The Hawaii Business Podcast

Incoming CEO Kūhaʻo of Sig Zane Designs discusses how to merge the western business perspective with the Hawaiian principle of reciprocity. His worldview is shaped by his 30-year hula practice. In this episode, Zane shares his thoughts on how Hawai‘i can adopt a regenerative tourism model, why it’s important for local businesses to learn from and invest in Hawaiian culture, and how Sig Zane Design...

S1E15, Kitty Yannone, CommPac by Hawaii Business Magazine

CEO of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Elisia Flores shares her family's success story, her plans to continue growing that legacy, and how she is giving back to the community. Flores and host, Unyong Nakata, also open up and share their personal journeys with assisted pregnancies, a topic that they believe should be discussed more. They advocate for more meaningful dialogue around this topic and hope their...

Chris Benjamin’s inner compass of diverse thinking and willingness to hear diverse voices has helped him lead Alexander & Baldwin to becoming 100% Hawai‘i focused. Ten years ago, almost two-thirds of A&B’s commercial real estate were spread across the U.S., but now, the company is reinvesting its assets locally.

Suzanne Vares-Lum’s new mission is to bolster global dialogue and equity through the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. As the East-West Center president, Vares-Lum hopes her servant leader lens will help her promote good governance across the Pacific and mentor the next generation of leaders.

As the chairman and CEO of Servco Pacific Inc., Mark Fukunaga puts his trust in his employees because he believes it’s essential to have for any organization to run. Now, with over 2,000 employees, the state’s largest privately-owned company has been on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work list every year since 2005.

An outsider who has adopted local style leadership from the start, Dave Moss has paved the way for the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra to thrive for the next 100 years. His “can do” perspective, passion for partnerships, and ability to balance fiscal and cultural levers have positioned the Orchestra to take the music to the people wherever they are ready to enjoy the symphonic experience. This viola-tr...

Dr. Patrick Sullivan decodes the impossible through global collaboration. Publisher of Intellectual Anarchy, the founder and CEO of Oceanit generates disruptive solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems, taking complex ideas to markets beyond Hawaiʻi's shores.

Deena Dray Continues To Honor Diamond Head Theatre Legacy For more than 25 years, the executive director has encouraged younger generations to pursue careers in the art and theatre industry because it teaches them valuable life skills.

Colbert Matsumoto’s zen-like leadership style comes from his Japanese heritage. For over 20 years, the Island Holdings chairman has guided the organization with influence from his Japanese culture and obsession for problem solving to make a difference in Hawai‘i. Matsumoto has been at the helm of Island Holdings guiding the organization with equal parts Zen and obsession for problem solving to mak...

Bold and outspoken, John Fink exemplifies the style of nonprofit leadership our community needs to break down silos, connect divergent groups, and effectuate a statewide CHANGE Initiative for sustainable impact. This East Coast transplant, whose aloha for Hawaiʻi and its stories runs deep, has been the voice in our living rooms for decades. Now as the CEO of the Aloha United Way, his voice and hea...

As a serial green entrepreneur, John Leong aims to empower youth through environmental stewardship opportunities and spread awareness on the importance of ʻāina.

Meli James is fearless and catalytic. After a career in hospitality and in Silicon Valley’s start-up scene, she brought her experience home to grow Hawai‘i's innovation economy. In this episode, we talk with her about the art of persuasion in weaving shared goals, not being afraid to ask for help and finding a symbiotic business partner.

From an idyllic Windward childhood to Silicon Valley and back, to becoming a torch bearer of Hawaiʻi’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, Susan Yamada exemplifies failing fast, failing forward and being in the right place at the right time.

Strong roots with agile branches and an everlasting capacity for service define Dr. Diane Paloma's path from Kamehameha Schools alumna to healthcare rising star and now President and CEO of Hawai‘i's largest dental insurance provider, Hawaii Dental Service.

Servant Leader. Superhero of Peace. All around good guy – Arnold Martines, President and COO of Central Pacific Bank, joins us to talk story about innovation, culture, giving back, and the importance of remembering where you came from. 842101

Six local leaders in health care discuss coronavirus, health disparities, tomorrow’s doctors and nurses, and more at Hawaii Business Magazine's CHANGE event. Panel: - Richard P. Bettini, president and CEO, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center - Bob Harrison, president and CEO, First Hawaiian Bank and chair of the Health & Wellness Committee of the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative - Dr. Joseph...

Six local leaders in health care discuss coronavirus, health disparities, tomorrow’s doctors and nurses, and more at Hawaii Business Magazine's CHANGE event. Panel: - Richard P. Bettini, president and CEO, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center - Bob Harrison, president and CEO, First Hawaiian Bank and chair of the Health & Wellness Committee of the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative - Dr. Joseph...

Half of Hawaii barely gets by. Hear from our speakers about what is being done to help low-income working families and how to: - Grow and strengthen the local economy through innovation and diversification. - Help families get onto a sustainable footing. - Increase Hawaii’s supply of affordable housing. Panelists include: - Rich Wacker, President & CEO, American Savings Bank - Christine Camp, Pres...

Half of Hawaii barely gets by. Hear from our speakers about what is being done to help low-income working families and how to: - Grow and strengthen the local economy through innovation and diversification. - Help families get onto a sustainable footing. - Increase Hawaii’s supply of affordable housing. Panelists include: - Rich Wacker, President & CEO, American Savings Bank - Christine Camp, Pres...