Author: Catherine Toth Fox

Talk Story with Guy Kawasaki

Chief evangelist for Canva and creator of the podcast, “Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People” Born and raised in Kalihi Valley, marketing guru Guy Kawasaki went from law school dropout to working for some of the biggest names in tech: Apple, Google…

My Job: Sweet Spot

Jolanta Siwik is the regulatory and innovation manager at Hawaiian Host Job: Food scientist Experience: 15 years, two with Hawaiian Host Start: Jolanta Siwik majored in human nutrition in her native Poland, then got her master’s degree in food science…

Winemaker’s Skills Are Always Growing

Every workday is different for Brett Miller (center right wearing a black shirt), though each day usually includes at least some time in the MauiWine vineyard in Kula, on the slope of Haleakala.   Start: While majoring in biology and…

My Job: Perfumist, Deanna Rose

While at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., Deanna Rose grew skeptical of conventional body products. “I was seeking solutions to my thick Armenian hair and dry Northeastern skin that I could feel good about using, and so around my sophomore…

Buy Local

WAIMANALO – David Yarber hands out samples of his locally brewed kombucha, a popular fermented tea that’s touted for its health benefits, to a group of Japanese visitors at his Waimanalo brewery. It's obvious from their nodding heads and polite…

My Job: Cowboy

Start Galimba grew up on Oahu’s North Shore while his dad, Al, played a big role in dairy operations at Meadow Gold. He raised rabbits, birds and goats to sell. “I used to have a sign out on the highways…

They've Earned Their Stars

THE OLD ADAGE still matters in Hawaii’s top hotels: Every little thing counts. That commitment to seemingly small things – greeting you by name when you check in, smiling at you with every interaction – has kept two hotels as the…

My Job: Calligrapher

Name: Kelsey Nishi  Job: Calligrapher  Experience: One year Start: Most local fashionistas know Nishi for her jewelry line, Padma & Pickles, named after her Labradoodle and rescue cat. But a year ago, she picked up a calligraphy pen and found…

Eye-Candy Interiors

Name: Charene Davis Job: Senior designer and owner of Aloha Staged Interiors Experience: 15 years START: Davis earned degrees in interior design and journalism, but wound up getting her real estate license in…

Don’t Let Social Media Control Your Company

Jason Cohen, marketing manager for the Kona-based Hawaii Forest & Trail tour company, checks user-review sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor whenever he is notified of a new review. He also monitors the company’s Facebook page daily for comments. If…

Brazil in the Aina

Name: Sandy Tsukiyama Job: Radio show host Experience: Six years Profile:     Tsukiyama has lived an interesting life: She trained on the koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument; worked as a tour guide for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking visitors to Oahu;…

The Modern Version of the Advice Column

Problem: You need immediate advice, but don’t feel comfortable revealing too much about yourself, so Facebook is out of the question. “Facebook is the sanitized version of our life,” says Nicole Randall, 36, above right,  who has spent the last…

Getting At-Risk Kids on Track

Name: Malia Alo Job: Program coordinator at Hale Kipa Experience: 2½ years Education: BA in sociology and criminal justice from UH West Oahu. Her start:   Alo was a student at Campbell High School when she realized she wanted to help…

3D Innovator

Hawaii Kai’s Remington Scott is a global pioneer in making video-game and movie creations come to life Remington Scott understands the unpredictably of life. Growing up in New York in the pre-Internet era, Scott thought he was going to be…

Pro Bono Architects Help Nonprofits Thrive

Palama Settlement has served low-income and immigrant families in Kalihi and Palama for more than a century, but the facilities have deteriorated over the years and some can no longer be used. “We’re land rich but asset poor,” says Wendy…

She Shares Her Love of Ballet

Name: Vivienne Lim Job: Owner and artistic director, Royal Academy of Ballet Experience: Three decades in ballet Start: Born in Malaysia, Lim was just 3 when her parents enrolled her in a ballet program certified by the esteemed Royal Academy…

Stunts? “Sounds like fun!”

Name: Katie Wright Pere Job: Stuntwoman Experience: 14 years Start:  While Pere attended Florida State University, she trained two to three hours a day, six days a week, as a competitive swimmer. She also rode Jet Skis and water skied.…

Talk Story with Pohai Ryan

Executive Director, Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association Ryan brings wide experience to her role, from managing an information office in Kailua to serving as a state senator. This Kamehameha Schools alumna plans to focus on culture and authenticity during her tenure,…

Too Old for Coaching? Think Again

To Donalyn Dela Cruz, coaches were people who led basketball practice and volleyball clinics – not shape executives into leaders. But when she entered the prestigious Omidyar Fellows program in 2012, she was paired with a professional coach who helped her…