Hawaii Entrepreneur Awards 2026
25 years of honoring outstanding local startups and innovation.
Author: Jennifer Ablan
Readers pick The Local General Store for People’s Choice Award, Hawaii Entrepreneurs Award
Both born and raised in Honolulu, Harley and Jason took different paths before returning to food. Harley began in the sciences before discovering a passion for pastry in San Francisco, where she trained in top bakeries and developed her signature…
HB20: Erin Uehara, Choco Le‘a
A chocolate entrepreneur, author, and decade-long Salvation Army volunteer, Erin Uehara turned her business into a relief vehicle after the Maui wildfires.
Meli James Is Rewriting the Rules for Hawai‘i’s Entrepreneurs
As co-founder of Mana Up and president of the Hawai‘i Venture Capital Association, Meli James has spent a decade proving that building a world-class company doesn't mean leaving the Islands behind.
HB20: Su Lazo, City and County of Honolulu
Trading a Big Four accounting career for community impact, Su Lazo now builds career pathways that keep local youth rooted in Hawai‘i.
HB20: Daniel Moats, AHL Architecture
Starting as a drafter with no traditional advantages, Daniel Moats worked his way up to shaping Honolulu's skyline one landmark project at a time.
HB20: Trung Lam, Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation
A former bakery owner turned tech economy builder, Trung Lam is positioning Hawai‘i's ocean and space industries as its next competitive advantage.
HB20: Zack Hernandez, AEP Hawaii
After recruiting on Wall Street and in Seattle, Zack Hernandez came home to build the tech talent pipeline Hawai‘i has always needed.
HB20: Elaine Gascon, Atlas Insurance Agency
A first-generation college graduate who broke into a male-dominated field, Elaine Gascon now oversees condo policies topping $200 million in replacement value.
HB20: Chris Fong, Tradewind Capital
Bridging mainland experience with local purpose, Chris Fong focuses on affordable housing development for the aunties, uncles, and families of Hawai‘i.
Hawai‘i’s Water Crisis: How Graywater Could Buy the Islands Time
Hawaii Business Magazine and Hawai‘i Community Journal are launching a year-long series exploring the state’s water challenges. This first story examines how water scarcity is rattling the islands’ economy, environment and communities, and why graywater reuse could be a crucial part of the solution.
HB20: Lance Askildson, Chaminade University of Honolulu
By asking what the community needs first, Lance Askildson has launched five first-to-market doctoral programs and chairs the Pacific's first UN training center.
Power, Character and the 20 People Shaping Hawai‘i’s Future
Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Ablan reflects on what it meant to select this year's HB20 honorees and why the most meaningful kind of leadership in Hawai‘i rarely makes headlines.
EXCLUSIVE: Over 50 High-Profile Hawaiʻi Companies Push for Affordable Energy with LNG
More than 50 of Hawaiʻi’s leading organizations have called for immediate action to lower energy costs by replacing petroleum with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The Coalition for Hawaiʻi’s Energy Future brings together Native Hawaiian leaders, healthcare providers, agricultural groups, tourism…
Why Hawai‘i’s Cannabis Industry Can No Longer Remain in the Gray
In Colorado, one of the earliest adopters, the state projected almost $200 million in cannibas tax and fee revenue during 2025, much of it earmarked for education, infrastructure and public health initiatives.
Hawai‘i’s Economic Outlook 2026
Construction is expected to be strong, driven in part by large infrastructure projects, but tourism is slipping and the safety net fraying.
EXCLUSIVE: Chris Dods Tapped as President of Webco Hawaii
Chris Dods, former Chief Operating Officer of First Hawaiian Bank, has been tapped as President of Webco Hawaii, marking a significant milestone in the company’s generational transition and long-term modernization strategy. Chris brings nearly two decades of senior leadership experience…
Exclusive Interview with Hawaii Business Magazine’s CEO of the Year: Ann Teranishi of American Savings Bank
Teranishi helped steer American Savings Bank through the COVID-19 crisis and its landmark 2024 transition from Hawaiian Electric Industries to an independent, investor-owned bank.
Ann Teranishi at the Helm of American Savings Bank’s Most Pivotal Era
Hawaii Business Magazineʻs CEO of the Year: From pandemic resilience to independence, Teranishi played a central role in shaping American Savings Bank’s most transformative era.
Kim Scott Brings Radical Candor to Hawaiʻi
The author of Radical Candor, a best-selling book on management, says, “Kindness is an asset. It’s the one thing we can do for each other that AI will never be able to do: have a real human relationship.”
Gratitude in a Time of $100 Million in Federal Cuts
Thanksgiving is a season of gratitude, but in Hawaiʻi, it has also become a season of resilience. This year, that message feels especially sharp. Our state is facing more than $100 million in federal cuts – a blow that lands hardest on those who need help the most.
Parting Shot Enters the Digital Age
As Parting Shot leaves print, the beloved photo feature finds new life on our digital platforms.
UH President Wendy Hensel on Listening, Innovating and Reimagining the Classroom
UH President Wendy Hensel is reimagining higher education for the AI era, blending technical skills with human-centered learning while leading with authenticity in a male-dominated field.
Exploring Women’s Issues in Writing and In Person
Ahead of the 2025 Wahine Forum with 1,000 women attendees, this October issue explores workplace challenges, the 'motherhood penalty,' and celebrates trailblazing leaders.
My First 100 Days at Hawaii Business Magazine by Jennifer Ablan, Editor-in-Chief of Hawaii Business
In these first 100 days, the new editor says she has listened and met at least 100 new faces during a personal "listening tour." Good journalism doesn't just inform, it connects.
Peter Ho, CEO of Bank of Hawai‘i
"It is the best job in the world," Ho says about his role as CEO of Bank of Hawaii. In a far-ranging interview, he told Hawaii Business about his thoughts on the growth trajectory of Hawaii's economy, the future of Bank of Hawaii and the role of technology and AI.
The Highest Honor in Our Field
A story doesn't come alive through words alone. It's the photographers, designers and art directors who give our reporting its visual heartbeat. And no one does that better than our creative director, Jeff Sanner.
Businesses Evolve With Zoomers, Boomers and Everyone in Between
In her first month as editor-in-chief of Hawaii Business Magazine, Jennifer Ablan kept hearing how multigenerational teams lead to stronger, more vibrant workplaces.
For Them, It’s Hawai‘i 2.0
After years on the mainland, these locals are coming home – and bringing their thriving careers with them.
Readers pick The Local General Store for People’s Choice Award, Hawaii Entrepreneurs Award
Both born and raised in Honolulu, Harley and Jason took different paths before returning to food. Harley began in the sciences before discovering a passion for pastry in San Francisco, where she trained in top bakeries and developed her signature…
More Than an Anime Convention
Kawaii Kon brings fans, creators and businesses together in a vibrant celebration of pop culture that’s been a launchpad for local creative entrepreneurs.
