Employee retention is an increasing concern for employers faced with a competitive labor market. Record low unemployment means everyone is struggling to hire. Yet more than three-fourths of all employees who voluntarily leave their position could have been retained, according…
Dana Takushi Senior EVP and Manager of the Consumer Banking Group Bank of Hawaii Age 50 Dana Takushi always steps up to a challenge. “She started with the bank in our commercial area, but as I’ve experienced challenges throughout the…
Julie Yamamoto General Operations Manager, Hui Car Share Age 39 It may seem surprising for a car dealership to venture into ride-sharing, but for Julie Yamamoto, Hui Car Share seemed like a natural fit for the Servco brand. She says…
When I want to know a CEO’s biggest long-term concern, I ask: What keeps you up at night? Sometimes, my question is focused on the CEO’s own company or industry. Sometimes, my question is about Hawai‘i or our whole world.…
Nathan Peters Director of IT Field Operations Par Pacific Holdings Age 40 Nathan Peters came to Hawai‘i in 2003 to visit a friend. He never intended to stay. “Not really knowing anything about Hawai‘i, it was very cool coming to…
Mike B. Pietsch President and COO, Title Guaranty Age 41 Mike Pietsch grew up in the family real estate business and never considered any other career. He held summer jobs at the company while in high school and joined it…
Melissa Miyashiro Managing Director of Strategy and Policy Blue Planet Foundation Age 38 Before Melissa Miyashiro joined Blue Planet Foundation in 2014, she says her life and career were on a “fairly traditional track.” After graduating from law school, she…
Cayenne Pe‘a Principal and co-founder, Alaka‘i Development Age 37 West O‘ahu native Cayenne Pe‘a recalls waking at 5:30 a.m. so she could catch the school bus to Kamehameha Kapālama. “I remember when we first moved out to Makakilo, there were…
Lina Le Enterprise Director of Human Resources Y. Hata & Co. Ltd. Age 29 "My parents are boat people from Vietnam,” says Lina Le simply. After escaping that country following the war, her parents took three years to reach the…
Mark Kawika McKeague Director of Cultural Planning, G70 Age 49 Mark Kawika McKeague has been working for more than 20 years toward a vision of the Native Hawaiian experience and turning that vision into a reality. “That is my kuleana,…
Evan Killips Project Manager, City Mill Age 33 "My first job was at City Mill at the Kaimukī store,” reminisces Evan Killips. “… So what do you make a 15-year-old do to help the store? The store manager gave me…
Ka‘iu Kimura Executive Director ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center Age 41 "I think that we are in a time when there is greater awareness of the importance of Hawaiian knowledge and Hawaiian community engagement in things. And I think there is great…