Archives: July 2017

A 600-Year Tradition

Emma Robinson, a UH master of fine arts in design student, paints a scenic pine tree backdrop for the play “Power and Folly: Japanese (Kyogen) Satire for the 21st Century.” Historians believe Kyogen is the oldest professional theater style in the world and has depicted a pine tree on stage for 600 years. This painting is held up by a…

Leading the Way

The keynote talk story, “Cultivating Culture Within Your Company,” featured Hurley Founder Bob Hurley and Sig Zane Designs Founder Sig Zane, which was moderated by Hawaii Business Digital Media Director Daniel Ikaika Ito. Cultivating leaders takes a lot of work, but it’s a crucial task for companies and nonprofits, and for the future of Hawaii. Nearly 600 people came together…

Nonprofit Corner: Sustainable Homeownership

“We’re trying to create a consumer who’s better-educated, empowered and can make their own decisions when it comes to first-time home buying,” explains Dennis Oshiro, executive director of Hawaii HomeOwnership Center. “A single mom who spent 10 years getting coaching from us just recently bought her own home,” he says proudly. “It was a matter of finally acquiring the means.”…

Acts of Aloha: Equipping Hawaii’s Children for Success [Sponsored]

Helping hands are often connected to generous hearts. Bringing action and goodwill to those in need, the people of Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii are partnering with The Salvation Army for its school supply drive to ensure our Island’s future leaders receive the items required for school year success. “Our employees are excited for the opportunity to contribute back to…

Hawaii Depends on Small Businesses

Small businesses are so crucial to Hawaii that they must be nurtured and protected for the overall economy to grow. The federal Small Business Administration has different definitions for a small business depending on the industry, but, if we use one of the SBA’s definitions – 500 or fewer employees – then 99 percent of all companies in Hawaii are…

How Family Businesses Survive and Thrive

As Baby Boomers retire, thousands of local family businesses are facing difficult transitions to the next generation. A groundbreaking local survey identifies challenges and solutions. Here’s how family businesses can survive and thrive. There’s a perfect storm ahead, and most of Hawaii’s family businesses are not prepared. That’s one conclusion from a groundbreaking survey of owners at about 140 family-owned…

Manage to the Max

My last column explained why small businesses are so crucial to Hawaii and that they must be nurtured for the overall economy to grow. This column offers a simple but effective strategy to manage your business to maximum capacity. First, you must appreciate that to improve, you need to have a benchmark to measure performance. We use such benchmarks and…

Ask the Expert: Health Insurance for Employees

Q: I’m thinking about cutting my employees’ health benefits to save money. What potential downsides should I consider? A: There’s no doubt healthcare costs are a concern for employers and employees alike. However, investing in the health of your workers has a greater impact on your business than you may realize. Here are a few things to consider: RECRUITMENT AND…

Marketing Hawaii 3.0

A record-setting 8.9 million visitors came to Hawaii in 2016. Most were drawn by the Islands’ decades-old persona of sun, sand, surf and aloha, but some were lured by the artful use of creative technology: • A photo on the Instagram account of a Japanese model in which she is seen surfing under a rainbow at Waikiki Beach; • A…

Can You Keep a Secret?

Ever wonder what customers really think of your business, and what sort of service they receive when you’re not around? Mystery shopping firm Insight Twenty20 can tell you. “Michelle Chun and her team understand the hospitality industry and what keeps guests coming back,” says Turtle Bay Resort manager Brian Hunnings, a client for more than five years. “She and her…

Death Is His Life’s Work

NAME: Charles Clark AGE: 57 JOB: Mortician, Oahu Mortuary START: When he was about 17, Clark attended a friend’s funeral service at Borthwick Mortuary. “The funeral director and I became friendly and chatted, and when I returned to the funeral home the next day, he asked if I was interested in working there. “I started outside working on the grounds,…

aio Media and Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association Launch Awards Program Honoring Top Achievers in the Industry

“The future of Hawai‘i's economy depends on the continued collaborations between local businesses and the lasting relationships we build with each other..."

“The future of Hawai‘i’s economy depends on the continued collaborations between local businesses and the lasting relationships we build with each other…”

Rent Control: Step Right Up!

Move into this 917-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in a lovely, remodeled historical building. Washer/dryer, balcony, air conditioning all included for $875 a month. Just one problem, Island dwellers. It’s in Cleveland. For a similar cozy vibe in Honolulu, you’ll pay at least $2,649, according to Expatisan’s cost-of-living index. Last year, 10,000 more people left Hawaii for the Mainland than moved in,…

Embrace Conflict

People in Hawaii often try to avoid conflict, but four local leaders explain how well-managed conflict is essential to an organization and its employees. They provide a nine-part road map for navigating conflict at your workplace. DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS This is an edited transcript of a dynamic workshop conversation held at the 2016 Hawaii Business Leadership Conference. The participants were: Russell…

Talk Story: Sig Zane

Sig Zane is an icon of aloha wear. His mastery of hand-cutting rubylith is the signature of the SZD aesthetic and the sharp lines of his artwork make Hawaiian flora and fauna come to life like no other company. The flagship Sig Zane Designs store in Hilo is a must-visit whenever on Hawaii Island, especially during Merrie Monarch. His latest…

Leadership Conference 2017 Information

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE Join Hawaii Business magazine for the largest professional development conference in Hawaii. The conference aims to help build smart, confident and authentic leaders through a full-day of skill-building workshops, speakers and networking. The State’s most prominent leaders come together to share insights and experiences with the next generation of the leaders. 2016 Recap AGENDA REGISTRATION & NETWORKING…

Hawaii Business Wins 8 National Awards and 14 State Awards

UPDATED 7/10/2017 ADDED 14 STATE AWARDS FROM THE 2017 SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS (SPJ) Hawaii Business is the state’s best business publication and we just won eight national awards and 14 statewide awards to prove it. The prizes were for work we published in 2016. In a national competition organized by the Alliance of Area Business Publications, Hawaii Business often…

Talk Story: David Uchiyama

In April 2016, Uchiyama took over at Island Air after it was sold by billionaire Larry Ellison to local investors. Uchiyama has a long track record in the local visitor industry, including serving as VP for brand management at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Q: You have been quickly expanding the airline’s service, capabilities and workforce. Will this expansion continue? A:…