Hawaiʻi’s Top 250 Company Profiles 2026
A closer look at some of the Top 250 companies making steady progress and setting benchmarks in their fields.
Author: Michelle Tan
A Stronger Hawai‘i Starts With Us
When you give to the Stronger Hawai‘i Fund, you're investing in a resilient Hawai‘i before, during, and after disaster.
Redefining agency life: How two wahine entrepreneurs built Refinery Creative
How a shared vision, strong culture, and trusted partnerships fueled Refinery Creative's growth.
Leadership Doesn't End When You Get the Title.
Leadership isn't a destination—it's a lifelong journey. THE FIVE SEEDS® is designed to help you take the next step with practical tools you can use immediately.
The Biggest Grow Even Bigger, But a Few Sectors Struggle
The state’s largest companies and nonprofits tightened their grip on Hawaiʻi’s economy in the past year. The trend, which reflects a national pattern that results in part from federal policies favoring the richest, shows up in Hawaii Business Magazine’s new Top 250 list.
This Wai‘anae Community Had a Home but Not Housing. Soon They’ll Have Both.
Carrying on the mission of their late matriarch, Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae is relocating its community from tents on state land to housing on purchased property. They have until Oct. 16 to complete the move and clean up their former site.
Working Together to End Homelessness
How partnerships are helping to address homelessness among veterans, Native Hawaiians, kūpuna, and youth.
Created by Hawai‘i, for Hawai‘i, our mission is you.
The HEMIC Family of Companies brings required coverages under one roof and tailors risk management solutions to the needs of Hawai‘i businesses.
The Yen Flipped Who Gets to Cross the Pacific
As the battered yen opens Japan up to Hawaiʻi residents, it closes Hawaiʻi off to Japanese. What happens to the ritual of Japenese tourists to our Islands? How do you get your taste of paradise when you can no longer afford to fly there?
Hawaii Business Wins 23 Journalism Awards
The judges honored our reporting on Lahaina’s recovery, housing, immigration, workplace culture and other issues that shaped Hawaiʻi in 2025. We also won for our design, digital work, illustrations and photography.
How to Reduce the Physical Toll That Screentime Takes on Your Body
I am 27 years old, active and healthy. Yet, on any given afternoon, my upper back, shoulders and neck feel like they belong to someone twice my age.
Top Performers in Real Estate 2026
Hawai‘i Business Magazine identified the leading real estate companies and invited them to submit their Top Performers. This section profiles many of these Top Performers in real estate. Consider these agents and companies when preparing to make your next real estate transaction.
Should Hawaiʻi Have a Constitutional Convention in 2030?
People are divided: Some say the state’s political status quo needs an overhaul that only a Constitutional Convention can provide. Others fear a new ConCon could be hijacked by outside interests and valuable rights and institutions damaged.
Leadership Conference: Business Improves When Employees Feel They Matter
Matthew Emerzian urges business leaders to make human connection a priority, saying strong workplace cultures begin by letting employees know they are important.
How Hawaii's High Cost of Living Changes Retirement Planning
Living in paradise comes at a price. A retirement plan built for Hawaii can help you prepare for higher costs without sacrificing your future.
New Soil Lab Helps Rejuvenate the ʻĀina
Makali‘i Metrics is blending advanced technology with ʻike (traditional Hawaiian knowledge) to support farmers and land stewards.
Society Needs to Change, Gov. Green Says, As He Signs Law Protecting Public Employees From Harassment
Drawing a line between free speech and threats or harassment to education workers, Green says it’s a “society-wide problem” and warns that those who cross the line will be pursued by the state Attorney General.
RISE Maui, a West Maui Summit for Regeneration, Innovation, and Sustainability
A new Maui summit bringing together local and global thought leaders to unlock new possibilities for Hawai‘i and beyond.
Big Island Artist Gary Ackerman Inspired by Creative Muses Over 5 Decades
Still going strong at 85, Ackerman has built a global following but remains anchored in his North Kohala community. He continues to see the world with fresh eyes and paints every single day.
Hawaii Leadership Academy Registration For Fall Cohort Now Open
Hawaii Leadership Academy is now enrolling its third exclusive, high-impact executive leadership program designed specifically for director level (and above) professionals across all industries in Hawai’i.
Japan's Richest Man Came to Maui for Golf. He Got a Water War Instead.
Cast by critics as a villain in Maui's water wars, Uniqlo billionaire Tadashi Yanai says he's willing to contribute $40 million to help rebuild the island's aging infrastructure.
Race Randle, The Builder
If Tadashi Yanai is the billionaire at the center of Maui’s water controversy, Race Randle is the local executive who has become one of its most visible participants.
Why Hawai‘i Needs More Public-Private Partnerships
Hawaiʻi's biggest challenges, from aging infrastructure to housing shortages and rising costs, will take more than government to solve.
Hawaiian Airlines Goes Global With Atmos™ Rewards
Hawai‘i’s hometown carrier connects kama‘āina to 1,000+ global destinations through a powerful network of airline partners.
4 Non-Negotiable Skills Every Leader Needs
As workplaces evolve, these four skills can help leaders navigate change and bring out the best in their teams.
Beyond the Search Bar: How Local Brands Build AI Visibility
AI search rewards trust, consistency, and credibility. Here’s how local businesses can influence visible in AI-generated answers.
Hard-Won Lessons on Rejection from 39 Years in Sales
Nobody likes rejection, but it is an inevitable part of any career. Here is what a 39-year sales veteran taught me about how to pick yourself back up after being turned down, refine your pitch and find the courage to try again.
Top Attorneys 2026
Hawaii Business Magazine is proud to present Top Attorneys for Business 2026, recognizing the top attorneys making an impact in Hawai‘i’s business community.
Emerging Legal Stars 2026
Meet sixteen attorneys who are redefining excellence early in their careers.
Hawai‘i’s 2026 Guide to Shipping, Air and Transportation
With federal tariffs, the war in Iran and Hawai‘i’s recent severe weather, 2026 is proving to be an eventful year for the state’s shipping industry.
From Black Sheep to Model of Success, Waipahu High School’s Amazing Transformation
The school’s “six schools in one” robust career academies are transforming the way education helps students prepare for the workforce.
Improving the oral health of everyone in our communities, from newborns to seniors, is at the core of HDS Foundation’s mission.
To achieve this, it promotes oral health through education, strategic grant-giving and more.
AI and Your Money: Opportunity, Innovation, or the Next Market Bubble?
AI is transforming industries and creating wealth opportunities – but can investors separate lasting value from market hype?
Beyond the Cards: Pokémon's Growing Fan Base in Hawaiʻi
On Pokémon's 30th anniversary, what was once a childhood pastime has become a global phenomenon and big business. In Hawaiʻi, collectors, players and small business owners are building something more lasting than a card collection.
Humane Societies Help Reunite Pets and Owners, Find Foster Homes After Kona Low Storms
After the Kona Low floods swept through Oʻahu and Maui, humane society workers waded through waist-deep water to rescue animals, set up food banks and launch a weeks-long effort to reunite displaced pets with their families.
Hawai‘i's Trans and Māhū Communities Stand Proud Amid National Affront
As hate crimes rise and the federal government rolls back protections for trans and others in the LGBTQ+ community, Hawai‘i’s cultural history of recognizing three genders offers a path forward — and a lesson for the rest of the country.
You’re Fired! Trump-Style Termination of Exemplary Hawaiʻi Judge Leaves Questions
Immigration Judge Clarence M. Wagner Jr.’s long federal career cut short by a three-sentence email. “Disappointed” and “hurt,” the self-proclaimed “poster child for public service” still offers advice to improve the immigration court system.
Hawaiʻi Credit Union Report 2026
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…
Summer Travel Plans Soured by War-Linked Airfare Hikes
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.
Founder Sees Oceans End Purses and Accessories As Link to the World
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…
Shell Game: The Sisters Behind Hawaiʻi's Hottest Oyster Company
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…
From Cravings to Creation, Wailua Granola Co. Took Shape
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…
When It’s Snack Time, Yick Lung – Hawaii’s Choice is There With New Family Recipies
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…
Ahualoa Family Farms: Growing More Than Macadamia Nuts
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…
Delivering What Matters Most For Hawai‘i’s Island Communities
Serving every major port with efficient and reliable interisland cargo transportation
The Disappearing Affordable Condos of Honolulu
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?
Built With Gratitude, Island Essence Taps Hawaiʻi’s Fragrances and Oils
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.
Tapping Hawaiʻi’s Spiritual Grounding, Good Mana Shares It With the World
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.”
Waimea Herb Co. Cultivates Creativity Along With Spices and Teas
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…
Chozen-ji: Where Hawai‘i Leaders Find Courage and Calm
The Zen temple and martial arts dojo in the back of Kalihi Valley has become a sought-after place to practice the art of leadership.
Hawaiʻi's Geckos Play a Positive Role in Your Home
Many eat cockroaches and ants, while others dine on spiders and centipedes. Though you may see your home as yours, geckos see it otherwise. They are often highly territorial and usually claim a part of your house as their own.
