Hawaii Business Magazine - March 2018

Aloha Tofu Factory Offers a Unique Product

Iris Huynh organizes piping hot aburage as it drops from the frying machine. Aloha Tofu Factory in Iwilei is the only local business producing the deep-fried tofu pouches, says company president Paul Uyehara. Six of the company’s 35 employees work…

20 for the Next 20: Hawaii’s People to Watch 2018

They have already proven themselves by their accomplishments, intelligence, charisma, leadership and passion, but we expect even more from them in the future. They come from all walks of life, including businesses, nonprofits and education. Learn about the 2018 cohort of the 20 for the Next 20 below.

5 Steps to Building Trust in the Workplace

R. Scott Simon is a coach to business leaders and leadership teams, and vividly recalls conversations with prospective clients who said they needed to create trust in their organizations. “More discussion revealed that what they really wanted was to ‘fix’…

Immigrants Get The Job Done In Hawaii

Here’s who they are and what they contribute to the local economy. Immigrants have an outsized place in Hawaii’s history. In the 19th and early 20th centuries they came from Japan, China, Puerto Rico and the Portuguese Azores and sustained…

20 for the Next 20 Community Project: Housing for the Homeless

There were dozens of volunteers on this December morning at Kahauiki Village, an 11.3-acre development that will eventually provide long-term housing to 153 homeless families on Oahu. Though there was excitement in the air, it was surprisingly quiet for a…

Finding Sunken Ships and Discovering their Secrets

Name: Hans Van Tilburg Age: 56 Job: Maritime archaeologist and diving supervisor, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Maritime Heritage Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Start: Hans Van Tilburg was born in New Jersey and raised in California. “My mother’s…

Don’t Always Fear Raising Your Prices

When was the last time you evaluated your prices? Does this process make you uncomfortable? Let me share a story about a friend and the surprise he experienced when he increased his prices. My friend and his wife had been…

Proving Ground for Young Talent

Students compete to demonstrate their entrepreneurial chops Rose Wong’s first job was at 14 working as a cashier and sushi roller for Kozo Sushi. Three years and seven jobs later, tired of minimum wage, she launched Kolohe Ocean Gems while…

Talk Story: Eric Yeaman, President and COO, First Hawaiian Bank

Eric Yeaman was named 2018’s Salesperson of the Year by the Honolulu chapter of Sales and Marketing Executives. Cheryl Oncea continues a Hawaii Business publishers’ tradition by interviewing this year’s honoree about sales and leadership. Q: You are being recognized as…

My Company’s Bennies Only Cater to Old Folks

Reader asks why local companies don’t offer the 21st century benefits offered by progressive Mainland companies Q: I’m back from college and grad school on the Mainland and really trying to make my way in Hawaii. I turned down better-paying…

Helping Women In Need

“I came here on vacation when I was 19. I decided then what I wanted to do with my life was move to Hawaii, become a cocktail waitress, marry a surfer and drive a moped,” Mary Scott-Lau recalls with a…

Maternity Tourism in Hawaii

These two companies help pregnant Chinese women obtain visas and fly to Hawaii so their children are born here and get U.S. citizenship Goen Gao runs a tourism company for Chinese visitors called Hawaii Lulutrip, and a side business called HI…

The Best of Startup Paradise 2018

Meet the 27 winners and finalists of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association awards. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and flourishing in Hawaii, aka Startup Paradise. A total of 27 companies and individuals were honored at the Hawaii Venture Capital Association’s annual…

How Engaged is Your Workforce?

Employee engagement is measured by the commitment level an individual has in helping a company achieve its business goals.   Engagement in the American Workplace Benefits of An Engaged Workforce An engaged workforce leads to improved productivity, stronger company performance,…

Senior Living Guide

Our kupuna deserve the best. Plan well, choose wisely and create the golden years they deserve. Hawaii residents maintain the highest life expectancy in the country at 81.3 years. But the blessing of long lives comes with its own problems:…

Spaces & Places 2018

As an ideal meetings destination, Hawaii has everything to welcome guests and host inspiring gatherings. A Meetings Paradise Hawaii’s exceptional meeting venues, world-class lodging options and warm hospitality make it ideal for all types of gatherings. That includes large-scale conventions,…

Big Issues & Providers in Healthcare

Health care is ever changing. This month, we asked the top managers from different areas of health care to share their vision of what health care should look like in Hawaii. Keep this guide as a ready reference throughout the…

Do B&Bs Help or Hurt Your Business?

Most business say neither, but there’s a shift over time among those who see an effect The BOSS survey asked 402 local business leaders about the impact on their companies of visitors who use B&Bs and other nonhotel accommodations outside…