How are you coping amid the COVID-19 crisis? We have gone 100% remote. Did your business continuity plan work or were there surprises? Our business continuity plan worked pretty well – very few surprises. We felt good about the processes we implemented. Have you found silver linings in these difficult times? Maybe we will all rediscover what matters in life,…
Hawai‘i startups are weathering the COVID-19 storm in different ways: Some are trying to survive by adapting and cutting cost, while others are experiencing an increase in demand. “Conserve capital and extend your runway,” advises Chenoa Farnsworth, a managing partner at Blue Startups, a Honolulu accelerator. When the economy slows, many funding sources dry up and startups need to stretch…
How are you coping amid the COVID-19 crisis? As a vital health care provider on the Windward side of O‘ahu, Adventist Health Castle prepares for all types of emergencies. We are now in operational mode with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our teams are well-prepared and here to meet the needs of our Windward communities. We are: Limiting visitor access to ensure…
Did your business continuity plan work or were there surprises? While it is difficult to imagine executing any Business Continuity Plan to perfection under these unprecedented circumstances, I’m pleased to say that our implementation has gone quite smoothly. We made the call to move our staff to remote work on March 15 and have had 90% of our staff working…
How are you coping amid COVID-19 crisis? G70 has transitioned to a work-from-home platform for 100% of our architectural, interior design, planning and engineering staff. All meetings have migrated to a teleconferencing format. Our physical office is closed except for deliveries. We have cancelled or postponed all travel. Did your business continuity plan work or were there surprises? Two years ago,…
The COVID-19 pandemic and looming recession present unprecedented challenges for all businesses. Here is what Hawai‘i CEOs should do immediately to ensure their firms’ survival: 1. No. 1 Priority is Your Employees Direct your managers to communicate HR-approved health and safety guidelines to all employees and recommend links to trusted websites, such as the state Department of Health, Centers…
“Coping with COVID-19” is a collection of new articles and interviews from Hawaii Business Magazine updated every weekday and designed to help local businesses and nonprofits during these difficult times. Included are insights from the leaders of some of Hawai‘i’s most successful companies. Insurance Shake-Up in Hawai‘i Virtual Interview on COVID-19: Bob Lietzke, VP, Booz Allen Hamilton…
Working from home is suddenly widespread in Hawai‘i as employers mitigate the spread of COVID-19. “Companies should be allowing temporary remote work arrangements because they care about the health and safety of their employees,” writes Derek Kanehira, VP and director of HR services at the nonprofit Hawaii Employers Council, in an email. “The actions or inactions employers take today will…
How are you coping amid the COVID-19 crisis? At HMSA, we immediately recognized that our challenge as a health organization would be to balance service to our members, social responsibility to the community and care for our employees. We formed a COVID-19 task force with a direct reporting line to me, as president and CEO, that had management representation from…
How are you coping amid the COVID-19 crisis? This is a really big challenge. Having been through the Great Recession and dotcom bust, this is 10 times worse because of the speed and completeness of the economy shutdown. Our business is focused on being there for all of our Hawai‘i clients, even the ones shutting down. We want to provide…
How are you coping amid the COVID-19 crisis? We ensured that our employees and visitors were safe by quickly instituting new processes. Then we focused on ensuring the financial health of our company going into a zero to no revenue environment. Now we are focused in helping others in the community as best we can. Did your business continuity plan…
Marlene Hertz, right, a volunteer personal shopper with the YWCA O‘ahu’s Dress for Success program, works with Marisa Alderman during a “suiting.” The program provides women with professional outfits from community donated clothing, says Kehaulani Coleman, director of economic advancement programs for the YWCA O‘ahu. They get one outfit for interviews and two more when they land a job. For…
Six local leaders in health care discuss coronavirus, health disparities, tomorrow’s doctors and nurses, and more at Hawaii Business Magazine CHANGE event. Read the event recap. var videoPlayer = new Vimeo.Player(‘vimeo-player1’); videoPlayer.on(‘play’, function() ); Categories: Video
Hawaii Business Magazine’s “Careerist” columnist also offers bonus tips for Hawai‘i’s working parents Amid the COVID-19 crisis, millions of Americans are joining the 5% of the workforce that’s already working from home. On the silver-lining side, it’s an opportunity for many companies to move past their fears of having a remote workforce, and for the U.S. overall to figure out…
These farmers want the Kona name to be reserved only for 100% Kona coffee.
Name: Thomas R. Birchard Jr. Age: 50 Job: Senior forecaster, National Weather Service Honolulu/Central Pacific Hurricane Center Beginnings: After high school in the New Jersey/New York area, Birchard joined his mother on Kaua‘i. “I worked as a crew member for both Captain Zodiac and Na Pali Adventures on the north shore of Kaua‘i before attending UH Mānoa,” Birchard recalls. “The…
You can schedule an appointment to donate blood by calling (808) 848-4770 or going to bloodbanktough.org Hawai‘i’s blood supply is dropping fast as concern over the spread of COVID-19 has led to the cancellation of nearly 30 blood drives that had been scheduled through May. Kim-Anh Nguyen, president and CEO of Blood Bank of Hawaii, says those cancellations represent about…
The federal Small Business Reorganization Act makes bankruptcy a more realistic option for small companies in Hawai‘i The Small Business Reorganization Act has made filing for Chapter 11 protection a lot easier for many businesses. The SBRA was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in August 2019 and took effect Feb. 19. It was designed…
Why you need to take your brand identity seriously A business is like a book. It’s judged by its cover. These judgments are now being made in split seconds as consumers constantly scroll online, pushing past the estimated 5,000 ads a day fighting for their eyeballs, while your competitors use tools to precisely target the customers your business needs to…
Hawaiian Telcom’s first female leader takes the helm with the 136-year old company at a crossroads. In Part I of this extended Talk Story, she talks about her personal journey as part of an immigrant family from South Korea striving for the American dream. In Part II, she talks about how Hawaiian Telcom’s investments in a local and trans-Pacific fiber-cable…
When the goals keep changing, it’s hard to know where to focus efforts. Here are some possible solutions. Q: My boss has shifting priorities. One week we’re chasing one goal; the next week, another goal entirely. Or she’ll give me instructions on how to do a task, then email me later with totally different details – or even overhaul the…
From left: Steve PetranikThursday, December 3, 2020, 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Take a good healthcare system and make it better. Hawaii ranks among the best states in the nation for health care, but persistent problems remain. Hear from our speakers about key developments in: Breaking down ethnic health care disparities Treating mental illness, especially among the young Fighting back…
From left: Steve PetranikSix local leaders in health care discuss coronavirus, health disparities, tomorrow’s doctors and nurses, and more at Hawaii Business Magazine CHANGE event “Whenever you look at an emergency, the more we collaborate, the more we communicate, the more we’re going to figure out what’s the best thing to do and how to do it,” said Jill Hoggard…
Named Salesperson of the Year, the CEO of the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association discusses collaboration, diversification in tourism, building tomorrow’s workforce and much more. Mufi Hannemann was named Salesperson of the Year by the Honolulu Chapter of Sales and Marketing Executives. Hawaii Business Magazine Publisher Cheryl Oncea asked Hannemann about responsible tourism, the future of the industry and what…