In 2011, an afterschool program in Waimea on Hawaiʻi island set out to teach children how to tend to a garden and grow their own food. Mālie Sarsona, co-founder of Waimea Herb Co., recalls the processed snacks the kids used…
Based on Maui, Vaui Social Liquids sells sparkling kava tea in three tropical flavors: mango punch, passion orange guava and pineapple lemonade. The star ingredient, kava, is derived from a root native to the South Pacific that has been consumed…
On Hawaiʻi Island, a longtime local favorite is preparing for its next chapter of growth. Founded in Hilo in 1950, Maebo Noodle Factory has been producing fresh noodles and its iconic “One-Ton Chips” for generations, becoming a staple in Hawaiʻi…
Writing down important dates to remember and checking off items on a to-do list are excellent ways to keep your professional and personal life organized, but these good habits can feel like a chore when you are working with plain, uninspiring paper.
The islands have long exported talent – young entrepreneurs who leave for San Francisco, New York or Seattle in search of capital, mentorship and scale. Meli James and Brittany Heyd decided to reverse that trend. In founding Mana Up, they…
From the hidden costs of condo ownership to the booming Pokémon card market and Waipahu High School rewriting what's possible for its students, this issue explores what it really means to invest in Hawai‘i.
Social workers face overwhelming caseloads, low pay and long workdays. But they know their work is essential to local people and their families. Here, four of them explain why they've kept going for so many years.
Ransomware, email compromises and phishing scams are hurting businesses across the Islands. Learn about the most recent attacks and get local cybersecurity experts’ advice to avoid becoming the next victim.
At tables across O‘ahu and around the state, women are quietly building something more than mahjong hands — they’re building networks, businesses and above all, camaraderie.
This year’s award for best regional business magazine comes after we won the same prize for our work published in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024
Milan Gross is the manager of application support at Hawaii Dental Service (HDS), where he oversees the daily operations of application systems and leads the business systems analyst team. He partners with business units to guide application strategy, enhance workflows, and…
Jay Chun is the director of information technology at Hawaii Dental Service (HDS), where he provides leadership and strategic direction for the organization’s IT operations, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation initiatives. He oversees enterprise technology strategy, ensures regulatory compliance, and…
Dr. Fleming is an Emergency Medicine specialist, with more than 20 years of medical practice experience, including ongoing roles in Kuakini’s emergency and urgent care services. As Vice President, Medical Services and Chief Medical Officer, he’ll provide executive leadership for medical…
Cades Schutte LLP welcomes David M. Nguyen as an Associate in the Litigation Department. Before joining the firm, David served four years on active duty in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in…
Cades Schutte is proud to announce our new partner Darene K. Matsuoka effective January 1, 2026. Darene is a member of Cades Schutte’s Litigation Department. Her practice focuses on complex real estate, land use, and water resources disputes across Hawaiʻi.…
Hawaii Business Magazine invites you to recognize the companies making a difference across the islands
Employee responses in the 2026 Best Places to Work Survey show what matters most in the workplace.
Hawaii Business Magazine’s annual survey of Hawai‘i's Best Places to Work shows top companies deliver great benefits and best practices to keep workers engaged, happy and productive. But some employees still say they can’t afford to live here.
Hawai‘i companies and nonprofits shattered giving records this year, donating over $349 million to state charities, nearly $50 million more than last year, while employees volunteered 90,000+ hours to support communities still recovering from the Maui wildfires and other critical needs.
Meet eight attorneys who are redefining excellence early in their careers
Hawai‘i Business Magazine identified the leading real estate companies and invited them to submit their Top Performers. This section profiles many of these Top Performers in real estate. Consider these agents and companies when preparing to make your next real estate transaction.
Carlsmith Ball LLP partners Alicia Fung and Ian Wesley-Smith are being honored as Emerging Legal Stars.
KoAloha Ukulele CEO Alan Okami shares how their family business have grown through small business challenges with the longstanding support from First Hawaiian Bank.
Hawaii's only print-to-frame manufacturer is celebrating 40 years with new services, B2B programs, and anniversary offers worth knowing about.
Hawaii’s voted #1 flooring store brings big-brand selection, local know-how, and free in-home estimates to every Oʻahu homeowner.
Join educators, business leaders, and community members July 21–22 at Mid-Pacific Institute to explore AI in business, community and education.
Local Health System Receives Prestigious Workplace Engagement Award
As Parting Shot leaves print, the beloved photo feature finds new life on our digital platforms.
Y. Hata & Co. is a locally owned and operated company that uses trucks and barges to transport food, ingredients, supplies and other necessities from their warehouses to businesses statewide.
Breadshop, located in Kaimukī, isn't your typical bakery. Founder and owner Chris Sy says from its inception, he wanted Breadshop to be "an exploration of bread products" and "make a difference in what was available here."
A vintage streetwear shop born from pop-ups, Harbors Vintage now has two locations and a loyal following. Owner Arik Ma saw a gap, and filled it.
At his woodworking shop in Hālawa, Dae Son turns local hardwoods into custom furniture.
Brendan and Jill Barry’s Bead It! is stocked with jewelry-making materials and offers classes in soldering, drilling and other techniques.
With training and support from Lanakila Pacific, Eugene Lene went from job fair attendee to groundskeeping leader at Tripler Army Medical Center and a finalist for a national award honoring federal workers with disabilities.
Christine and Sam Heidama turned a fiber arts hobby into a full-on llama and alpaca experience on the slopes of Haleakalā. The animals are stealing hearts at weddings, hikes, and everything in between.
There are hundreds of Veterinarians in Hawai‘i but only a relative few specialize in large animals.
Amy Benson founded Afro Aloha as a multifaceted cultural hub for Black people in Hawaiʻi – sharing their stories and helping them connect. "Blackness is expansive, especially here in Hawaiʻi," she says. "A lot of people are bicultural and they're…
After 15 years at Bank of Hawaiʻi, Mike Miyahira launched Business Strategies to help family-owned companies tackle their toughest challenges, from succession planning to deciding who gets ownership stakes.
Name: Nick Clemons Job: Chief of Interpretation, Education and Volunteers, and Public Information Officer at Haleakalā National Park Haleakalā National Park's world-famous views, hikes and 25,000 acres of wilderness draw as many as a million visitors a year, and the…
Rules and policies can leave parents broke and jobless, or push them back to work long before they or their infants are ready. Can the system be fixed?
While the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and ali‘i trusts collect land rents from 18 hotels, some Hawaiian groups are aiming for ownership.
Here’s how three Title I schools are making improvements, including expanded assessments, tutoring, and after-school and summer learning.
The governor’s power to fill vacant seats in the state Legislature has been used at least 82 times. Some appointees then launched big political careers.
An expert explains how to reverse the damage from the state’s 83,000 cesspools, including using treated wastewater for irrigation and landscaping.
Globally, many popular destinations are experiencing a backlash against tourism. Here are multiple perspectives on the message that Hawai‘i should send to potential visitors.
1969 In 1969, Bill Guss opened Labor Services Inc. to provide a flexible, on-demand workforce to O‘ahu warehouses, trucking companies, contractors, and naval shipyards. From his office across the street from Waikīkī Beach, he would raise a blue flag to…
Shipping companies are start of operations at the new Kapalama Container Terminal beginning in the fall, slow revenue growth, probable rate hikes, and more sustainable shipping practices. Although the numbers fluctuate somewhat month…
When customers trust your business, they choose you – and they keep coming back. For over a century, BBB has helped businesses build credibility and stand out with confidence. Hawai‘i’s most successful companies prove that earning customers’ trust is the key to lasting success.
