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.
Trading a Big Four accounting career for community impact, Su Lazo now builds career pathways that keep local youth rooted in Hawai‘i.
Nearly 20 years into a career spanning McKinsey, the Biden Administration, and multiple companies built and sold, Richard Matsui is just getting started at home.
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.
A former bakery owner turned tech economy builder, Trung Lam is positioning Hawai‘i's ocean and space industries as its next competitive advantage.
Bringing 15 years of global banking experience home, Ryan Kuniyuki leads with a values-driven approach that puts people before transactions.
From policy work to startup COO to EV strategy at Hawaiian Electric, Jamila Jarmon thrives in roles that didn't exist until she filled them.
After recruiting on Wall Street and in Seattle, Zack Hernandez came home to build the tech talent pipeline Hawai‘i has always needed.
Leading a team of nearly 500 serving 40,000 patients, Victoria Hanes champions a bold shift from reactive treatment to prevention-first primary care.
With soaring costs, limited opportunities, and a rapidly aging population, more young people in Hawai‘i are weighing an uncomfortable question. For many, the answer is increasingly clear.
Demolition has officially begun at the old Aloha Stadium, kicking off the state's most ambitious public-private project ever. But with tariff threats, transparency concerns, and a 20-year timeline, the real question isn't whether it will get built, it's who pays if it doesn't go according to plan.
A first-generation college graduate who broke into a male-dominated field, Elaine Gascon now oversees condo policies topping $200 million in replacement value.
Hawaii Business Magazine is proud to present our 3rd Annual Emerging Legal Stars, recognizing the next generation of attorneys making an impact in Hawai‘i’s legal community. The feature will run in our June issue.
Hawai‘i’s business community relies on exceptional legal minds to navigate complex deals, disputes and regulations. Now it’s time to recognize the attorneys who make that work possible.
Under her leadership, FHB has earned the highest possible CRA rating through 11 consecutive examinations, the only Hawai‘i bank to do so.
Bridging mainland experience with local purpose, Chris Fong focuses on affordable housing development for the aunties, uncles, and families of Hawai‘i.
Once a client of the organization she now leads, Chelsie Evans has grown HCA from $1.5 million to a $10 million agency serving Hawai‘i families.
Kapua Chandler came home with a PhD and a mission, founding Kaua‘i's first tuition-free public middle school rooted in 'āina-based education.
Christine and Sam Heidama turned a fiber arts hobby into a full-on llama and alpaca experience on the slopes of Haleakalā. The animals are stealing hearts at weddings, hikes, and everything in between.
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.
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.
Redefining growth as stability and opportunity for members, this first-generation college graduate leads HSFCU's boldest era of expansion yet.
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.
Hawaii Business Magazine is pleased to expand its coverage through a collaboration with Hawaiʻi Community Journal (HCJ), the new name for Overstory, a solutions-focused newsroom serving Hawaiʻi. HCJ's community-centered reporting complements Hawaiʻi Business coverage by bringing a deeper perspective on…
In two surveys, we asked about fossil fuels like oil as well as geothermal and nuclear energy.
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…
While the statewide Chamber of Commerce Hawaii serves more than 2,000 members, dozens of smaller chambers across the islands offer specialized support for specific regions, communities, and industries.
A pair of surveys show more opposition to administration policies than support in 10 key policy areas. But business owners and executives had a higher favorable rating than the general public.
The latest BOSS Survey reveals widespread pessimism about Hawaii's economy, with 51% of business leaders expecting conditions to worsen in 2026. Though tourism companies remain notably more optimistic than other sectors.
The “End Kidney Deaths Act” proposes a $50,000 tax credit for healthy people to give a kidney to a stranger. If passed, the legislation could save 100,000 lives and billions of dollars over a decade.
Straub Benioff Medical Center’s Burn Care Unit expands its burn education program to meet growing demand from the community.
Forbes names FHB as the top-ranked Hawai‘i bank on its 2026 America’s Best Banks list, continuing FHB’s legacy as the state’s leading financial institution
There are hundreds of Veterinarians in Hawai‘i but only a relative few specialize in large animals.
On Hawaiʻi Island, ʻO Makuʻu Ke Kahua and other grassroots organizations are working together to build capacity and create community networks.
Addressing a crowded room of Hawaiʻi executives, The Queen’s Health System’s top leader didn't mince words about the proposed HMSA-HPH merger that could fundamentally reshape medical care in the Islands. “I feel that this is like the Trojan horse…
New leadership team includes founder's daughter, Bo Tanaka, who promises continuity as well as creativity in an evolving and volatile market.
What Hawaiʻi’s Green Fee Is Teaching Us About Caring for Place
Straub Benioff Medical Center’s burn care team learned about the latest advancements in burn care at a special conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
When Rob Lee learned about a consultant’s plan to survey community members on an emergency evacuation strategy for vulnerable Waikōloa Village on Hawaiʻi island, the state Department of Transportation project manager saw a public relations misstep in the making. Waikōloa Village,…
Three Hawai‘i athletes brought home medals and shattered records at the IDFPA World Championships proving that grit, community and aloha spirit can overcome any obstacle.
Getting laid off taught Hawaii Business Magazine's Marianne Leano a harsh lesson: In Hawai‘i, financial security means juggling multiple paychecks, turning ordinary days into content, and accepting that 'balance' is just a buzzword.
Kahalu‘u Bay on the Kona Coast of Hawai‘i island has a storied history as a former royal village with protected fish ponds inside a “menehune” breakwater, ancient heiaus nearby and petroglyphs carved into lava rock. Today it is a destination…
Advocates want marijuana legalized for all adults, not just for those with qualifying medical conditions. But opponents fear legalization could hurt tourism, create enforcement challenges and damage public health.
The Burn Care Unit at Straub Benioff Medical Center opened in 1983 to serve a vital need in the state and the Pacific region.
He will be succeeded by bank President James Polk. Ray Vara to take leading role on the bank's board.
There are urgent health care challenges facing families, such as rising costs, limited access to care and provider shortages statewide. While these issues have persisted for years, Hawai‘i Pacific Health (HPH) recognizes that significant structural solutions are needed now more than ever. HPH…
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.
Discover the value of healthy employees. Invest in your business by investing in their health.
A healthy bottom line starts with healthy smiles.
Bringing 15 years of global banking experience home, Ryan Kuniyuki leads with a values-driven approach that puts people before transactions.
After recruiting on Wall Street and in Seattle, Zack Hernandez came home to build the tech talent pipeline Hawai‘i has always needed.
