Parting Shot: Midcentury Rejuvenator
John Reyno re-weaves the seat using Danish paper cord on a 40-year-old Niels Møller dining chair, one of eight belonging to a client.
Author: Jeff Hawe
Black Book 2020: 300 Executives to Know
Welcome to the Black Book: a look at the personal and professional journeys of Hawai‘i’s top business executives, nonprofit decision-makers and community leaders.
Hawai‘i’s Most Charitable Companies 2020
The annual overview shows local philanthropy remained strong in 2019 – an important foundation for local charities considering the difficult challenges they face this year.
Talk Story: John Leong, CEO of Kupu and Pono Pacific and an Obama Foundation Fellow
Leong leads two organizations: Pono Pacific, a company that helps manage natural resources for landowners and conservation managers, with a focus on sustainability; and Kupu, a youth-empowerment nonprofit with conservation, culinary and other programs. He believes Hawai‘i is an ideal…
Talk Story: Camille Nelson, Dean, UH Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law
Before taking the helm at the Richardson School of Law in August, Nelson was the dean for the law schools at American University in Washington, D.C., and Suffolk University in Boston. Her scholarship includes a focus on race theory and…
Hawai‘i’s Most Profitable Companies 2020
A brief look back at the good old days of 2019. This report on profits provides a glimpse back to 2019, the year that capped a decade of economic growth in Hawai‘i.
Hawaiʻi’s Top 250 Companies 2020
Ranking Hawai‘i’s Biggest Companies and Nonprofits Highlights from the Top 250: Big Changes in Energy, Health Care and Tech Ever wanted a time machine so you could go back in time? We’ve built one, and we call it the Top…
Insurance Shake-Up in Hawai‘i
Local expert foresees big changes in some premiums – up or down depending on companies’ situations – plus interest by businesses in newer forms of insurance COVID-19’s transformation of the economy has extended to the insurance industry and its local customers. Russell…
First Insurance’s CEO Discusses Insurance Coverage, Government Response and the Way Forward
Hawaii Business Magazine asked Jeffrey Shonka, president and CEO of First Insurance Co. of Hawaii, about insurance and broader issues in a wide-ranging interview. The conversation has been edited for length. How has the COVID-19 crisis disrupted the insurance…
Hawai‘i Coworking Spaces Adapt to COVID-19 Crisis
When their operations were derailed by COVID-19, three coworking communities pivoted so they could keep supporting their social enterprises, entrepreneurs and startups Coworking spaces are designed to foster innovation. So it is no surprise that these three collaborative communities pivoted…
Construction Startup Stays Lean as Industry Holds Steady – So Far
Construction in Hawai‘i has been affected relatively little so far by the COVID-19 crisis. Gov. David Ige’s stay-at-home order issued March 23 declared building and construction as critical trades that can continue operations. Monday’s report from the UH economists at…
Some Hawai‘i Startups Scramble to Survive, Others Enjoy New Opportunities
Hawai‘i startups are weathering the COVID-19 storm in different ways: Some are trying to survive by adapting and cutting cost, while others are experiencing an increase in demand. “Conserve capital and extend your runway,” advises Chenoa Farnsworth, a managing partner…
6 Tips for Effective Social Media Marketing
Smart strategy and effective execution in social media are the difference between results and Just about every business uses social media for marketing. But how you use social media makes all the difference. “Every business should be marketing via social…
20 for the Next 20: Ka‘iu Kimura, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
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…
20 for the Next 20: Evan Killips, City Mill
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…
Sustainability Called a Key New Trend in Investing
It was also a major theme at the East Meets West conference, which brought together investors, entrepreneurs and professionals from around the Pacific Venture capital’s investments in startups will focus more on sustainability in the coming decade, according to a…
The U.H. Brain Lab Watched Me Think
he lab’s studies into the human mind open many possibilities, including helping paralyzed people to speak and improving traffic safety There were 68 wires protruding from the cap on my head, which allowed a whole team of researchers to look…
Aloha Got Soul
Record label delivers new and old music from outside Hawai‘i’s mainstream oger Bong doesn’t want people to have a narrow idea of Hawai‘i. That’s one reason he shares unique and interesting music from Hawai‘i’s past and present with audiences worldwide.…
Great Ideas for Small Local Stores
“The way people buy things has been changing over the last decade, but I feel like people haven’t changed. They still want to have that connection, they still want that personal experience,” says Dylan Butterbaugh, founder and owner of Manoa…
Exploring the Other Final Frontier
The Hawai‘i Undersea Research Laboratory is home to two of the world’s eight manned deep diving research submersibles. Operations director Terry Kerby (pictured) says that once a year, HURL’s two subs, Pisces IV and Pisces V, are loaded on an…
Natural Environment: Saving an Essential Part of Hawaiʻi
Here are five stories on how we can prepare for the present and the future, and what individuals, businesses, nonprofits and governments are doing to protect our natural environment.
Student Invention That Aims to Prevent Stillborn Births Wins Entrepreneur Competition
Nathan Neeley is still a student at Brigham Young University Hawaii but he’s already developed a device that can alert a pregnant woman if something is wrong with her baby. He won first place pitching his company, Rubi, Nov. 8th…
Restaurant Leaders Describe Industry Trends, Jobs and Growth
They share the challenges of running successful restaurants during a Hawaii Business SmallBiz Academy event “West Oahu has been a great community for us,” says Jason Higa, CEO of FCH Enterprises, the company that owns Zippy’s Restaurants and several other…
Hawaiʻi’s Most Charitable Companies 2018
2017 was another good year for philanthropy in Hawaiʻi. The annual overview of philanthropy shows record giving by organizations in the Islands.
Hawaii’s Most Profitable Companies: Hawaiian Airlines is No.1
Hawaiian Airlines is the most profitable company in Hawaii after two straight years as No. 2 on our annual ranking. Its profit in 2017 was $364 million. Matson takes over second place this year on the Most Profitable Companies list…
Many Hawaii Companies Have Not Fully Protected their Local Brand Names
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office lists 1,645 trademarked businesses with Hawaii, Hawaiian or Aloha in the name. Of those, only 60 percent or 983 are based in the Islands. The rest are based on the Mainland or Alaska. Compare…
High Seas Entrepreneur
Local sailor charts a unique course in sailing’s toughest challenge – a dangerous round-the-world race. Mark Towill gripped the helm of the 65-foot Volvo Ocean Racing boat in the inky blackness of an Antarctic Ocean night, pushing the boat to…
Ahead of Her Time
Among her many achievements, Liliuokalani helped create a bank for women Queen Liliuokalani is well known as a courageous advocate for Hawaiians. Less known are some of her efforts to improve the lives of women and children when she was…
Aloha Poke Case Raises Issue for All Hawaii Businesses: Protecting Your Brand Name
Businesses in Hawaii should trademark their names on a federal level, two local lawyers say. “If Hawaii businesses want to protect the word “Aloha” in connection with their particular products, they need to register it,” says patent attorney and Cades…
Proving Ground for Young Talent
Students compete to demonstrate their entrepreneurial chops Rose Wong’s first job was at 14 working as a cashier and sushi roller for Kozo Sushi. Three years and seven jobs later, tired of minimum wage, she launched Kolohe Ocean Gems while…
East Meets West Second Day Delivers Info Packed Panel Talks
Day two of the East Meets West Conference was held appropriately at the East-West Center in Manoa, Friday,…
Paperwork Clogged Up Local Liquor Sales
But a simple form helped resolve the problem and got drinks flowing again. A chronic bottleneck at local IRS offices forced as many as two dozen small bars, restaurants and storefronts in Hawaii to temporarily halt liquor sales each summer,…
Student Entrepreneurs Compete In State Qualifiers: Kolohe Ocean Gems Owner Advances to Nationals
Rose Wong started her jewelry business while a junior at Kaiser High and now that she’s in college, she’s launching a line of fine jewelry that she hopes will become “the next Cartier.” Wong won the Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards…
Entrepreneurs and Investors to Converge in Honolulu
East Meets West Conference: Interview with Blue Startups Managing Partner Chenoa Farnsworth The annual East Meets West Conference brings together tech industry entrepreneurs and investors from markets in Asia, the U.S. Mainland and Hawaii. The event will take place on…
Surf Competition Pumps Millions into Oahu Economy
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing draws global attention while boosting local businesses John John Florence won his second surfing world title Dec. 18 at the Billabong Pipe Masters on Oahu’s North Shore. “I’m so happy to have been surfing here…
A Hawai‘i Quirk: You Own the Home But Not the Land
About 1 in 8 condos for sale on O‘ahu are leasehold. Many, including some prestigious properties, are declining in value as the end of their land leases near.
Hawai‘i’s Social Media Stars
Six influencers describe how they gain followings and make money. It’s riches for a few and much harder for the rest.
