Archives: December 2017

Hawaii Business magazine’s Top 10 Stories of 2017

It’s been a banner year for Hawaii Business magazine. From winning eight national awards and 14 State Awards to hosting the largest Wahine Forum in its 10-year history, there were numerous reasons for us to count our blessings in 2017. We are honored to moderate the conversation between the established and emerging business leaders in Hawaii, and we are committed…

Make Next Year Better

Now is the time to start planning so next year is better than this one. Start by reflecting on the current year and identifying what worked well and what didn’t. Were the challenges hiring good staff or training them? Making sales goals or controlling costs? Identify what you want to do better and include solutions in the planning process. In…

5 Things to Know about Leading Through Change

Duane Kurisu (left)Change is inevitable in business. So organizations need to be thinking about and anticipating change, said Don Horner, former chairman and CEO of First Hawaiian Bank. He suggested that business leaders reevaluate their company visions at least once a year: “You don’t sit there and say, ‘I’m doing great, so I’m not going to make changes.’ You look…

CEO of the Year: Bob Harrison

The honor recognizes his leadership of First Hawaiian Bank, how he guided the company’s initial public offering of stock and his community service Calm and Steady The sweat gathers on Bob Harrison’s face as he digs up soil with a pickax and then hauls a full wheelbarrow at Waialae Elementary Public Charter School. But unless you recognized him, you’d think…

Does the Rise in Women Leaders Mean Mission Accomplished?

From 3% to 22% That’s a big rise in the number of female leaders. Does it mean a work in early progress or mission accomplished? Inside this issue is the 20th anniversary edition of Hawaii Business’ Black Book, a who’s who of leaders at Hawaii’s biggest businesses and nonprofits. A total of 318 CEOs, presidents, executive directors and other leaders…

Surf Competition Pumps Millions into Oahu Economy

evetns site at Billabong Pipe Master 16Vans Triple Crown of Surfing draws global attention while boosting local businesses John John Florence won his second surfing world title Dec. 18 at the Billabong Pipe Masters on Oahu’s North Shore. “I’m so happy to have been surfing here at home and to have won the title in front of my family and…

Pruning Pot Plants

Time: Monday, 2:02 p.m. Location: Noa Botanicals Photographer:  Emma Prince-Wilson Workers wearing gloves, face masks and other protective equipment remove the large fan leaves of marijuana plants. Noa Botanicals says its sterile environment ensures a clean medicinal product. The leaves, taken here from a hybrid cannabis strain known as Arts OG, are removed as part of the drying process. Noa produces eight…

Kohala Restaurants Offer Food Fit For A King

Find big flavors on the Big Island at these best places to eat in North Kohala. North Kohala has a rich history as the birthplace of Kamehameha the Great and as a central hub during the plantation days. Still, many visitors and locals hesitate to make the drive to the small town at the northern tip of the Big Island….

Increasing the Value of Your Business

You have a business that is doing well and paying the bills. Maybe it has put one or two children through college. The kids are working, maybe on the Mainland, and not interested in taking over the family business. Now what? Best to think about this situation several years before you need to make any decisions. Some call it an…

Best Results Ever – Again!

Record results in this spring’s BOSS survey are exceeded in the latest survey of 402 local business leaders BOSS Performance Index In each survey, the BOSS Performance Index is based on about 400 companies’ revenue, staffing and profit over the past year. The better the aggregate results, the higher the index. The index hit a record high this spring, then…

5 Steps to a Better Night’s Sleep

Nearly half of Hawaii residents don’t get the recommended seven or more hours of sleep per night. Dr. Shanon Makekau from the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Sleep Lab shares her tips for a restful night. 1. Prioritize sleep Getting enough sleep doesn’t happen on its own. Catching up on work, cleaning and family commitments often take precedence. Your first step to…

What Small Business Owners Can Learn from the Uber Fiasco

The fall of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick offers valuable lessons for small business owners. From my perspective, Kalanick did not understand or appreciate his limitations and the ramifications of his actions. Both are common management failures. As the owner of a small business, you need to know your limitations. But knowing what you don’t know can be challenging. And sometimes…

My Job: Air Traffic Controller

Name: Alika Parish Age: 28 Job: Air Traffic Control Specialist for Federal Aviation Administration at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Start: Alika Parish was born and raised in Ewa Beach. He joined the Hawaii Air National Guard after graduating from Campbell High School in 2006. “I joined the Guard specifically to be an air traffic controller. I loved airplanes, and my original goal…

Talk Story: Andrew Rosen, CEO of Hawaii State FCU

Hawaii State FCU is on a roll: It celebrated its 80th anniversary this year with a record of $820 million-plus in loans and 99,000 members. But Rosen cannot afford to let his guard down in a finance industry dealing with broad regulations, security breaches and consolidation – the number of credit unions in Hawaii has fallen from a peak of…

Innovative Ways to Build Teams at Work

One way companies build great corporate cultures is with team building exercises that get people out of the office and out of their comfort zones. That can include walking on ropes 35 feet above the ground or throwing a coconut bocce ball accurately with your eyes covered. The best companies to work for don’t necessarily pay the most or have the…

Reversing Hawaii’s Brain Drain

Five steps local leaders are taking right now to persuade bright young kamaaina to stay home or come back Tony Marzi is the kind of kamaaina that Hawaii’s business and community leaders hope will come home. The 32-year-old grew up on Hawaii Island, graduated in computer science from UH Hilo, founded a coworking space called Hawaii TechWorks, once ran for…

Serving Hawaii’s Only Urban Homestead

“Papakolea is the only Hawaiian homestead region located in an urban center,” says Lilia Kapuniai, executive director of the Papakolea Community Development Corp. “Because of that, our hands are not in the dirt every day. Our children’s priorities may not be in the Hawaiian language or culture. “That’s why I thought it was important to have a summer program connecting…

South Kona Store Is Durable, Like Its Fabrics

Brian Kimura sees an unfortunate trend in the sewing industry. “With all the discount stores coming here,” he says, “they’re bringing in so much cheap clothing. Before, it was cheaper for people to sew their own outfits for the kids. But now that it’s so cheap to buy, they just throw them away after they outgrow the clothes. “And young…