The Best of Startup Paradise 2021
Profiles of the winners and finalists of the annual Hawaii Venture Capital Association awards.
All Stories
20 for the Next 20: Nathan Saint Clare
Nathan Saint Clare Principal, AHL Nathan Saint Clare is a gifted architect with an international portfolio who prides himself on never being predictable. He thinks of design as a constantly evolving process, “a moving, living thing” that changes with every…
20 for the Next 20: Aaron Schorn
Aaron Schorn Capstone Coordinator, Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy Director, Nalukai Academy Startup Camp "Being a teacher in this world is being a jazz musician. You know your standards, you know how to perform, and then you just free form it based…
20 for the Next 20: Carissa Moore
The surfing career of Carissa Moore — four-time World Surfing League women’s champion – can be traced back to Irish dancing in her living room.
20 for the Next 20: Jessica Munoz
Jessica Munoz President and Founder, Hoʻōla Nā Pua Nurse Practitioner, US Acute Care Solutions Fifteen years ago, nursing brought Jessica Munoz from California to Hawai‘i, where she planned to do a brief stint and plenty of surfing. But her work…
20 for the Next 20: Kūhiō Lewis
Kūhiō Lewis President and CEO, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Kūhiō Lewis began navigating obstacles at a young age and found the motivation to overcome them. “Who I am is always pushing the bar, always raising the bar, always trying…
20 for the Next 20: Aki Marceau
Aki Marceau Director of Electrification of Transportation, Hawaiian Electric Co. Aki Marceau has been chipping away at the same problem throughout her career: how to provide clean, affordable and efficient transportation and living options. Born in Japan and raised on…
What's Ahead for Local Small Businesses
Hawai‘i’s two Congressmen and the state House Speaker describe what’s ahead for local small businesses.
20 for the Next 20: Vincent Kimura
Vincent Kimura Founder and CEO, Smart Yields Vincent Kimura's life has been shaped by mentors at every turn: a professor, a college internship manager, a generational farmer. Kimura was born on O‘ahu, the grandson of a Japanese sugar plantation worker,…
20 for the Next 20: Sondra Leiggi Brandon
Sondra Leiggi-Brandon Systems Director of Behavioral Health, The Queen's Medical Center "We've seen an uptick in the number of people in crisis during the pandemic," says Sondra Leiggi-Brandon, who served as systems director of behavioral health at The Queen’s Medical…
20 for the Next 20: Doug Johnstone
Doug Johnstone Hawaiʻi President The Howard Hughes Corp. Doug Johnstone joined Ward Village before the property had a name. “When I joined, we were starting to get our arms around the development opportunities that it presented,” he says. “And obviously…
20 for the Next 20: Summer Kaiawe
Summer Kaiawe Attorney and Partner, Watanabe Ing "I view an attorney as someone who can solve problems and help people and companies to find solutions,” says Summer Kaiawe. “It’s a rewarding career.” Jonathan Lai is managing partner at Watanabe Ing,…