In the latest Hawaii Business Podcast episode, Ken Sakurai, CEO of Coastal Construction, discuses his experiences in the construction industry, the impact his family had on the success of the 50-year-old company, and how its collaboration with Castle & Cooke on a Mililani housing project paved the way for light-gauge steel framing in Hawaiʻi. Sakurai also talks about his company’s dedication to its workforce, with employees boasting nearly half a century of service, and how Coastal Construction’s involvement in a $54.4 million affordable housing project in Kona reflects its commitment to c ..read more

For Rick Ching, the senior advisor and global mobility board director of Servco Pacific, fostering servant leadership and advocating for inclusivity was all part of the journey. He shares how Servco Pacific drew from Google’s principles of respect, service, team work and innovation to create and adopt a servant leadership framework. That work, plus Disney Institute training, has resulted in a workplace culture that goes beyond the traditional corporate paradigm. For example, Servco created allyship groups so that diverse teams can voice opinions on policy decisions. Ching says this demonstrate ..read more

Chuck Buck, founder and CEO of Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance shares insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth, highlighting his unique approach to business and leadership that has made a lasting impact on the Hawaiian islands. In this episode of The Hawaii Business Podcast, we delve into the journey of Chad Buck, owner and CEO of Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance. Buck’s journey, from childhood struggles to building a successful business, is a tale of determination. HFA, founded in 2002, has become the largest distributor of perishable foods statewide, serving retailers such as C ..read more

Kevin Chang, the Executive Director of Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, discusses the organization's mission to empower rural Hawaiian communities and promote community-based natural resource management. With origins dating back to 2003 and Chang joining in 2011, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo has established itself as a driving force for positive environmental change across the Islands. Chang emphasized the cultural significance of fishponds and their role as key components of traditional land stewardship. He also introduced the Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa network, a statewide initiative that fosters dialogue among fishpon ..read more

Kaimana Brummel has long been a bridge builder, but in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, that role took on a new life as she helped connect organizations and displaced residents with life-sustaining resources. Brummel has also been working with the People’s Fund of Maui, a fund started by Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson that provides direct support to impacted Lahaina and Kula residents. Winfrey and Johnson together contributed $10 million. Brummel is part of a group of community members helping to convey what residents need. Brummel is the director of advancement at Seabury Hal ..read more

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, President & CEO, Avalon Development Group - Karen Tan, President & CEO, Child & Family Service - Norm Baker, COO & Interim CEO, Aloha United Way - Sterling Higa, Lecturer, Hawaii Pacif ..read more

Kaimana Brummel has long been a bridge builder, but in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, that role took on a new life as she helped connect organizations and displaced residents with life-sustaining resources. Brummel has also been working with the People’s Fund of Maui, a fund started by Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson that provides direct support to impacted Lahaina and Kula residents. Winfrey and Johnson together contributed $10 million. Brummel is part of a group of community members helping to convey what residents need. Brummel is the director of advancement at Seabury Hal ..read more

Mary Fastenau, senior partner at Anthology Marketing Group, fondly recalls the Internet’s early digital marketing potential and the growth of what is now the state’s largest integrated marketing and communications agency. “It’s the beauty of what’s going on in digital, even today, is that … you can test, you can look and you can make sure that your hypothesis, even if they’re very well researched, that they are actually relating to real people,” she says. Starr Siegle became Anthology Marketing Group in 2007. Today, the agency is part of Finn Partners, a global marketing and communications fir ..read more

The Shaka Tea co-founder Bella Hughes shares her career journey and how the lessons she’s learned have helped shaped her into the leader she is today. Bella Hughes is an angel investor who invests in female entrepreneurs to help address the sexism that women commonly face when looking for financial backers. Women, she says, only receive about 1.9% of all invested capital. “I think when you empower women and minorities, they tend to give back tenfold and we can then create that abundance, we can create that change,” she says. One of Hughes’ goals is to help support more female entrepreneurs, su ..read more

Jack Wong, CEO of Kamehameha Schools, shares his background, how he manages such a big responsibility and the trust’s priorities. Wong served as a senior counsel for Kamehameha Schools in 1997. He became CEO in 2014 when former CEO Dee Jay Mailer stepped down. The charitable trust serves over 7,000 students at its K-12 campuses and preschools, manages 363,000 acres of land, and employs about 3,000 people. As a leader, he says most of his job is getting staff members excited about their work and helping them do their best. One of Kamehameha Schools’ priorities is to shift to a mindset rooted in ..read more