Weather might be the no.1 topic of small talk, but sleep – specifically how much of it we’re not getting – is rising fast based on some of my recent conversations. Though we can’t change the weather, we can change our sleep habits – in theory. The problem is it’s often hard to get more sleep and many of us who try are failing. Sleep has recently joined good nutrition and exercise among the broadly accepted foundations of physical and mental well-being. You’ve probably heard that lack of sleep is the new smoking, a designation that, of course, makes people even more anxious about not getting se ..read more

First Hawaiian Bank (FHB) announced it donated a total of $5.2 million to community and nonprofit organizations in 2023: $2,480,437 in Bank donations, $1,920,250 in First Hawaiian Bank Foundation grants, and $854,615 from the Bank’s employee-funded Kōkua Mai campaign. The news comes with the release of its annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.   On March 2, 2024, a group of FHB employees gathered at Nānākuli High & Intermediate School for a YesTeam community service project with Teach for America. | Photo: courtesy of First Hawaiian Bank Committed to respon ..read more

Melody Calisay started importing Filipino food products because of her family. “I want to help my family in the Philippines,” she says. And by importing food products, “I can help them make money.” Calisay grew up poor and says her parents couldn’t afford to send her to her top-choice colleges. Instead, she attended the University of the Philippines, where then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos was offering students free tuition. “I didn’t have a choice,” says Calisay. “It was the work ethic, the commitment that I really needed to finish because I am the eldest of seven.” After graduating, she wor ..read more

If it seems like hotels are constantly undergoing renovations, it’s because they are. “You have a hotel that renovates 500 rooms, getting rid of carpet and paneling and flooring. They do this every few years; that’s why the level of construction and demolition waste is so high on O‘ahu,” says Joelle Simonpietri, president of Simonpietri Enterprises. “We can’t turn it all into energy but we can certainly try.” The company’s Aloha Carbon is a brand, she explains, that will make renewable fuel out of solid waste materials, such as treated and painted lumber that would normally go into a landfill ..read more

Whenever Butch Haase sees an ‘iliahi plant in the wild, he makes sure to plant a few seeds. “Each ‘iliahi fruit has a single seed inside it,” he says, squeezing out a dark purple pulp that stains the tips of his fingers. “We found that you can take that seed, find a little location that’s protected, and poke it right into the ground, just one joint of your finger. And it’ll take root and flourish, no need for a nursery!” ‘Iliahi is an endemic Hawaiian species, and it’s just one of a range of native plants being reintroduced at Mokio Preserve, a remote, 1,769-acre preserve at the corner of nor ..read more

At its start 15 years ago, Fly Shuttle & Tours consisted of two vans and two brothers, Tim and Thai Lai. Its primary service linked visitors with the airport and their Waikīkī hotels. But the Lais had bigger goals, many of which have already been achieved. The brothers moved to Hawai‘i from Southern California, where their parents had settled with their five children after fleeing Vietnam in the final days of war. One of their biggest admirers is Dean Calibraro, now the company’s chief marketing officer. He remembers his first weekly meetings with the pair took place in one of the company ..read more

Plumbing bills can shock you, but Shane Mizusawa wants to spare customers of 535 Plumbing that pain. “We are very transparent and upfront,” he says. “Most plumbing companies will just try to book you, get a plumber out there, and charge an assessment fee, but we try our best to educate clients over the phone and give them an idea of what to expect before we even get there.” 535 Plumbing won’t charge an assessment fee unless a client can’t provide photos or a description of the issue, but Mizusawa says 99% of the time people can and do. That way, clients can get an idea of the cost and “make su ..read more

Sales and Marketing Executives Association of Honolulu has chosen Chad Buck, founder, owner and CEO of the Hawai‘i Foodservice Alliance, as its 2023 Salesperson of the Year. He will be honored at SME’s annual gala June 13 at the Sheraton Waikiki. “We select honorees based on contributions to the quality of life as well as enhancing the image of the state,” says SME President Robin Kennedy. “Based on Hawai‘i Foodservice Alliance’s record of philanthropy and in particular to their dedication to serving the victims of the Maui wildfires, we are proud to honor HFA Founder and CEO Chad Buck as SME ..read more

Lights On just celebrated its 10th anniversary, but as with many small businesses, its early days were less bright. CEO Will Song and his business partner, Patrick Ahler, who serves as Lights On’s president, started out in the hospitality industry at Aqua Hotels & Resorts. They realized their skills – revenue management and digital marketing – were in high demand with independent hotels and resorts and decided to start their own business. “We were so excited to help shape the market,” recalls Song of the launch. There was just one problem: no clients. “We flew to Kaua‘i and knocked on door ..read more

This year’s REPI Challenge projects will bring millions in environmental project funding to Hawai‘i. REPI is the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program. It’s designed to establish collaborative partnerships with state and local governments, as well as private conservation organizations, to protect and restore natural resources and the environment, and to establish compatible land uses near military installations and ranges. The seven new REPI Challenge projects announced for Hawai‘i in fiscal year 2024 focus on habitat preservation, reforestation, w ..read more