Hawaii Entrepreneur Awards 2026
25 years of honoring outstanding local startups and innovation.
Author: Admin Staff - Sarah Falkowski
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.
The Trash on Hawaiʻi’s Beaches Tells a Global Story
Tons of plastic trash wash up on Hawaiʻi beaches every day. Forensic scientists using chemical analysis and other means to trace the sources say 80% is abandoned fishing gear from global fleets in the Pacific. Hereʻs what comes next.
HB20: Gabriel Yanagihara, ‘Iolani School
On a mission to make every teacher, parent, and student in Hawai‘i AI-ready, Gabriel Yangihara believes the fastest path to breakthrough is being willing to fail first.
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.
HB20: Summer Shelverton, Cades Schutte
Summer Shelverton graduated third in her law school class while raising a newborn, and now leads trusts and estates at Hawai‘i's largest law firm.
HB20: Kaloa Robinson, Stanford Carr Development
At 35, Kaloa Robinson is already the lead manager of a $4 billion, 20-year project, one of the largest public infrastructure efforts in Hawai‘i's history.
HB20: Danicole Ramos, UH William S. Richardson School of Law Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic
A single moment with an elderly Filipino client changed everything, setting Danicole Ramos on a path to help over 125 community members pursue citizenship.
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: Richard Matsui, KWH Analytics
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.
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: Ryan Kuniyuki, Bank of Hawai‘i
Bringing 15 years of global banking experience home, Ryan Kuniyuki leads with a values-driven approach that puts people before transactions.
HB20: Jamila Jarmon, Hawaiian Electric
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.
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: Victoria Hanes, Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center
Leading a team of nearly 500 serving 40,000 patients, Victoria Hanes champions a bold shift from reactive treatment to prevention-first primary care.
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Hawai‘i's Young People Are Asking.
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.
Aloha Stadium's $4 Billion Gamble
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.
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.
Nominate Hawai‘i’s Next Generation of Attorneys – Emerging Legal Stars 2026
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.
Nominate Hawai‘i’s Top Attorneys for Business — Deadline March 27
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.
HB20: Tricia Fujikawa Lee, First Hawaiian Bank
Under her leadership, FHB has earned the highest possible CRA rating through 11 consecutive examinations, the only Hawai‘i bank to do so.
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.
HB20: Chelsie Evans, Hawaiian Community Assets
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.
HB20: Kapua Chandler, Namahana School
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.
Llamas With a Purpose: Inside Maui's Most Unexpected Farm
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.
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.
HB20: Warren Altona, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union
Redefining growth as stability and opportunity for members, this first-generation college graduate leads HSFCU's boldest era of expansion yet.
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.
The Big Picture: Hawaii Business × Hawai‘i Community Journal
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…
Where Do You Stand On Hawai‘i’s Energy Future?
In two surveys, we asked about fossil fuels like oil as well as geothermal and nuclear energy.
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…
How Regional and Ethnic Chambers of Commerce Elevate Businesses in Hawai‘i
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.
Hawaii Business Surveys Show Trump Policies Unpopular
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.
Pessimism Widespread Among Local Businesses
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.
Bipartisan Bill Aims to Prevent Kidney Deaths by Compensating Donors
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.
Raising Awareness Through Education
Straub Benioff Medical Center’s Burn Care Unit expands its burn education program to meet growing demand from the community.
First Hawaiian Bank Tops Forbes’ Hawai‘i Rankings Five Years Running
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
From Hooves to Horns: The Life of a Large-Animal Veterinarian
There are hundreds of Veterinarians in Hawai‘i but only a relative few specialize in large animals.
Rural Puna Strengthens its Collective Kuleana
On Hawaiʻi Island, ʻO Makuʻu Ke Kahua and other grassroots organizations are working together to build capacity and create community networks.
EXCLUSIVE: Clash of Hawaiʻi’s Healthcare Titans: Leaders Disagree on Best Path Forward
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…
Tanaka of Tokyo Restaurant Chain Founder Shares Tales of Survival as He Passes Baton
New leadership team includes founder's daughter, Bo Tanaka, who promises continuity as well as creativity in an evolving and volatile market.
Column: Funding Stewardship at Scale
What Hawaiʻi’s Green Fee Is Teaching Us About Caring for Place
Expanding the Horizons of Burn Care in Hawai‘i
Straub Benioff Medical Center’s burn care team learned about the latest advancements in burn care at a special conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Why Waikōloa Village’s Wildfire Risk Rivals — and May Exceed — Lahaina’s
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 Powerlifters Make History at 2025 World Championships in Seoul
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.
There Is No Work-Life Balance in Hawai‘i
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.
HB20: Richard Matsui, KWH Analytics
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.
HB20: Jamila Jarmon, Hawaiian Electric
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.
