The Transformation of Hawai‘i
An oral history tells the behind-the-scenes stories of broken color barriers, big land and financing deals, and other colorful incidents that helped create modern Hawai‘i
Talk Story
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…
Talk Story with Guy Kawasaki
Chief evangelist for Canva and creator of the podcast, “Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People” Born and raised in Kalihi Valley, marketing guru Guy Kawasaki went from law school dropout to working for some of the biggest names in tech: Apple, Google…
Talk Story: Su Shin, President & GM, Hawaiian Telcom
Hawaiian Telcom’s first female leader takes the helm with the 136-year old company at a crossroads. In Part I of this extended Talk Story, she talks about her personal journey as part of an immigrant family from South Korea striving…
Talk Story: Ben Godsey, President and CEO, ProService Hawaii
Since taking the helm in 2005, Godsey has overseen exponential growth, brought in corporate investors and acquired a rival HR services firm. His boldest move may be January’s introduction of a technology platform that will help add more HR consultative…
Talk Story: Christopher Benjamin, President and CEO, Alexander & Baldwin
A&B has evolved over its 150 years, starting in sugar, adding shipping, then tourism and now focusing on Hawai‘i real estate. Benjamin attributes the company’s longevity to being able to morph into relevant businesses that provide value and long-term stability.…
Talk Story: Eric Yeaman, CEO, Hoku Capital
At 52, the executive once touted as the next CEO of First Hawaiian Bank is now flying solo, servicing a few select clients with his new strategic advisory firm, Hoku Capital. His vision is to remain engaged in Hawai‘i’s community…
Talk Story: Jennifer La‘a, CEO, Easterseals Hawaii
In January, La‘a took over as CEO of the nonprofit that has supported adults and children with disabilities in Hawai‘i for 72 years. Her main goal is to seamlessly integrate people with disabilities into the community, so they can live…
Talk Story: Christine Camp, President and CEO, Avalon Group
Camp says Hawai‘i needs to change its mindset to alleviate the affordable housing crisis. At the top of her list of needed changes are creating predictable permitting time frames, revamping zoning in low-density areas and creating more urban zoning. Q:…
Talk Story: Chris Tatum, President and CEO, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority
The longtime Marriott executive has been at HTA less than a year, but Tatum’s strategic changes are already clear: a flattening bureaucracy, a reduced fixation on the number of tourists and a shifting of marketing dollars. Q: What organizational changes…
Talk Story: Mike Latham, President, Punahou School
Latham became Punahou School’s 17th president in July. He returns to his alma mater – he graduated in 1986 – after spending most of his adult life on the Mainland in teaching and administrative roles. He talks about how the…
Talk Story: Corbett Kalama, Executive VP and COO, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation – Hawai‘i Office
Kalama grew up in poverty but had a successful banking career and now leads a nonprofit that provides $12 million in grants annually in Hawai‘i. He is using his personal and professional experience to seek answers to some of Hawai‘i’s…
Talk Story: Simon Treacy, President, Hawai‘i, The Howard Hughes Corp.
Treacy has more than 20 years of real estate experience in Asia, Europe and on the Mainland. He hopes to infuse international best practices into the 60-acre master-planned community of Ward Village, while honoring the core principles of Hawaiian culture…
Talk Story with Joseph Boivin, President of Young Brothers
Though Young Brothers doesn’t have direct rivals in interisland shipping, Boivin insists on sharpening its competitive edge by enhancing operational efficiencies, reducing costs and shrinking its carbon footprint. Q: The Port of Honolulu is undergoing extensive improvements. How will operations…
Talk Story: Chason Ishii, President, Atlas Insurance Agency
If you thought insurance was dull, you haven’t talked with Chason Ishii about all the industry’s developments, including the need for more focused data to enhance the pricing accuracy of premiums. He also discusses how insurance can help companies grapple…
Talk Story: Charles Kaneshiro, President & COO, G70
Kaneshiro, who traces his passion for nature to his days as a Boy Scout on Kauai, talks about the challenges that climate change brings to Hawaii, such as the future of our infrastructure, resiliency planning and the need for more…
Talk Story: Alfred Grace, President & CEO, Polynesian Cultural Center
Despite an unlikely start, the PCC has thrived for more than five decades. Founded by amateur entertainers on what was then the out-of-the-way North Shore of Oahu, it currently hosts about 2,500 visitors a day and continues to evolve. Q:…
Talk Story: Brad Miles of McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii
In March, Brad Miles became director of operations for the 74 Hawaii McDonald’s restaurants, as well as eight locations on Guam and two on Saipan. Originally from Australia, Miles has been with the fast-food company since 2003; while still Down…
Talk Story: Jeff Wagoner, CEO, President, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts
Outrigger is changing with the arrival in April of Wagoner as CEO and an infusion of $310 million from the strategic sale of six Asia-Pacific hotels. Wagoner – who hails from New York City and has an extensive background in…
Talk Story: Peter Ingram, President & CEO of Hawaiian Airlines
After years of robust success, Hawaii’s largest airline faces increased competition and other market pressures. But Ingram remains unfazed and says he is focusing instead on improving the company’s strengths: outstanding operations, a favorable cost structure and its unique Hawaiian…
Talk Story: Dave Matlin of UH Athletics
Dave Matlin, Athletics Director University of Hawaii at Manoa Matlin says UH Athletics has cut costs in many areas and strategically increased spending in others. Meanwhile, revenue is up and deficits down at Manoa’s athletics department. His next challenge is persuading…
Talk Story: Dave Underriner, President, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Hawaii
Underriner enjoyed a 35-year career at Providence Health & Services that culminated in him leading the network of eight acute care hospitals and 90 clinics in Oregon. He took over Kaiser Hawaii in May and is eyeing how to bolster Kaiser’s…
Talk Story with Karen Tan, President and CEO, Child & Family Service
It’s been a long path from social worker to leading one of Hawaii’s largest nonprofits, but it seems Karen Tan is just getting started. This fall, she and her team are developing a strategic plan to guide CFS over the…
Talk Story with George Ehara
He's the VP and Division Manager, Swinerton Builders Fifteen years after bringing Swinerton to Hawaii, Ehara offers a nuanced take on the construction industry: Bigger isn’t necessarily better; boom markets have their own challenges; and if you build it, they…
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Local Life Lessons
A little book has important advice for some of the Islands' big-business leaders Growing up, Wesley Park aspired to be ordinary. He ended up being extraordinary. When he was 4 years old, Park was stricken with polio. The debilitating disease…
25 People for the Next 25 Years
Thirty-year-old developer Adam Wong has an intoxicating vision for a vibrant — and affordable — Honolulu. Thirty-three-year-old James Koshiba dreams of a new generation of socially-conscious businesses that do as much for the community as they do their bottom lines.…
Internet Transforms Home Sales, but Realtors Survive
Some say real estate professionals might be more important than ever Less than 20 years ago, prospective homebuyers could look at newspapers and drive around to find yard signs. However, most would call a Realtor because they alone had access…
