WAS NAMED

EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

sessions around how to best manage a nonprofit board of directors, which is a very specific thing with a lot of nuances.

I really felt like the people in my cohort spoke my language and understood the challenges I was experiencing.”

After her program wrapped up, she says she stayed in touch with the other members of her cohort, which made for a valuable support network. And, in 2024, Miyashiro got the opportunity to deepen her relationship with HANO, this time as its new CEO. Now that she oversees the HANO Fellows program, Miyashiro is as big a believer in the cohort approach as ever, particularly given the current situation in which federal funding is being cut across the nonprofit sector.

“In the moment that we’re in now, the need for cross-sector collaboration and coordination among Hawai‘i’s community-based organizations has never been greater,” she says. “I’m so glad we’re able to support nonprofit leaders in this time, through the Fellows program.”

The track record of the first three Fellows cohorts speaks to how effective the program has been: Of the 45 leaders who have come through the HANO Fellows program since 2022, 37 (82 percent) remain in their leadership positions within their same organizations. Additionally, 93 percent of participants are continuing to work in the nonprofit sector, and 95 percent remain in Hawai‘i.

The current, fourth cohort began meeting in April 2025, and will continue through this November. Applications for the next cohort will open in February 2026.

Miyashiro says, “Entering a new leadership role is always challenging. It can be lonely. There really is a need for peer support, to help build our leadership capacity here in Hawai‘i, and we’ll continue to evolve the Fellows program to meet the needs of our new leaders.”

T H E H AWA I ‘ I C O M M U N I T Y F O U N DAT I O N I S P R O U D T O S U P P O R T T H E H A N O F E L L O W S P R O G R A M .

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