Hawaiʻi Excellence in Business Awards 2026

Sam Walton opened a five-and-dime store in rural Arkansas decades before Walmart became the world’s largest retailer. Howard Schultz worked his way up from a door-to-door salesman before rebuilding Starbucks into a global brand. Hawai‘i has its own version of that story, and it didn’t happen on the continent first. In 1950, Robert Taira borrowed $400 to open a one-display-case, three-stool bakery in Hilo; the sweet bread he perfected there now sits on grocery shelves across the country as King’s Hawaiian. A generation later, Eddie Flores Jr. and Johnson Kam took over a single Honolulu drive-in and built L&L Hawaiian Barbecue into the largest Hawai‘i-born restaurant chain in the world, with more than 230 locations from California to Japan.

These are not “overnight success” stories. Excellence in running a business involves habit, which includes building operations one decision at a time, treating its newest hires well, creating the best and most productive workplace culture and responding when its community is in crisis. Indeed, scaling a business follows those habits – and as King’s Hawaiian and L&L both show, that habit can start in a single storefront on a single Hawai‘i street and still end up on tables across the country.

That is exactly the spirit Hawaii Business Magazine set out to recognize last year with the launch of the Excellence in Business Awards. The spirit of our second cohort was eye-opening: Nominations nearly doubled between the inaugural year and this one. That proves the state’s business community has been waiting for exactly this kind of recognition: not a ranking of size or headlines but of the vision, leadership, risk-taking and community commitment that define genuine excellence. From that expanded field, 30-plus honorees were selected – a class chosen for the way each balances achievement with kuleana, generosity and aloha for the people around them.

How Honorees Were Selected

For a second year, companies and nonprofits across the state were invited to share why they belonged among Hawai‘i’s most excellent businesses. Applicants submitted essays of up to 500 words telling their stories of success, growth and community impact, reflecting on:

• Financial success and growth
• Employee engagement, retention and workplace culture
• Community impact and philanthropy
• Diversity, equity and inclusion practices

Alongside their essays, organizations submitted business details and contact information. A panel of editors and advisers then carefully reviewed every submission, looking for not only strong numbers but also the leadership, creativity and values-driven practices that distinguish truly excellent businesses.

New this year, that review fed into three award tracks. Company-Size Awards recognized excellence at three different scales of operation – Small, Medium and Large organizations – with third-, second-, and first-place honors in each division. Seven Specialty Awards then singled out particular kinds of impact, from community service and environmental stewardship to innovation and workforce development.

The Company-Size Award Winners

Large Organization

Top honors went to Hitachi Rail Honolulu, operations and maintenance partner for the City and County of Honolulu’s Skyline system – the first fully driverless electric rail transit system in the United States – and a source of more than 300 local jobs in operations, engineering and technology. Second-place honorees were Hawaiian Building Maintenance, the nearly 70-year-old facilities and asset-services company supporting more than 300 active sites statewide. Third place went to Southwest Airlines, whose “Heart for Hawai‘i” initiative has funneled more than $6 million into local nonprofits since 2019 and employs more than 700 island residents. “Leadership at Hitachi Rail Honolulu means showing up, leading by example, and creating opportunities for others to succeed,” says Cara Mazzei, Hitachi’s Project Communications director. “We are committed to investing in our people, developing local talent and empowering employees to grow into leadership roles. For us, leadership isn’t about being in front; it’s about lifting others up and building pathways for them to thrive. When our employees and communities succeed, we all succeed.”

Medium Organization

For the mid-sized category, first place went to Hawai‘i Farm Project, the family of Maui agritourism brands connecting residents and visitors to the island’s farming heritage through tours, education and locally made products. “At Hawai‘i Farm Project, everything is connected. Agriculture is at the center, and our agritourism and retail businesses help create an ecosystem that supports it,” says owner Todd Domeck. “Maui Pineapple Tour gives people an opportunity to experience the farm and learn about the history and people behind Maui agriculture. Maui Pineapple Store creates a direct connection between what is grown here and the people who want to support it. Maui Pineapple Farm allows us to take more of what we grow and turn it into value-added products, helping us reduce waste and make the most of our harvest. Whether someone is working in the field, leading a tour, helping a customer, creating a product or working behind the scenes, everyone contributes to something larger. There is also a tremendous amount of pride in being able to say that we are helping keep agriculture active on Maui. That gives all of us something meaningful to work toward.” Second place went to Island Insurance Companies, the state’s only locally owned and managed property and casualty insurer, marking more than 85 years of service. Third place went to North Star Scientific Corp., the Waipi‘o-born radio-frequency engineering firm supplying aerospace and defense programs while building a homegrown technology workforce.

Small Organization

First place was awarded to TY Realty, Inc., the Hawai‘i-based corporate and extended-stay housing company that has served military families, healthcare workers and travelers in transition since 1995. Second place went to Hui o Laka, the nonprofit steward of Kōke‘e State Park, whose museum and educational programs have protected one of Kaua‘i’s most treasured landscapes for more than 70 years. Third place went to KOMODO Hawai‘i LLC, the Honolulu-founded gaming and entertainment technology company whose reach into Japan and South Korea shows that a small local team can compete globally. “Our [TY Realty] leadership sets the tone. Founder Steve Yamamoto has over 30 years of service advancing Hawaiʻi’s temporary duty and corporate housing sectors, along with broader contributions to real estate, travel, tourism and defense industries,” says TY’s director of business development Dane Ing. “Matt Yamamoto continues that legacy through civic service, including membership in the Military Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i and service on the Board of Directors at Discovery Bay Condominiums. Our people are central to our success. We foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and professional growth, which has led to strong employee engagement and retention.” During the Covid pandemic, TY Realty housed traveling nurses, directly supporting Hawaiʻi’s healthcare system during a critical time. More recently, TY provided housing for FEMA workers during the Maui wildfire recovery effort, helping enable response and rebuilding efforts.

The Specialty Award Winners

Seven additional awards recognized distinct forms of excellence, each judged among three finalists before a single recipient was named.

The Community Champion Award, honoring organizations that consistently show up for Hawai‘i’s people, went to Ho‘ōla Nā Pua, over finalists Pono Pacific Land Management and Hawaii Residency Programs.

The Innovation Excellence Award, for organizations transforming their industries through technology or new business models, went to North Star Scientific Corp., over finalists Da Dream Lab and KOMODO Hawai‘i LLC.

The Hawai‘i Stewardship Award, presented by Adam Bogucki of StretchLab Hawai‘i and recognizing leadership in caring for Hawai‘i’s natural resources, went to Pono Pacific Land Management LLC, over finalists Hawai‘i Farm Project and Hui o Laka.

The Local Legacy Award, celebrating a long-standing organization that keeps evolving without losing its roots, went to Finance Insurance Ltd., over finalists Ohana Foods, Inc. and The Carpet Shoppe.

The Rising Business Award, for fast-growing organizations creating new momentum, went to KOMODO Hawai‘i LLC, over finalists Hana Hou Hospitality and StretchLab Hawai‘i.

The Economic Impact Award, honoring measurable job creation and investment, went to Hawaiian Building Maintenance, over finalists Bowers + Kubota Consulting and Southwest Airlines.

The Workforce Development Award went to Hawaii Residency Programs, over finalists Bowers + Kubota and Hawaiian Building Maintenance.

The Full Cohort of Honorees

What follows is the story behind every 2026 honoree, organized by industry. Where a company also placed in the Company-Size or Specialty Awards, that recognition is noted beneath its name.

Financial, Insurance and Advisory Services

Accuity

Five offices, three islands · 158 EMPLOYEES

The firm’s 2025 acquisition of Ikeda & Wong CPA added 22 employees and deepened its client advisory services; its 2026 integration of Carbonaro CPAs & Management Group carried the firm beyond O‘ahu into Maui and Hawai‘i island, adding 32 more employees and 11 CPAs while keeping Carbonaro’s local relationships intact. Together, those moves helped it push revenue up 55%, grow to 158 employees and expand to five offices across three islands, strengthening capacity across audit, tax, advisory, technology consulting and client advisory services.

Accumulus

Statewide, with a nonprofit specialty · 10 EMPLOYEES

Accumulus has found its calling among Hawai‘i’s mission-driven nonprofits, which now make up roughly seven in 10 of the firm’s clients, drawn to a virtual accounting department that scales without the overhead of an in-house finance team. Accumulus does “work that makes an impact” by supporting several state & city grant programs over the past few years, helping local businesses recover from economic disasters (Small Business Opportunity Program, Oʻahu Business Recovery Program, PIVOT program).

Finance Insurance Ltd.

Statewide, all counties · 30 EMPLOYEES
Local Legacy Award WINNER

For more than 50 years, Finance Insurance Ltd. has built its reputation on a broad line of insurance offerings. Appointed by more than 80 insurance carriers, the agency, part of the Finance Enterprise family alongside Finance Factors and Waipono Investment Corp, can shop nearly any local insurance need across a genuinely competitive field, rather than steering clients toward a single house brand. “Our community-mindedness and response to locally unique issues are incorporated into our core business and strategy,” says Finance Insurance’s President Joy Barua. “For example, unlike other companies, each year FIL reviews market-wage/compensation reports and trends and aligns them with Aloha United Way’s (AUW) ALICE report. The result: keeping our compensation competitive and to address Hawaiʻi’s high-cost of living vs low-wage disparity. This ensures that our employees, who are essentially part of our community, are able to afford living in Hawaiʻi.”

Island Insurance Companies

Statewide · 130 EMPLOYEES
Medium Organization Award 2ND PLACE

Ward’s Research ranks Island Insurance among the top 50 property and casualty insurers in the country for operational excellence – a national distinction for a company whose reputation was built entirely at home. Hawaii Business has named Island one of the state’s Best Places to Work for two decades running, a streak that speaks to a workplace culture sustained over generations rather than built for a single award cycle.

Noguchi & Associates

Five branches, four islands · 52 EMPLOYEES

Hideo Noguchi founded this insurance agency in 1982; his son Mitchell now runs it, making Noguchi & Associates a genuine second-generation legacy business in an industry increasingly consolidated by mainland buyers. Since joining the Ori-gen Family of Companies in 2022, the agency has grown revenue by at least 15% every year – entirely organically, without a single acquisition – while expanding to five branches across four islands and 40-plus carrier relationships. In September 2024, it launched Noguchi Benefits, a new division already generating more than $1 million annually. But the number that says the most may be retention: over 90%, with more than four in 10 employees having stayed a decade or longer, supported by unlimited PTO and 15 paid hours a year set aside purely for volunteering.

Northwestern Mutual Hawai‘i

Statewide · 85 EMPLOYEES

After more than 50 years serving Hawai‘i as part of a larger regional network, Northwestern Mutual Hawai‘i marked its first anniversary as a standalone Network Office in August 2025 – a shift that, under Managing Partner Jamie Delgadillo, put the decisions affecting local clients back in local hands. The office now supports more than 30 financial advisers, six of whom were named among Forbes’ Best-in-State honorees for Hawai‘i in 2025, including the top overall spot. Beyond its own walls, the firm has built lasting partnerships with Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i Foodbank and Honolulu Pride, and in 2025 committed a $15,000 foundation grant toward Kapi‘olani Medical Center’s cancer and infusion center.

UHA Health Insurance

Statewide · 179 EMPLOYEES

As Hawai‘i’s only physician-founded health insurer, UHA treats caring for island residents as a kuleana, and the numbers back it up: more than $544,000 donated to 85 community initiatives last year, reaching some 30,667 residents. Staff can volunteer without using vacation time, and a donation-match program doubles what they give to nonprofits. UHA has repeatedly earned Hawaii Business’s Best Places to Work honors and a Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, built on managers trained as coaches who meet quarterly with every employee. Its summer internship program, launched in 2024 with a focus on Title I schools like Farrington, has provided more than 2,100 paid hours to local students.

Healthcare, Training and Community Support

Hawaii Residency Programs

Statewide · 285 EMPLOYEES
Workforce Development Award WINNER
Community Champion Award FINALIST

Since 1982, Hawaii Residency Programs has served as the employer and administrative backbone for more than 245 residents and fellow physicians across 21 accredited programs statewide. Through a consortium linking hospitals, clinics and the University of Hawai‘i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, HRP helps young doctors finish their training without leaving the Islands, which matters because physicians who train in Hawai‘i are far more likely to stay. As healthcare systems nationwide face workforce shortages, HRP has invested in staff development and infrastructure modernization. Its success is measured in the doctors who choose to build their careers at home.

Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i (HAH)

Statewide · 22 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

Since 1939, the Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i has done the mostly invisible work of keeping the state’s healthcare system standing, representing more than 170 member organizations. During the Covid pandemic, HAH mobilized cross-sector partners to avert a looming medical oxygen shortage. This year it opened Hawai‘i’s first health learning lab at Wai‘anae High School, the brainchild of president and CEO Hilton Raethel and the first of a planned statewide network to build a homegrown healthcare workforce. With a small team, HAH also coordinates emergency preparedness, advocates for access to care in rural and underserved communities and secures funding for hospitals and clinics.

Ho‘ōla Nā Pua

O‘ahu · 55 EMPLOYEES
Community Champion Award WINNER

Founded in 2013 to confront child sex trafficking in Hawai‘i, Ho‘ōla Nā Pua opened The Bromley Family Pearl Haven Campus in 2021, the state’s first residential treatment program built for young survivors. Before that, youth had to leave the Islands, and their support systems, for long-term care. Now marking Pearl Haven’s fifth anniversary, the organization has served 110 youth; in the past year that meant 53,436 warm meals, 17,812 safe bed nights and more than 7,600 hours of individual therapy. Its prevention education has reached nearly 49,000 students, educators and community members statewide, making it a national model for caring for Hawai‘i’s most vulnerable children. Overall, Pearl Haven stands as one of the only programs of its kind in the nation: a comprehensive, clinically driven model that integrates trauma treatment, education, life-skills development, cultural connection and experiential healing within a safe residential environment.

Hawaii Black Chamber of Commerce

Statewide · 2 EMPLOYEES

With a staff of two, the Hawaii Black Chamber of Commerce works to create visibility and economic opportunity for a small Black community in one of the world’s most diverse places, while building bridges among Hawai‘i’s ethnic chambers. Through mixers, financial literacy workshops and cultural events, it encourages collaboration over competition. For Black professionals, entrepreneurs and families across the Islands, it offers a space for visibility, mentorship and belonging that was, until recently, hard to find locally. “At HBCC, we believe business is about more than profit. It is about purpose, connection and creating opportunities that strengthen Hawai‘i for generations to come,” says HBCC Executive Director Danielle Wills. “Our organization was built on the belief that when entrepreneurs, families and communities are empowered, Hawai‘i becomes stronger as a whole.”

Dental World

O‘ahu · 20 EMPLOYEES

Not every nomination needs a growth chart. Dental World’s comes from a two-year patient who describes a practice where getting older hasn’t made dental care more stressful, thanks to a friendly, efficient team that is unhurried with questions. Dr. Gilbert Ing is singled out for his patience and personability that make routine visits feel more like reassurance than dread. “I’ve been a patient of Dental World for over two years and have found them to be very professional, friendly, kind and compassionate,” says Lydia Bishop. “As I get older, my dental needs have become more frequent, and having a dentist nearby and responsive has made my dental care less stressful. Their staff is so friendly and efficient, and Dr. Gilbert Ing is so patient and personable. They explain the process and answer my questions patiently.”

BAYADA Home Care

O‘ahu, Hawai‘i island, Maui, Kaua‘i & Moloka‘i · 334 EMPLOYEES

BAYADA Home Care Hawai‘i puts mission alongside margin. It supports more than 240 clients and generates over $10 million in annual revenue, reaching hard-to-serve places like remote parts of Hawai‘i island and families on Moloka‘i. It reports customer satisfaction among the highest in Honolulu and employee engagement in the industry’s top 10%, helped by a culture of blameless problem-solving.

Da Dream Lab

Kailua, O‘ahu · 20 EMPLOYEES
Innovation Excellence Award FINALIST

Owners Asia Marie Di Antonio and Daniel Stock, both raised in Kailua, built Da Dream Lab into a community hub where Windward O‘ahu’s kids learn, create and grow. Asia’s background in art and education and Dan’s in science and leadership shape classes, camps, tutoring and parties in art, science and cooking, where parents say every child feels included. “It provides families with a safe and positive environment where curiosity is encouraged and confidence grows,” says mom Paula Jo Smith. “Da Dream Lab is helping shape the next generation of creators, leaders and innovators in Hawai‘i, making it highly deserving of this recognition.”

Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Corteva Agriscience Hawai‘i

Kaua‘i & O‘ahu · 160 EMPLOYEES

Corteva pairs a global science company’s reach with local commitments: more than 400 employee volunteer hours last year, a nearly 20-year partnership with Relay For Life, and over $100,000 in local sponsorships and grants. Business resource groups support a diverse workforce, and STEM outreach, school partnerships and science fair mentorship help build the next generation of Hawai‘i’s agricultural scientists.

Hawai‘i Farm Project

Maui · 65 EMPLOYEES
Medium Organization Award 1ST PLACE
Hawai‘i Stewardship Award FINALIST

Hawai‘i Farm Project’s brands, including Maui Gold Pineapple Co., the Maui Pineapple Tour, the Maui Chocolate Tour and Lahaina Honey Co., link agriculture, retail, education and hospitality. After the wildfires, the company doubled down on local jobs and responsible tourism.

Kahuku Farm & Cafe

Kahuku, O‘ahu · ~50 EMPLOYEES

Run by Kylie Matsuda‑Lum and her family, Kahuku Farm & Cafe pairs clean, farm-grown products with what visitors and residents call pure aloha spirit. It’s built less on growth strategy than on consistency: good food, honest ethics and a welcome for locals and first-time visitors alike.

Kupu Hawai‘i

Statewide · 50 EMPLOYEES

Since 2007, Kupu has treated conservation and workforce development as one opportunity, sending young people into loko i‘a and lo‘i kalo to restore the land while earning career credentials. Last year, participants logged 380,776 service hours and 76,454 volunteer hours, planted more than 83,000 native plants, removed over a million invasive ones and stewarded nearly 10,500 acres. More than 6,500 youth have come through its programs, earning 129 alternative high school diplomas. Kupu reports $36.7 million in economic benefit on $17.1 million in revenue and support, a 1:2.7 ratio.

Pono Pacific Land Management LLC

O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Maui · 50 EMPLOYEES
Hawai‘i Stewardship Award WINNER

For 26 years, Pono Pacific has been Hawai‘i’s largest private natural resource conservation company, managing more than 4,500 acres across five islands. With the state, it completed the nation’s largest predator-exclusion fence at Kanahā Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, a 14,785-foot barrier protecting rare nesting waterbirds. This year it grew its conservation team by half and launched Pono Energy, trialing camelina as a source of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

Hui o Laka

Kōke‘e State Park, Kaua‘i · 7 EMPLOYEES
Small Organization Award 2ND PLACE
Hawai‘i Stewardship Award FINALIST

For 75 years, Hui o Laka has run the Kōke‘e Natural History Museum from a renovated WWII barracks; Kaua‘i residents make up a quarter to a third of visitors. Since 1988, the nonprofit has also cared for the 1935 Civilian Conservation Corps Camp next door, now a retreat space for mission-aligned nonprofits. With seven staff, it keeps the museum open 365 days a year at no operating cost to the state park.

Common Ground Kaua‘i

Kaua‘i’s North Shore · 78 EMPLOYEES

Common Ground Kaua‘i runs on a simple loop: every ingredient comes from Hawai‘i, and every dollar flows back to local growers, ranchers and purveyors. Its 63-acre regenerative farm made $300,000 in local purchases last year, with a 50% increase projected. A single weekly lei class has grown to seven a week led by 11 instructors, and its Incubator, the only program of its kind on Kaua‘i, has backed 18 food and beverage entrepreneurs with training and $150,000 in grants.

Engineering, Infrastructure and Technology

Bowers + Kubota Consulting Inc.

Statewide · 320 EMPLOYEES
Economic Impact Award FINALIST
Workforce Development Award FINALIST

Bowers + Kubota has been a Hawaii Business Best Places to Work platinum honoree for 19 consecutive years and a national Best Places to Work honoree in architecture and engineering for 15 straight years. As a 100% employee-owned company, its ESOP stock has grown more than 27-fold since 2012, and client satisfaction has held near 4.7 out of 5 for 15 years. Recognized among Hawai‘i’s most charitable companies since 2022, the firm designed Kahauiki Village pro bono.

Hitachi Rail Honolulu

O‘ahu · 300 EMPLOYEES
Large Organization Award 1ST PLACE

Hitachi Rail Honolulu operates Skyline, the first fully driverless electric rail system in the United States. It delivered the first nine-station segment in June 2023 and the second four-station segment in October 2025, work recognized in 2023 with Hitachi’s Inspiration of the Year Award, its top honor worldwide. Locally, it feeds a talent pipeline through partnerships with Leeward Community College, the University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu Community College and Waipahu High School, and all 300 O‘ahu employees receive the same benefits and paid on-the-job training.

North Star Scientific Corporation

Waipi‘o, O‘ahu & Oklahoma · 80+ EMPLOYEES
Medium Organization Award 3RD PLACE
Innovation Excellence Award WINNER

In 2001, three locals – a scientist, an electrical engineer and a mathematician – built the first prototype of a radar system in a Waipi‘o garage. Twenty-five years later it is part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s radar infrastructure across land, air and sea platforms, and the company has more than 80 employees in Hawai‘i and Oklahoma. Many engineers come from the University of Hawai‘i system, a pipeline the founders built deliberately to give local talent a reason to stay.

KN Surveying LLC (Kenn S. Nishihira)

O‘ahu · 19 EMPLOYEES

Kenn Nishihira started as a rodman in 1978, helped survey the H-3 freeway for the State of Hawai‘i, and joined the City and County of Honolulu in 1992, earning his professional land surveyor’s license in 1996. He launched KN Surveying in 2000 as a weekend side business and went full-time after retiring from a 30-year public career in 2017, when the company grew from six employees to 19. It now does steady work for builders like DR Horton and Alexander & Baldwin.

KOMODO Hawai‘i LLC

Honolulu, Tokyo & Seoul · 11 IN HAWAI‘I, 36+ GLOBALLY
Small Organization Award 3RD PLACE
Rising Business Award WINNER
Innovation Excellence Award FINALIST

Since launching in 2021, co-founders Ricky Uy and Jack Momose have built KOMODO into one of the few gaming and entertainment technology companies based in Hawai‘i, with teams across Honolulu, Tokyo and Seoul. It develops and publishes video games and is building NIUHI, a manga platform that teaches languages through storytelling. Internally, it champions “artisanal pride,” and Uy was named Tech Entrepreneur of the Year at the Hawai‘i Entrepreneur Awards.

Raising The Standard Consulting, Inc.

O‘ahu · 17 EMPLOYEES

Raising The Standard’s mission is that every worker deserves to go home safely. On O‘ahu’s construction sites, its safety professionals develop site-specific plans, run audits and train workers at every level. Retention is unusually high for the field, reflecting a culture of mentorship and respect, and the firm partners with the military to help transitioning service members build second careers in safety and health.

Island Palm Communities & Hickam Communities / Centinel

O‘ahu, military housing · 400+ LOCAL EMPLOYEES

Island Palm Communities and Hickam Communities, under Centinel Public Partnerships, serve more than 10,000 homes and 31,000 residents across O‘ahu’s military installations and manage more than 16 million square feet of real estate, with solar and battery systems on more than 200 homes. IPC has earned Platinum recognition in Hawaii Business’s Best Places to Work for 11 straight years, a spot in its Hall of Fame, while Hickam has taken Gold for nine years running.

Hospitality, Retail and Community Business

Hana Hou Hospitality

West Maui · ~200 EMPLOYEES
Rising Business Award FINALIST

After the Lahaina wildfire in August 2023, Hana Hou Hospitality delivered more than 5,000 meals to recovery hubs while helping its displaced staff. Māla Ocean Tavern later became the first business on Front Street to reopen. Its concepts, including Māla, Coco Deck Lahaina, Pizza Paradiso and Pineapple Robot, home to Maui’s first robot server, have grown rapidly, with Coco Deck up 380% year over year. Hana Hou also co-founded the Lahaina Food & Wine Festival, which raised $15,000 for local nonprofits in its second year.

Ohana Foods Inc.

Nā‘ālehu, Pāhala & Hilo, Hawai‘i island · 80 EMPLOYEES

Local Legacy Award FINALIST

A single grocery store in Nā‘ālehu has grown, under Carl and Amy Okuyama, into a group of markets, delis and gas stations from Pāhala to Hilo. Its motto – great food, great value, friendly service – works as a job description for every employee. During the recent Kona low storms, its teams packed warm meals and supplies and drove them to families in need without being asked.

StretchLab Hawaii

O‘ahu (Kahala & Waikele) · 90 EMPLOYEES
Rising Business Award FINALIST
Hawai‘i Stewardship Award PRESENTER

StretchLab’s Kahala studio is the top-grossing location in the entire national franchise system, and Waikele ranks third. It offers members the Kupuna Workout, a complimentary strength-training add-on for older adults, keeps compensation competitive and invests in ongoing education for its flexologists. A partnership with Helping Hands Hawai‘i has meant adopting families at Christmas and helping with flood relief.

The Carpet Shoppe Inc. Family of Companies

Statewide · 100 EMPLOYEES
Local Legacy Award FINALIST

Fifty-two years in, The Carpet Shoppe is 100% employee-owned, so the people ringing up orders and answering calls have a direct stake in getting it right. Employee-owners hear directly from customers, and that feedback shapes product selection and service. The company supports animal adoption groups, families affected by recent flooding and an annual United Way drive.

TY Realty, Inc.

O‘ahu · 8 EMPLOYEES
Small Organization Award 1ST PLACE

Since 1995, TY Realty has built one of Hawai‘i’s steadiest corporate and temporary housing businesses, facilitating more than 35,000 reservations. During the pandemic it housed traveling nurses, and after the Maui wildfires it housed FEMA workers.

Southwest Airlines

Statewide · 750 EMPLOYEES IN HAWAI‘I (73,000 NATIONALLY)
Large Organization Award 3RD PLACE
Economic Impact Award FINALIST

Since 2019, Southwest’s Heart for Hawai‘i initiative has put more than $6 million into local nonprofits. With the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i, Southwest flies youth and staff between islands and backs the What’s Next Initiative, a multi-year mentoring cohort that follows eighth graders through high school. In the third year it flies the group to the mainland to tour colleges and trade schools, and it commits to flying each student home and back to campus every semester until they finish their degree, and home again after graduation.

Hawaiian Building Maintenance

Statewide · 700+ EMPLOYEES
Large Organization Award 2ND PLACE
Economic Impact Award WINNER
Workforce Development Award FINALIST

Founded in 1957 as a small family business, Hawaiian Building Maintenance has grown to more than 700 employees while keeping its values of responsibility and reliability. It keeps office buildings, healthcare facilities, schools and public spaces safe and functional. Its partnership with Job Corps Hawai‘i gives young adults ages 16 to 24 hands-on training and a pathway into the workforce, and a newer partnership with Rediscovering Hawai‘i’s Soul extends its commitment to the Islands’ cultural wellbeing.

Wet’n’Wild Hawaii

Kapolei, O‘ahu · 200 EMPLOYEES

Twenty-seven years after opening as Hawai‘i’s first waterpark, Wet’n’Wild is the state’s only 100% solar-powered attraction, a distinction it earned in 2021 with nearly 3,000 high-efficiency panels over its carports. More recently, it added a Tesla Megapack battery system that lets the park store power and sell energy back to the grid. Projected savings of more than $300,000 a year went back into growth: a $2 million investment in Volcanic Wedgeee, the state’s steepest and fastest ride, and Echoa Ridge, a new outdoor venue for up to 5,000 guests. The park has also provided more than 6,000 entry-level jobs.

Wild Side Specialty Tours

Wai‘anae Coast, O‘ahu · 8 EMPLOYEES

Wild Side was built on a bet that ocean tourism could be small, expert and respectful of wildlife rather than optimized for volume. The woman-owned, biologist-led company caps its shared charters and staffs them with crew who are marine naturalists as much as captains. It doesn’t chase animals or guarantee sightings, and its long-term collaborations feed photo-identification catalogs for Hawai‘i’s dolphin and whale populations. Demand for this intentional, small-scale travel has driven real growth.

Ho‘olawa

West Maui

Ho‘olawa is a small shop with an outsized role in West Maui’s story. Owner Megan Dalbec built it around reducing plastic waste and supporting local makers, hires local high schoolers and teaches them retail and small-business skills, and has nudged other local entrepreneurs toward eco-conscious packaging. When the Lahaina wildfires hit, it was one of the few shops still open, a small point of stability in a town that badly needed one.

A Perfect Fit Nanny & Household Staffing Agency

Statewide · 5 EMPLOYEES

With a team of five, A Perfect Fit refuses to treat placements as transactions. Its growth has come almost entirely through referrals, and its retention among both families and placed professionals reflects a matching process built for long-term fit. The agency also advocates for fair pay and sustainable working conditions for nannies and caregivers, and its hiring focuses purely on skill and experience.