While traditional banks operate as for-profit institutions owned by shareholders, credit unions, at their core, are nonprofits built for their members. And in Hawaiʻi, that distinction carries real weight. "Our structure is fundamentally different: We're member-owned, which means our success…
Flying got more expensive after the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran caused a huge dent in global oil shipments. Hawaiʻi travelers are rethinking vacation plans.
Since her acceptance to the newest Mana Up cohort, an African proverb has lingered in Danielle Gosiaco’s mind: If you want to get there fast, go alone. But if you want to get far, go together. She has yearned for…
When Allison "Allie" Chu and her sister Julie Chu Fieman describe how Oysters Hawaiʻi came to be, they finish each other's sentences – which makes sense, because the business runs the same way. One brings the vision, the other makes it real. Allie, a…
For Kauaʻi native Taleea Carvalho, the journey from home baker to food entrepreneur began with a daily craving. Her family loved acai bowls, but store-bought options left her dissatisfied. “We were buying Costco…
For more than a century, Yick Lung - Hawaii’s Choice has been a fixture in Hawaiʻi’s snack industry. Founded in the early 1900’s by Derek Ching’s great grandfather, after his immigration from China. Four…
At Ahualoa Family Farms on Hawaiʻi Island, owner Chad Cleveland has built more than a successful agricultural business – he has cultivated a company guided by community, sustainability, and a genuine love for…
Serving every major port with efficient and reliable interisland cargo transportation
Escalating maintenance fees, aging buildings, strict occupancy rules, and high mortgage rates are squeezing middle-income buyers out of Honolulu's condo market. Can the city build its way out?
Maui-based Island Essence general manager Charade Law keeps production local, people first, and gratitude at the center of a luxury bath and beauty brand rooted in the fragrances of Hawaiʻi.
Denny Kwock recognized an opportunity to build something local. Struck by the quality and purity of the turmeric grown here, the Oʻahu native saw potential for “taking the goodness of Hawai‘i and sharing it with the world.”
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…
Carlsmith Ball LLP partners Alicia Fung and Ian Wesley-Smith are being honored as Emerging Legal Stars.
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.
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.
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
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
The Queen's Health Systems prioritizes the recruitment and development of newly licensed nurses, supporting their professional growth and ensuring a robust nursing staff across its six hospitals and 150 health care centers and labs in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. "Supporting…
More than $122,000 in awards recognized outstanding Shidler students and strengthened ties with Hawaiʻi’s business community.
Hawaii Dental Service (HDS) is the leading not-for-profit dental benefits provider in Hawaiʻi, serving the state for over 60 years. HDS partners with over 95% of Hawaiʻi's licensed, practicing dentists and serves more than one million residents in Hawaiʻi, Guam…
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hawaii Business Magazine spotlights one of the state's most consequential leaders, Colbert Matsumoto, whose quiet, disciplined approach to leadership continues to shape institutions, mentor the next generation and redefine what influence looks like in Hawaiʻi.
A statewide initiative for disaster recovery by Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.
Related: Protecting Public Employees From Harassment, With Lessons for the Private Sector, Too Rep. Justin Woodson, chair of the House Committee on Education, spoke by phone on Friday with Hawaii Business Magazine Managing Editor Ken Wills, about two bills passed by the legislature and…
March 27, 2026
Celebrating Small Business Success! Congratulations to this year’s Best of Small Business honorees. We’re proud to recognize the work you’re doing across our communities. Small businesses like yours are the backbone of our state, creating jobs and providing essential products…
In a fast-changing world, HTS focuses on partnerships to keep clients supported and thriving.
Founder Moshe Hakemolo values building a multigenerational legacy over short-term profit.
The firm builds more than structures - it supports cultural and environmental resiliency.
From family roots to employee ownership, Pural Water has built its reputation on technical excellence, long-term partnerships and a people-first culture - quietly keeping Hawai‘i’s most essential systems running.
From apprentice to solo owner-operator, Johny Le turned hard, sometimes dirty work into a thriving business.
Rooted in a quiet patriotism, this family-owned business serves the military community - and beyond.
The couple started with a cart and, all these years later, are launching their third location on O‘ahu.
Ross of Waioli Kitchen & Bakeshop shares their community-first mission, historic roots, and how their values aligned with their trusted partner, First Hawaiian Bank.
Char's Bar Hawai‘i wasn't built on a five-year plan. It was built on trust, grit, and the values two Filipino-American women carried from the generations before them.
After nearly a decade-long campaign seeking government protections against threats stemming from workplace duties, employees may finally get state help in obtaining temporary restraining orders and other anti-harassment procedures.
Successful investing in 2026 may depend less on headlines and more on disciplined planning.
Seth Hannemann of Seven Brothers shares how his family’s humble vision became a local favorite and how First Hawaiian Bank has helped support their growth
TAP808 is reaching Hawaiʻi's youth before harmful patterns take hold, equipping teens, parents and communities with the tools to recognize abuse and build relationships rooted in respect.
Applications are open for WE by CPB Rising Tide, a 10-week program offering mentorship, education, and a community of support for women business owners in Hawaii.
Over the past 12 months, we have been strategic about how we evolve our storytelling and expand our reach, and the results have been incredibly rewarding.
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…
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.
