Hawaii is ground zero for energy innovation, and the leading incubator for that innovation is the Energy Excelerator. Back in 2014, when Hawaii Business first reported on EEx, 50 startups applied to join its initial cohort. This year, there were…
Now in its 12th year, Hawaii Business magazine ranks the state's top employers. Read on and learn what makes these companies one of the best places to work in the state. THE RIGHT STUFF What It Takes to Keep Employees…
Friday, 12:22 pm Bishop Museum, Kalihi Photo by Kent Nishimura As part of a show at Bishop Museum, senior science educator Hadley Andersen melts basalt cinder in a brass furnace that reaches over 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. She’s wearing a fire…
"My store got blasted on Yelp. What do I do now?" You and your staff can deliver great service and products, all with a smile, yet still get a bad review online. You can’t control what people say about you,…
It was hard to tell who was more honored to be at the Hawaii Prince Hotel for the "20 For the Next 20," the 18 honorees or audience. There was a buzz in…
“THIS IS AN AWESOME NIGHT,” Kawika Riley, chief advocate at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said last March as he and 19 others were introduced as Hawaii Business’ 20 for the Next 20, class of 2015. Proud family and friends…
Saying no does not come easy in Hawaii, where we emphasize the Aloha spirit. But being selective about where to direct your energy, efforts and time is an important part of leadership. Executive coach Alison Zecha offers tips on when,…
EACH YEAR, Hawaii Business selects 20 emerging leaders who have already made major contributions to Hawaii and whom we expect to have an even greater impact over the next two decades. Let us introduce you to Hawaii’s People to Watch,…
Friday, 7:30 pm Oahu Transit Services, Inc. Middle Street Photo by Mathew Ursua It takes about five fluid ounces of soap and four gallons of recycled city water to wash one of Honolulu’s 540 city buses, says Oahu Transit Services,…
I’m hearing a lot of buzz about cause marketing. How do I get my small business started on it? Cause marketing aligns a brand with a cause in the community, such as sustainability, helping children or homelessness. When executed strategically,…
Monday, 3:11 pm Blood Bank of Hawaii Dillingham Boulevard Photo By Odeelo Dayondon Noelle Andrews and Cody Stoll place red blood cells, which have undergone 13 tests, into inventory at the Blood Bank of Hawaii. The Blood Bank is the sole…
With the new year, many middle managers are setting their sights on the C-suite. The stable economy and low unemployment make for the right external conditions, but will you be up for the challenge? Executive recruiter Judy Bishop, founder of…
Interest rates are going up. What can I do to keep my cost of borrowing affordable? Interest rates have been low for so long that many borrowers take them for granted. Savvy business owners, however, are closely watching interest rates…
It is difficult to become a better leader when you don’t know precisely what changes to make. But some people are so afraid of constructive feedback they don’t ask for it. Or, their negative response to feedback may cause others…
How do I prevent competitors from poaching my employees? You can’t control what your competitors do, but you have a lot of control over whether your employees want to stay or go. A perfect storm of low unemployment, geographic isolation,…
Tuesday, 11:34 am Pearlridge Center Photo by Josiah Patterson Stephanie Lake stores the elements to her larger-than-life holiday displays in this room at Pearlridge Center. Awaiting her creative touch are 16 plastic Christmas…
YES! A Memoir of Modern Hawaii By Walter Dods Jr., with Gerry Keir and Jerry Burris Walter Dods Jr. was born in Honolulu just before Pearl Harbor, the first of seven children in a close-knit family that struggled to pay…
Tuesday, 10:52 AM The Salvation Army 322 Sumner St., Iwilei Mabel Kihamahana cuts and sews fabric to refurbish donated furniture at The Salvation Army in Honolulu. Each cushion takes her about 20 minutes to reupholster. Kihamahana’s 40th anniversary with…
My company doesn’t have a budget for an end-of-year party, but I wanted to do something to show my gratitude to my employees for their hard work. Any low-cost suggestions? There are ways to say “thank you” that are reasonable…
Final bioplastic product: The Miss Sissi lamp. More info: tinyur.com/hnei-bioplastic UH researcher got help from microorganisms to invent green product The Creator Jian Yu didn’t set out to find a way to re-use organic waste. When he first moved to…
HECO’s Ownership Not the Crucial Factor More important is the utility’s skill and innovation in adapting to disruption in the electricity sector I appreciate the efforts of Hawaii Business and Dennis Hollier to dig deep into the complex issues of…
Monday, 6:08 PM Oahu Cemetery, Nuuanu photo by Aaron K. Yoshino Danny Villarin is one of seven caretakers who maintain the grounds and buildings at Oahu Cemetery. There are no more interments at the…
MANY PEOPLE CAN'T imagine leaving the intimate communities and beautiful aina of their favorite Neighbor Island, even though that may limit their career opportunities. Executive and personal coach Sydney Wiecking offers ways to reduce those limitations and turn your home into…
IF CARVING PUMPKINS during Halloween season is too conventional for you, Island Divers Hawaii offers the chance to do it underwater, which is as challenging as you would guess. “You go down there with high hopes that you’re going to…
QUESTION: Now that Windows 10 is out, I’m wondering: Should I upgrade or wait? Our company is small and doesn’t have a lot of resources or IT expertise. ANSWER: Since its release in July, there have been tens of millions of…
IN HER NEW BOOK, “Why Smart Men Do the Same Dumb Things: A Warrior’s Manual for Change,” Rosalie K. Tatsuguchi explores the idea that an inflexible “samurai attitude” holds back men – and many women – from a rich life and traps…
Phuong-Thao Nguyen’s work at Hawaiian Telcom will affect everyone in the state. It’s important to maintain the passion that first drew you to STEM, says Phuong-Thao Nguyen of Hawaiian Telcom. “Passion is your sense of curiosity,…
Tuesday, 9:49 AM 1723 Kalakaua Ave. Photo by Aaron Yoshino Carpenter Helaman Miyamoto attaches the male side of a form saver during construction of a 17-story senior living facility kitty-corner from the Hawaii…
RESTAURATEURS SEEM TO lead charmed lives. They pick where they work, set their own hours, create a pleasant atmosphere and run a place where…
AS LEADERS, it’s the risks we don’t take that we regret the most, says professional coach Mary Kuentz. She suggests you can begin to get more comfortable with risk by changing how you think about it. 1. Question your relationship…
Friday 9:54 AM University of Hawaii Hangar, Kalaeloa Airport Photo by Odeelo Dayondon The Solar Impulse airplane will spend the winter in Hawaii, after completing the longest and most challenging leg of its…
CLASSIC BURNOUT SIGNS include exhaustion, lack of motivation and feelings of chronic stress on the job. Strike a chord? Executive coach Nina Cherry shares how you can end burnout and foster a better work-life balance. 1. Do what you love So…
This Month's Expert Blenn Fujimoto Executive VP & Specialized Markets Division Manager at Central Pacific Bank Q: I’m saddled with student-loan debt, but would like to start my own business. How can I get started? A: STUDENT-LOAN DEBT can be a…
Wednesday, 2:17 pm Lyon Arboretum Photo by Aaron Yoshino Laboratory manager Cindy Yamamoto tends to one of the endangered plant species at the arboretum. The plants live in test tubes that contain food…
Question: I have a great idea for a company, but I can’t come up with a name. How do I get started? Answer: Naming a business requires careful thought. Here are pointers to get you started: Define your brand…
MOLOKAI IS OFTEN characterized as the Island with Hawaii's highest unemployment rate. That's unfortunate, because most of the residents work hard to earn a living. So we asked photographer PF Bentley, who lives on the Friendly Isle, to showcase his…
If you have good ideas that you want implemented at your workplace, executive coach Wendy Nakamura offers these ways to position yourself as an agent of change.
Flexibility and Work/Life Balance Advice From Someone Who's Been There
WHEN CHEF ED KENNY envisioned his new Kaimuki restaurant, Mud Hen Water, he aspired to totally integrate sustainability.…
WAIALUA, Oahu – Liz Ryan takes a bite of asparagus, just plucked from the ground at Twin Bridge Farms in Waialua. “Man, that’s good,” says the 59-year-old from Hot Springs, Arizona, who had never eaten fresh-picked asparagus before. “It’s a…
Hawaii Business magazine is pleased to announce the Top 100 Realtors for 2015 – the gold standard in identifying the state’s top performers. This list is the only objective ranking of real estate agents in Hawaii for the ninth consecutive…
This tunnel-boring machine, with a 13-foot diameter, will cut its way through basalt rock to create a 3.1-mile tunnel that will bring sewage from the Kaneohe pre-treatment plant to the Kailua treatment plant. The estimated cost of the project is…
Final look Friday, 12:52 p.m. Hawaii Camera, Kaimuki Photo by Aaron Yoshino Josh Strickland, founder and CEO of Hawaii Camera, inspects one before renting it out. Since opening its doors in 2009, the…
Question: Is there an easy way to protect my company’s intellectual property? Answer: Protecting your IP is simple if you follow a few basic steps. If you have already started your company, consider the types of intellectual property you have…
Profiles of five great local companies that you should know about.
Here are the 24 local entrepreneurs, companies and champions honored for the 2015 Small Business Administration Awards.
Our cover was created by Matt Tapia, a nationally recognized illustrator and hand-lettering artist, born and raised in Hawaii. He’s done work for clients ranging from Nike to Zoo York. His approach is…
Only Half of Hawaii Got a Raise QMark Research surveyed 400 people statewide for Hawaii Business and asked if they got a raise over the past two years. Here is what those who work outside the home told QMark: Raises…
Mary Fastenau Partner at Anthology Marketing Group and founder of its digital division AnthologyMarketing.com Question: What should I consider when revamping my business’s website? Answer: It’s time to redo your website, but where do you start? Everybody from Google to…
Wednesday, 10:35 A.m. Working Class Tattoo, Kaimuki Photo by Olivier Koning Owner Steven Lam meticulously inspects a sterilized needle through a magnifying loupe to ensure it is straight and sharp before it punctures flesh. Lam says that during the manufacturing…
Find out who led the way in 14 categories, and how two organizations attract and keep employees despite serious challenges.
Many eat cockroaches and ants, while others dine on spiders and centipedes. Though you may see your home as yours, geckos see it otherwise. They are often highly territorial and usually claim a part of your house as their own.
