Hawaii Business Magazine September 2023 by aio Hawaiʻi

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L O C A L LY O W N E D , L O C A L LY C O M M I T T E D SINCE 1955

REGENERATIVE TOURISM Efforts to Make the Vision a Reality P. 24

THI S I S S UE WAS CRE ATED BEFORE THE L AHAINA FIRE

Joel Guy and Sherman Maka of the Hanalei Initiative at Kaua‘i’s Hā‘ena State Park HAWAIIBUSINESS .COM

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority works to welcome visitors from around the world, and to holistically manage tourism in our communities. Our message and our mission is to Mālama Hawai‘i – to care for our beloved home, advancing a regenerative model of tourism that balances the needs of kama‘āina and natural resources while sustaining Hawai‘i’s economic engine. Learn more about our work at hawaiitourismauthority.org.

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FEATURES Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Excelerator, one of our Sustainability Heroes.

Hawai‘i Experiments in Regenerative Tourism New approaches have cropped up around the Islands aimed at protecting the ‘āina and reversing residents’ antagonism to what they feel is overtourism. 4

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Profiles of 6 of Hawai‘i’s Sustainability Heroes The inspiring stories of three companies, two nonprofits and one individual that are taking significant climate action – with local and global results.

New Normal in Car Sales Is Different from the Old Hawai‘i’s largest dealer says 90% of vehicles coming in are specifically ordered by customers. Plus EVs and hybrids are now one in seven of all vehicles sold.

Tech and Innovations Improve Farm Production The changes have come mostly on high-end Hawai‘i farms, but they may eventually make farming a more attractive and stable career for more people.

Cesspools Kill Our Coral But Real Solutions Exist One of Hawai‘i’s experts on cesspool solutions explains the damage being done and ways to reverse it, which includes creating treated wastewater for irrigation. PH OTO BY A A R O N YO S H I N O

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CONTENTS

Habilitat Gives New Life to Recovering Addicts Executive Chef Justin Worthington, left, and Sous Chef Nicholas Schneider prepare food in the nonprofit’s kitchen. Habilitat stresses vocational training during its rehab program.

Hawaii Business Wins 25 National and Statewide Awards Staff Writer Noelle Fujii-Oride leads the way with seven prizes, including three for first place. 12 He Helps Grieving Families During Loved One’s Final Days Joseph Eppink’s emotionally challenging job is as a “death doula” at Bristol Hospice. 14

Hawai‘i’s Rainiest Place Is Now the Big Bog on Maui It gets an average of 31.6 feet of rain a year and the state climatologist explains why it’s so wet. 19 Older O‘ahu High-Rise Condos Must Install Fire Sprinklers But the law gives them seven years to pass HFD’s evaluation and 15 years to finish the work. 22 We Rank 65 Prominent Local Organizations on Profit/Loss Last year’s No. 1 repeats at the top of our annual list of Hawai‘i’s Most Profitable Companies. 85

preX Helps Local Companies to Scale Their Businesses The virtual accelerator program run by XLR8HI has graduated 111 businesses since launching during the pandemic. 95 Coral Restoration Nonprofit Combines New and Old Wisdom Kuleana Coral Restoration maps, researches and restores coral around O‘ahu, and educates communities. 98

SPECI A L A DV ERTI SI NG SECTI ON S West O‘ahu Exciting developments in this dynamic area. 33 AIA’s 2023 Awards Recognizing architectural design excellence in Hawai‘i. 63

O N T H E C OV E R

Photo by Aaron Yoshino

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SEPTEMBER 2023

PHOTO: AARON YOSHINO

Top 10 Marine Life You’ll Likely See When Snorkeling Locally Pictures and identifying information will help you name what you see. 10

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2023

PRESENTED BY

Join us for the 16th Annual Wahine Forum on Friday, October 27, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village! Hawai‘i’s top female executives, entrepreneurs, up-and-coming leaders, and young professionals come together for the state’s largest professional development conference to learn, connect, and build community. Real women will share real advice on how to ﬁnd personal and professional resilience during valuable skill-building and inspirational sessions.

F E AT U R E D K E Y N O T E S P E A K E R :

Morra Aarons-Mele knows that taking your mental health seriously is a leadership strength. She is the author of “Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower” and host of The Anxious Achiever podcast for LinkedIn Presents. Morra is also an entrepreneur and communications executive. She has helped three U.S. presidential candidates and a range of mission-driven organizations create communications, marketing, and fundraising campaigns. In addition, she speaks to and consults frequently with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and U.S. government agencies.

SCHEDULE:

• 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Registration, Networking, Continental Breakfast • 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Opening General Session • 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Morning I Breakout Sessions

• 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Morning II Breakout Sessions • 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch & Networking • 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions • 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closing General Session

PLUS, A SPECIAL TA L K S T O RY & P E R FO R M A N C E BY:

Na Leo Pilimehana

J O I N U S FO R I N S P I R AT I O N , C O N N E C T I O N , R E J U V E N AT I O N , A N D E M P OW E R M E N T ! FO R M O R E I N FO R M AT I O N , V I S I T H AWA I I B U S I N E S S .C O M/ WA H I N E 2 0 2 3

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Our “Welcome to Hawai‘i” Should Have Limits

EOPLE ARE SOMETIMES SHOCKED

by my unrealistic insistence that we ban all budget travelers from Hawai‘i. You know the varied types of people on discount vacations: families of four who jam into one discount hotel room; 20-somethings with only backpacks for luggage and whose favored accommodation is a tent; and seniors who ride TheBus everywhere, only attend free events and get most of their calories from Costco samples. In my ruthless fantasy world, I would use artificial intelligence to identify the cheapskates before they got off their planes, detain them at the gate and put them on the first flight out to a cheaper tourism destination like Florida or Myrtle Beach. Of course, the most realistic way to prevent budget travelers from coming is to raise the cost of vacationing in Hawai‘i – which means even the biggest cheapskates spend more money here than they otherwise would. You know the phrase “It’s for your own good.” This is for our own good. For the good of Hawai‘i and the people of Hawai‘i. When budget travelers spend a week here, they leave impacts like everyone does – think of those college students hiking seven trails in seven days while leaving us with only a few hundred dollars of their spending money and much less in taxes. That’s a great deal for them, but a raw deal for kama‘āina and the ‘āina itself, and the opposite of regenerative tourism. I love Hawai‘i too much to welcome that deal. I prefer when hotels can get $800 and more a night for a room, as long a good chunk of that ends up in local workers’ pockets and the taxes get paid. CHANGES IN TOURISM

Staff Writer and Engagement Editor Noelle Fujii-Oride writes in this issue about various forms of regenerative tourism around the Islands – methods that share the same goal as my radical proposal. They want tourists to leave smaller footprints and give back enough in time and money so Hawai‘i’s people – inside and outside the tourism industry – can have a decent quality of life. And the land and sea will flourish. More money is a huge factor: better wages for tourism workers, money to fix roads, sewers and hiking trails and to finance cesspool conversions and save our coral (another story in this issue), and a million other purposes. 8

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People in popular destinations worldwide are demanding their own forms of regenerative tourism. One August story in The New York Times listed increased taxes and fees at many European tourist meccas to help pay for city services: • Amsterdam raised the tourist accommodation tax. • Barcelona now charges visitors a “city surcharge” on top of its accommodation tax. • The Croatian city of Dubrovnik imposed a tax on cruise ships. • Even Manchester – not among my top destinations in England except for soccer – has imposed a hotel tax. • And on the English coast, the town of St. Ives is charging visitors 40 pence to use the toilets. THE REGENERATIVE PREMIUM

Politicians added the charges because of pressure from voters who felt the benefits of tourism were outweighed by the price residents were paying for it in their daily lives. The increased taxes seek to redress the imbalance. Tourist taxes are the subject of endless debate in Hawai‘i. Many people outside the tourism industry love to raise taxes on tourists – more gain and less pain for locals, they say. But the tourism industry says every time we raise taxes on tourists or increase fees, we drive some to go elsewhere. Undoubtedly true, but the tougher questions are: Do we really want those budget travelers who are driven away, and how many tourists are too many for Hawai‘i? The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and DBEDT know public sentiment cannot be ignored. That’s why they regularly survey residents with questions like: Is tourism an industry that enhances residents’ quality of life? In both DBEDT surveys last year, the yeas and nays of varying intensity came out about even. Not a ringing endorsement for an industry dependent on the aloha spirit. For regenerative tourism, popular destinations like Amsterdam and Barcelona can charge a premium and still draw lots of affluent tourists. In Hawai‘i, we can too, and we’ll eventually discover just how much of a regenerative premium.

STEVE PETRANIK EDITOR

HB EVENTS CONNECT WITH HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE L O C A L LY OW N E D , L O C A L LY C O M M I T T E D SINCE 1955.

Our goal is to strengthen the local economy and help our communities thrive. Editor & Interim Publisher STEVE PETRANIK stevep@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 534−7584 Editorial Managing Editor CYNTHIA WESSENDORF cynthiaw@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 534−7529 Staff Writer & Engagement Editor NOELLE FUJII-ORIDE

noellef@hawaiibusiness.com Staff Writer CHAVONNIE RAMOS chavonnier@hawaiibusiness.com Copy Editor ELROY GARCIA Interns TORI DEJOURNETT, CURSTYN YOSHIMOTO Design & Photography Creative Director KELSEY IGE kelseyi@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 534−7179 Art Director MALLORY ADAMS-NAKAMURA malloryan@hawaiibusiness.com Contributing Designer AMY LOWE Staff Photographer AARON YOSHINO Digital Digital Marketing Director JOELLE CABASA joellec@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 534−7531 Digital Media Specialist MICHELLE TAN michellet@hawaiibusiness.com Sales & Marketing Associate Publisher KENT COULES kentc@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 364−5869 Account Executive PAM SAITO pamelas@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 364−5897 Account Executive MEA ALOHA SPADY meaalohas@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 364−6126 Business Development Representative LIESEL STEINHAUER

liesels@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 864−0499 Senior Account Coordinator REBECCA BROOKING rebeccab@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 534−7560 Events Manager MAGDALENA DURAK HERSHEY magdalenad@hawaiibusiness.com • (808) 534−7578 Circulation Circulation Manager KIM KOKI kimk@paciﬁcbasin.net • (808) 534−7590 Connect with us on social media: HawaiiBusiness HawaiiBusinessmagazine Hawaii Business is published by

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Chairman DUANE KURISU Chief Executive Officer SUSAN EICHOR Chief Operating Officer BRANDON KURISU Chief Financial and Chief Administrative Officer KEN MIYASATO

Chief Revenue Officer PATRICK KLEIN

Event Series 2023

We Need More Workforce and Affordable Housing WE DN E S DAY, S E PTE M B E R 20, 202 3 YWCA Laniākea Elizabeth Fuller Hall

Hawaii Business Magazine hosts in-person conversations with community leaders about critical issues. This event will highlight what’s holding us back and what’s needed to move forward to create more housing in Hawai‘i for working residents. Among the topics will be Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation on housing. For more information on tickets, visit needtoknow.hawaiibusiness.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2023

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023

16th Annual Wahine Forum

Family Business Forum

CEO of the Year

Hilton Hawaiian Village

YWCA Laniākea Elizabeth Fuller Hall

Japanese Cultural Center

For more information on events visit hawaiibusiness.com/events or contact Magdalena Durak Hershey, Events Manager, at magdalenad@hawaiibusiness.com

To register, visit BestPlacestoWorkHawaii.com H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

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Marine Life You Might See While Snorkeling Along Hawai‘i’s Coasts BY TO RI DEJO URNET T

waters, and for snorkelers, some are easier to spot than others. Before diving any deeper, a few guidelines: Avoid any contact with marine life, especially with coral, which are fragile living creatures that can be damaged by your touch. That’s actually the policy at Hanauma Bay and other marine life conservation districts, says Gavin Iwai, outreach program coordinator for

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the Hanauma Bay Education Program. “Everything is protected here. So, there’s no fishing, no taking shells, sand flowers, especially no touching the animals. So leaving everything in its place,” Iwai says. Katie Hearther, the Hanauma Bay program’s educational specialist, says she hopes that people take these principles “to any other future reefs that they might visit, even if it’s outside of Hawai‘i.” Here are the top 10 marine life species you are most likely to encounter while snorkeling along local shorelines.

1: ROCK-BORING URCHIN (‘INA KEA)

The most common urchin in Hawai‘i can be found near shallow rocky shores exposed to constant wave action and on reef flats mingled with oblong urchins. 2: BANDED URCHIN (WANA)

The most common long-spined urchin in Hawai‘i can be found on rocky shores. Be careful: Wana have venomous spines that are easily broken. 3: BLACK SEA CUCUMBER (LOLI OKUHI KUHI)

PHOTOS: GAVIN IWAI, HANAUMA BAY EDUCATION PROGRAM

VER 7,000 SPECIES OF MARINE PLANTS AND ANIMALS live in Hawai‘i’s

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Hawai‘i’s most common large sea cucumber can be found exposed on sandy reefs, in the shallows and at depths down to 100 feet. When the loli okuhi kuhi is disturbed, it emits white sticky threads. 4: CONVICT TANG (MANINI)

These fish can be found alone or in large schools, usually near shallow reef slopes as they feed on algae reef flats. This Hawaiian species has a small black bar under its pectoral fin. 5. HAWAIIAN WHITESPOTTED TOBY

This fish does not have a Hawaiian name though it is endemic to the Islands. They are shy but are also known to sneak up on other fish and bite their fins. You can usually find these fish among the rubble on the seabed.

6: SHARPNOSE MULLET (UOUOA)

This fish also tends to be found at the bottom of the ocean, where it grazes on algae. They swim in fast moving schools and have sharp, upturned mouths. 7: REEF TRIGGERFISH (HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUĀPUA‘A)

This is the official state fish of Hawai‘i. Pua‘a means pig, describing the fish’s nose, which resembles a pig’s snout. They feed on sea urchins, so their eyes are far back on their bodies to avoid being poked by the urchins’ spines. When they are nesting, they sometimes chase or attack snorkelers who get too close; it’s best to calmly back off when this happens. Don’t worry: Their bite is not dangerous.

8: SADDLE WRASSE (HĪNĀLEA LAUWILI)

The most abundant wrasse in Hawai‘i live on the rubble bottom of the ocean. The super-males of the species have a white bar that can appear behind their orange saddle. 9: BLACKSPOT SERGEANT (KŪPĪPĪ)

“ABOUT 1 IN 4 MARINE SPECIES WILL BE ENDEMIC HERE OR FOUND NOWHERE ELSE.” —Katie Hearther, Educational Specialist, Hanauma Bay

This damselfish, commonly found in surge zones and inside reefs, can be identified by a black spot near their tails. Males are darker colored with defined white vertical bars when they are courting or defending eggs. 10: YELLOWSTRIPE GOATFISH (WEKE‘Ā)

You can identify this fish by the black spot near its middle and yellow strip across its body. Weke‘ā are most commonly seen hovering in middle depths or resting on the sand. Its two barbels – the slender, whiskerlike sensory organs near its mouth – are used to find food buried in the sand.

On Jan. 1, 2021, Hawai‘i banned the sale and distribution of sunscreens that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate after studies showed the chemicals harmed Hawai‘i’s coral and other marine life. “Here at Hanauma, when people come in, I usually ask them, ‘Did you buy it (sunscreen) in Hawai‘i?’ ” Iwai says. “And if they did, then typically, they should be OK, because they ban any sale of sunscreen that has those types of ingredients.” At the Hanauma Bay gift shop, visitors can exchange sunscreen purchased outside the Islands for reef-safe sunscreen for half off the price. “We live in such a special place,” Hearther says. “We’re the most isolated island chain in the world. And because of that, about 1 in 4 marine species will be endemic here or found nowhere else in the world, which is really special.” H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

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Hawaii Business Magazine Wins 25 National and Statewide Awards Staff Writer Noelle Fujii-Oride led the way in the two journalism competitions with a total of seven prizes on her own, including three for first place BY STEVE PETR AN IK

AWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE WON four national

awards in June from the Alliance of Area Business Publishers and 21 statewide awards in July from the Hawai‘i chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The honors were for work published in 2022. Staff Writer and Engagement Editor Noelle Fujii-Oride won seven awards from SPJ Hawaii, including first place in three categories. She also shared two first-place honors with other Hawaii Business contributors. Among her honors was the prestigious first-place award for best overall body of work by a single writer. The judge in that category called Noelle “an excellent reporter and writer who does a great job humanizing her business insights.” Her stories, the judge continued, “are a wonderful mix of diving deep into the numbers/statistics/charts of a business topic with insightful interviews, always showing that behind every business (and business story) is a person.” The Alliance of Area Business Publishers comprises more than 70 regional business publications, including journals in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas. The judges for the AABP contest are faculty members at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Managing Editor Cynthia Wessen-

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dorf won the alliance’s first-place award for explanatory reporting for her comprehensive report in the May 2022 issue about the challenges faced by Hawai‘i public schools and their students coming out of the pandemic. The judges praised the article for illuminating “both human figures and structural elements in a compelling way.” Janis Magin Meierdiercks won first place in the beat reporting category for her weekly real estate articles, published at hawaiibusiness.com and in the weekly email newsletter Hawai‘i Real Estate News. “The stories by this reporter and publication are must-reads for people in the industry ... and the average person feels smarter for having read them,” the judges said. They also praised the “great diversity of topics” to keep readers coming back week after week. Janis and Noelle’s real estate reporting also won first place for trade or industry reporting in the Hawai‘i SPJ competition. “This series of stories about Hawai‘i’s housing market and home buying/selling/building trends stands alone. Great use of data and numbers to tell compelling stories, backed with interviews with both buyers/sellers and real estate professionals. Nice work!” the category judge in that competition said. Sign up for the weekly real estate newsletter at tinyurl.com/HBHREN.

Hawaii Business won two national bronze awards for: • Best magazine feature layout for our compelling March 2022 “20 for the Next 20” article designed by Creative Director Kelsey Ige, with pictures by Staff Photographer Aaron Yoshino and freelancers Michelle Mishina, Josiah Patterson and Christian Kahahawai. “The type treatments and grid system are modern and inventive while providing a wonderful texture and canvas for the beautiful likenesses of the 20 honorees,” the judges said. The same story won second place for best single feature layout in the Hawai‘i SPJ competition. • Best Podcast for “The Hawaii Business Podcast,” hosted by Unyong Nakata of Nakata Advisory. “The podcast exudes warmth with a familiar and conversational approach to Hawai‘i’s business scene that highlights guests’ personalities and feels deeply rooted in the local culture,” the judges said. “The host’s personable approach is based on active listening and leads to deep, multifaceted conversations that track the breadth of guests’ careers.” The other awards for Hawaii Business Magazine came in the statewide competition run by SPJ Hawaii, with entries judged by journalist volunteers in Ohio and Kentucky. • Stories by Noelle swept all three prizes in the Data Journalism category that was open to all local media. First place was for her May report: “Here’s Which Ethnic Groups Make the Most Money in Hawai‘i.” The judge in that category said, “Hawaii Business provides insightful information about its many ethnicities, especially the examination of income trends. Also of high interest are the education and employment numbers.” Noelle won silver for her November 2022 report, “Comparing Paychecks to Living Costs,” and bronze for her April article, “The Gender Pay Gap Narrowed, Then the Pandemic Arrived.” • My two reports last year with Kelsey on the BOSS Survey and the 808 Poll won first and second place in the all media category of information graphics. The first-place winner was published in

the August issue and the second-place report appeared in the December issue. “Hawaii Business’ BOSS Survey offers what business leaders are thinking, and this one was especially timely with its questions on the Covid-19 pandemic,” the judge in that category said. • HB’s staff collaborated to win first place in another category open to all media, best headlines. “Hawaii Business’ headlines draw in the reader with clear language on the subject matter of the stories, and the subheds/decks provide further explanation about the content,” the judge said. • Unsurprisingly, Hawaii Business did well in both the business reporting category and the trade or industry cate-

gory open to all magazines. Noelle took first place for business reporting for her October report: “Child Care is a Labor of Love.” “Hawaii Business delves into the world of child care and offers readers a detailed look into the differences in child care and the complexity of salaries in the industry. The sourcing is extensive and provides both excellent data and real-world comments from those affected by trends and policies in Hawai‘i’s child-care system,” the judge said. Second place for business reporting went to then-intern, now contributing writer Ryann Coules for her September report on ESOPs, employee-owned companies in Hawai‘i. The same article

won second place for best magazine short feature. As noted above, Janis and Noelle combined to win first place in trade reporting on the local residential real estate market. Noelle’s “Child Care is a Labor of Love” story also took third place in that category. The judge commented: “Really well done series about the child care industry in Hawai‘i and the people who work there despite the relatively low pay. The workers are doing a labor of love, as the headline says, but so is the writer.” The child care story also won second place for long form feature writing and third place for magazine feature layout. • Freelance contributor Catharine Lo Griffin won third place in magazine profiles for her piece in December about CEO of the Year Paul Yonamine of Central Pacific Bank. “It can be difficult to get beyond a CEO’s all-business exterior, but you managed to include Yonamine’s life story very well,” the judge said. • Cynthia’s November report about “Wildfires on the ‘Hawaiian Savanna’” won third place for science reporting in all local media. The judge said, “The dangers of wildfires pose a serious threat to people and property. Shining a light on the issue is a great public service.” Kelsey and Aaron won third place in the best magazine cover category for their November cover based on that story. • Kelsey collaborated with freelancer Xochitl Cornejo to win second place in the editorial cartoon/illustration category for their December illustration for the story about “Native Birds in Jeopardy.” The judge said, “Love the creativity in this image.” • Ryann won a third SPJ award: a second-place honor in arts and entertainment writing for her October piece, “UH Stages Award-Winning Plays Completely in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i.” • In the section of the SPJ Hawaii competition for students, Hawaii Business intern Victoria Budiono, now an intern with Civil Beat, won first place for student feature reporting in any media for her November piece, “The Honolulu Fish Auction Celebrates its 70th Anniversary.” H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

NAME: JOSEPH EPPINK JOB:

DEATH DOULA

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PH OTO BY A A R O N YO S H I N O

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Helping Grieving Families During their Loved One’s Final Days BY CURSTYN YO SHIMOTO

BEGINNINGS: When he was a public school teacher, Joseph Eppink found his passion as a hospice volunteer, caring for dying AIDS patients and their families. “I was doing doula work and didn’t even know I was doing doula work, because it wasn’t even a term back then,” he says. He later went through certification from the International End-ofLife Doula Association to carry his experience forward and help more people. Today, Eppink works at Bristol Hospice on Merchant Street in downtown Honolulu. He also performs related work as a grief coach. WHAT IT TAKES: There are three parts to being a death doula, Eppink explains. The first is working with the family before the patient’s passing, through advanced directives on endof-life care and by setting up memorial services.

The second is being with the family during and after the patient’s final moments, helping to wash and dress the body and providing support while waiting for the mortuary. The third is grief, where Eppink says he does most of his work. “Then we can work more individually with family members, friends and others on their grief cycle and grief journey,” he says. HEALING ISN’T LINEAR: Eppink says the timeline is different for each person he coaches through grief. “Nobody knows how long it’s going to take. It could be 11 years from the death, and it will still affect you somehow. And the tears will still come, but that’s just your body saying, ‘Yeah, a little bit more healing to do.’ ” HIS OUTLETS: To cope with the

powerful emotions that come with the job, Eppink turns to

prayer; meditation; music; and walks along the beach, where he listens to the sounds of the waves. O‘ahu, he says, “is a very healing island.” “Some people hear ‘death doula’ and say ‘oh, they’re those scary people and they’re just drumming up business and it’s not really there to help patients and families.’ But we’re not (desensitized). It affects us all in different ways, and there will be folks that affect you greatly.” PEOPLE’S STORIES: He says the most rewarding part of the job is listening and connecting with people. “I love hearing their journeys, where they’ve been, what has made their life. Even as family members or the dying patient or somebody in grieving, what is it? What has made you live? What drives you?” THIS INTERVIEW HAS BEEN EDITED FOR CL ARITY AND CONCISENESS.

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Habilitat Uses Vocational Training to Help Combat Long-Term Addiction BY TO RI DEJO URNET T

HEN YOU WALK THROUGH Habilitat’s

1.5-acre property on Kāne‘ohe Bay, you not only get a gorgeous oceanfront view, but also glimpses of residents hard at work: cooking, cleaning, doing office and con-

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struction work and other tasks. That’s part of the treatment at this drug and alcohol rehab nonprofit: Every resident undergoes vocational training to better equip themselves for life outside. One sign of the program’s effectiveness is that 16 of Habilitat’s 18 employees are graduates, including

Preston Pacleb-Timbol, the organization’s admissions representative. “A lot of the things that I’ve learned here is to just take life seriously, because if we mess up, it’s somebody’s life on the line,” Pacleb-Timbo says. “So I’ve learned to take other lives and my life very, very seriously.”

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Opposite page: Habilitat’s Enterprise Department includes, from left, Gerat Rommel, Donovan Noble, Ka‘iewe Davidson, Jacob Young, Hamana Leong, Kyler Edginton, Ryan Grayson, Jason Parrish, David Darby, Becky Harrison, Stefani Lakes, Trisha Pollard and Jasmine Cummings. This page: Clockwise from top, Admissions Representative Preston Pacleb-Timbol; Jose Roy, left, and Kody Gowan from the construction training program; and Gerat Rommel, left, and Jason Parrish from the business department.

check-in desk and make sure everyone is accounted for. • REENTRY AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING: This is the longest phase, usually lasting 12 to 18 months. Residents do “a simulated workday,” says Habilitat Executive Director Jeff Nash, who is also a program graduate, and after their work shifts end, they continue treatment.

Charity Navigator, a national organization that assesses nonprofits, gives Habilitat a score of 100% and a perfect four-star rating based on the watchdog’s metric of accountability and finance. Charity Navigator says the metric considers a charity’s financial efficiency, sustainability and trustworthiness, and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Habilitat’s 2.5-year program costs $2,000 a month. It operates on a sliding scale based on residents’ needs, and those who cannot afford the program can apply for full-ride scholarships. The treatment occurs in phases.

PH OTO S BY A A R O N YO S H I N O

• ORIENTATION: During the first month at Habilitat, each new resident transitions into the program and is assigned an older brother or sister to help them. • TREATMENT PHASE: Residents take part in seminars and process groups during this six- to nine-month phase. In this phase residents focus on developing basic life skills, identifying and addressing their behaviors and issues, improving their ability to accept direction and constructive criticism, and enhance their timeliness, work ethic, and punctuality. Eventually, in this phase, residents will work the front

Residents submit formal proposals indicating their preferred vocational programs. The proposals are evaluated by Habilitat staff members, who assign residents to the vocational training that best aligns with their strengths and weaknesses. Vocational departments cover accounting, administration, admissions, culinary skills, sales and marketing, construction services and program operations management. Five businesses operate out of Habilitat’s vocational training program, each run by residents and managed by staff who were once residents. They are Habilitat Construction, Habilitat Christmas Trees, the Habilitat fencing and yard crew, a catering company called All Kine Grindz and a haunted house attraction called Dead End. The end of the reentry phase focuses on the transition to a successful life after Habilitat. Residents go through numerous classes on financial empowerment, create resumes and submit their official plans A and B, with detailed budgets. “I’ve never thought I would have made it this far in my own life,” Pacleb-Timbo says. “But it was thanks to Habilitat that I’ve done anything remotely good in life.” H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

B I Z X :

A DV I C E

F R O M

E X P E R T S

How to Shift the Paid Time Off Paradigm

mented a “responsible time off ” approach toward its employees that may seem radical to many in Hawai‘i. Under the policy, our 100 team members don’t have a set number of paid time-off days. Rather, they are free to take as much “RTO” as they need as long as they do so in a responsible manner. The RTO policy has become a valuable tool for our organization, underscoring the respect we have for our team members’ personal interests and character but most importantly, enhancing our personal and professional relationships. As unlimited PTO grows in popularity nationwide, here are my recommendations for companies considering this model. FI R ST CO N S I D E R TH E “ WHY? ”

The primary objective behind our reboot of paid leave is to disrupt the employer and 18

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employee dynamic, and kickstart a new mindset within our ﬁrm. We want to foster a stronger culture of trust, openness, honesty and excellence. We went from a parent-child dynamic, where PTO days were bestowed upon employees over time, to an approach founded on a balance of power, mutual respect and trust. RTO is a tool to empower our professionals to manage their lives without anxiety, while also embracing accountability, communication and collaboration. E STAB LI S H G U I D E LI N E S .

Accuity chose “responsible” time off versus “unlimited” time off because of the guidelines in place to ensure continuity and fairness. For example, each team member must take a minimum of two weeks RTO per year, with a maximum of three consecutive weeks at any one time.

CO N S I D E R B L AC KO UT DATE S .

It is each individual’s responsibility to prioritize time off, but they must be responsible about how much and when they take it. This means respecting project deadlines and being considerate of other team members’ workloads. If your business consistently experiences particularly busy times of the year, set blackout dates in anticipation of staffing needs. CO M M U N I CATE C LE AR LY.

It is not enough to require that employees act responsibly; we must deﬁne that responsibility clearly. Work closely with HR to craft a policy that is easily understandable. Communicate the policy proactively and be prepared to respond to questions. REINFORCE THROUGH CULTURE.

You can have the best RTO

policy in place, but it is meaningless if your employees feel guilty or unsafe about using it. Demonstrate trust and empower your employees to act responsibly. CO N S I STE NTLY EVALUATE .

This model may not work for your employees and your business. Make sure to create systems to track performance and productivity in relation to employee RTO. Expect a transition period: Give people time to absorb the change and adjust accordingly.

THIS MONTH’S EXPERT:

CORY KUBOTA, MANAGING PARTNER, ACCUITY LLP

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CORY KUBOTA; ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES

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The Big Bog, the rainiest spot in Hawai‘i, sits at an elevation of 5,400 feet, where it catches the prevailing northeast-east trade winds as they rise up the windward slope of Haleakalā and drop their moisture.

The second wettest spots in Hawai‘i are Kawaikini and Wai‘ale‘ale, mountain summits in central Kaua‘i that are near each other. Chu says both get 29.8 feet of rain a year. Kaua‘i is the northernmost island in the Hawaiian chain, which means “it is more susceptible to midlatitude weather systems such as a cold front, Kona storm or upper-level low than other islands,” Chu says. And because of Kaua‘i’s round shape, the island is vulnerable to weather systems from any direction. The island is also below the trade wind inversion. That results in the island being “subjected to weather systems from all directions – from north, from south, from east, from west – and they all converge into the center of Kaua‘i, so it makes this area very wet,” Chu says. WET SPOTS ON HAWAI‘I ISLAND AND O‘AHU

Rainiest Spot in Hawai‘i Gets 31 Feet a Year The Hawai‘i state climatologist describes why the wettest spots on the four main islands get so much rain

PHOTO: COURTESY OF PAO-SHIN CHU

BY TOR I D EJ OUR N ET T

ANY PLACES IN HAWAI‘I get lots of rain,

especially in the winter, but the wettest location in the Islands is a section of the Hāna Forest Reserve in East Maui called the Big Bog. “The east side of Maui is aligned in a northwest-southeast direction, in a way almost perpendicular to the prevailing northeast-east trade winds,” says Pao-Shin Chu, a professor of meteorology at UH Mānoa and Hawai‘i’s state climatologist.

He says that as cumulus cloud clusters approach the windward slope of Haleakalā, “they are forced to rise and produce cooling, saturation, clouds and rains.” It’s called an orographic rainfall effect, which happens when air masses flow over high topography. The Big Bog, at an elevation of 5,400 feet, experiences an average of 31.6 feet of rainfall a year. Chu says that average annual total, and all the rainfall figures in this story, are based on various data sources covering 70 years, from 1950 to 2019.

Hawai‘i Island’s wettest spot is in the Hilo Watershed Reserve, which has an average of 23.6 feet of annual rainfall. The Wailuku River begins within the reserve and feeds numerous waterfalls, including the popular tourist attraction Waiānuenue (Rainbow Falls). Hawai‘i Island is home to two tall mountains, Maunaloa and Maunakea, which create lots of orographic rainfall effects. O‘ahu’s wettest spot is in the ‘Ewa Forest Reserve, on the windward slope of the Ko‘olau range near Punalu‘u. Although O‘ahu has a similar orientation as East Maui, “the Ko‘olau Range is not as tall and massive as Haleakalā, so the interaction between trade winds and island topography is perhaps less pronounced as Big Bog on Maui,” Chu says. Nonetheless, that wet spot in the ‘Ewa Forest Reserve gets an average annual rainfall of 21.2 feet. Chu also listed the wettest towns on each of the four most populous islands and ranked them by their mean annual rainfall from 1951 to 2022. • Hawai‘i Island: Hilo, 138.83 inches • Kaua‘i: Līhu‘e, 49.53 inches • O‘ahu: Waimānalo, 37.63 inches • Maui: Kahului, 20.13 inches H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

The 10th Annual Leadership Conference was an inspiring and informative day filled with thought-provoking conversations and opportunities to learn, grow, and connect. We would like to extend a huge mahalo to keynote speaker Guy Kawasaki and the 35 amazing local speakers, including Governor Josh Green, for sharing space with over 600 attendees. The annual conference brings together Hawaiʻ‘i’s business community with the intent to develop and strengthen relationships and leadership skills that will move Hawai‘ʻi forward. The Leadership Conference would not be possible without the generous support of presenting sponsor First Hawaiian Bank and our supporting sponsors and partners. We are looking forward to Leadership Conference 2024!

MAHALO TO OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS PRESENTED BY:

GOLD SPONSORS:

S I LV E R S P O N S O R S :

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“Developing leaders in Hawai‘ʻi is important for our future success, and we hope the insights attendees gained during our Leadership Conference empowers them to make a positive and lasting impact with their teams and companies. By implementing these learnings, we aim to foster growth not only within our respective organizations but throughout Hawaiʻ‘i and the communities we all serve.” — B O B H AR R I S O N , C H AI R M AN , PR ES I D EN T & CEO, FI R ST H AWAI I AN BAN K

“The Hawaii Business Magazine conference is one of the most anticipated events in the business community, and for good reason. The conference brings together leaders in innovation and dynamic business across the state, providing an excellent opportunity to network and learn from the best. Turo is proud to be a sponsor of the 2023 Hawaii Business Magazine Conference.” — T U R O

“Aloha. We hope this year’s Leadership Conference provided new insights and connections to help move your career and your company ahead. We look forward to seeing many of you at this year’s Wahine Forum as well. Anthology also partners with Hawaii Business on the BOSS Survey of more than 400 local business owners and executives, and the 808 Poll of local resident sentiment. Look for them in the print and online editions of Hawaii Business.” — DE NN IS CHRISTIANSON , M A N AG IN G PA RT NER, A NTHOLOGY FINN PA RT N E R S

“Leadership Conference was a great opportunity for Hawaiian Telcom to reconnect with the community and meet some of the state’s current and emerging leaders. We are grateful to Hawaii Business Magazine for its continuous dedication to our island home.” — PHYLL IS FREITAS, D IR E C TO R O F S A L E S , HAWA I I AN TELCOM

“As a local, mutual insurance carrier, we are dedicated to serving Hawai‘i’s businesses with innovative solutions to their evolving needs. The Hawaii Business Leadership Conference offers a dynamic opportunity to engage with experienced and emerging leaders across our islands’ industries to explore the forces shaping our current and future work lives. The conversations are always meaningful and fruitful. Mahalo!” – LISA LEE, DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, HEMIC

“Keynote speaker Guy Kawasaki did a great job in setting the tone for the conference with his Trust the Dots presentation. Hats off to Hawaii Business Magazine’s selection of leaders in the community who served as panelists. I would encourage any business owner or marketing professional to attend this conference.” – DONNIE ESPOSITO, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT HAWAII NEWS NOW

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S A F E T Y

Older High-Rises on O‘ahu Pressured to Install Fire Sprinklers – But They Have 15 Years to Do It BY JAN IS M AGIN M EIER D IER CK S

T’S BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE a fire tore through the 36-story Marco Polo condominium on Kapi‘olani Boulevard in Honolulu, killing four people. That tragedy prompted a new local ordinance requiring existing high-rise residential buildings to beef up their life-safety systems, which includes installing fire sprinklers. Automatic fire sprinkler systems detect heat and put out fires before they spread. Since the July 2017 fire, the 36-story Marco Polo has been retrofitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system at a cost of more than $6 million. Despite the new law, a rush to install fire sprinkler systems is unlikely. One reason: The law gives building owners and condominium associations another seven years to come up with an acceptable life-safety evaluation and nearly 15 years to complete the installation. The updated City and County of Honolulu Fire Code, ordinance 22-02, requires buildings built before 1975 – when fire sprinklers were first required to be installed in new high-rise buildings – to undergo life-safety evaluations by third-party licensed design professionals. The ordinance called for those evaluations to be completed by Aug. 31, 2022. In a report to the City Council last fall, Honolulu Fire Chief Sheldon Hao said results of those evaluations had been submitted for 302 buildings; only 21 of those buildings received acceptable scores. Those 281 buildings with unacceptable scores have until May 3, 2030, to

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bring their properties up to standard or declare that they intend to install fire sprinkler systems; installation of those systems would have to be completed by May 3, 2038, says Fire Capt. Kendall Ching of the Honolulu Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau. “They have a choice of whether they want to get an acceptable level of safety or sprinkler their building and that’s obviously the (building owners’) decision,” Ching says. Ching says fire sprinklers are the gold standard for building safety because they snuff out fires before they can kill or cause extensive damage. “These fire sprinklers are designed … to go off when the fire is small, so it puts out the fire,” he says. “Sprinklers are very important. That’s why in the new building code, in all high-rises, sprinklers are required since 1975.” SPRINKLER INSTALLATIONS ARE COSTLY

Installing sprinklers is expensive and many condo associations at aging buildings are already dealing with other urgent issues, such as replacing aging, leaking cast-iron pipes and concrete spalling. The Legislature sought to address that challenge with a bill this year that requires condo associations to add sprinklers to their reserve studies – annual documents that analyze current cost estimates for repairing and replacing building components, from the roof to elevators to balconies. The reserve study not

only estimates the costs but also how the association will pay for them. Most condos maintain a reserve fund to cover major expenses, funded by a portion of owners’ monthly maintenance fee payments. Unless those maintenance fees are raised dramatically, saving for a multimillion-dollar sprinkler project could take a lot more than 15 years. So lawmakers added a provision to Senate Bill 855 that allows associations to forecast using a loan

“From the get-go, when you’re talking about a retrofit, you’re calling on a fire engineer to design the system,” Roselli says. “You need a civil engineer to figure out how it’s going to tie into the Board of Water Supply and whether or not there’s enough water pressure to support the building.” There’s also the logistics of where the pipes and the sprinkler heads will go, and whether to install a dropped ceiling to cover the pipes, build soffits, or use decorative molding or boxes. And environmental consultants need to assess potential exposure or removal of hazardous materials, such as asbestos, during construction. Then there are the pipefitters, electricians and other trades involved in the installation. MARCO POLO RETROFIT FINISHED IN 2021

or a special assessment to pay for “life safety components or installation.” Gov. Josh Green signed the bill into law. Installing sprinkler systems is complicated work and costs can vary widely for each building. “I don’t think people really fully understand what goes into retrofitting these buildings for the sprinklers,” says Tom Roselli, GM and VP of HCA Consulting Group International, an engiPH OTO BY A A R O N YO S H I N O

neering and construction consulting firm. Roselli previously worked with insurance companies and was a claims adjuster on the Marco Polo fire. A number of professions are involved when retrofitting high-rise buildings with fire sprinklers, including architects and engineers who have to figure out where to put all the new pipes that will carry the water to the sprinkler heads in common areas and apartments.

The Dorvin D. Leis Co. Fire Sprinkler Division, which has its own licensed engineers on staff, took on a lot of the work for the Marco Polo sprinkler installation, including acting as the general contractor, says Jordan Holley, the division manager. Holley says the Marco Polo installation, which included a new fire alarm system, began in April 2019 and was completed in October 2021. The project took longer than planned because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which put everything on hold for several months since residents couldn’t vacate their units during the day for the work to get done. The company is in the permitting phase for another high-rise retrofit; other projects are in the design phase but haven’t gone out to bid yet. Although deadlines to comply with the new fire code are years away, that doesn’t mean building owners and associations should wait, especially since they’re now required to plan for fire sprinkler retrofits under SB 855. HFD’s Ching recommends people check out the resources on the HFD website, which includes links to the fire code and facts about fire sprinklers, as well as the list of high-rise buildings that still need to be in compliance with the law. “The sooner that you’re in compliance, the lower your risk and hazards,” says Ching. “The faster you rectify deficiencies, the better.” H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

THE GOAL: GOAL: TOURISM THAT REGENERATES HAWAI‘I, NOT DEGRADES IT

A PROGR AM THAT LIMITS ACCESS AT KAUA‘I’S HĀ‘ENA STATE PARK, PICTURED, AND R AISES LOCAL DOLLARS IS CONSIDERED A MODEL FOR PLACES INUNDATED BY VISITORS. IT AND MANY OTHER REGENER ATIVE INITIATIVES ARE BEING TESTED ACROSS THE ISLANDS. BY NOELLE FUJII-ORIDE Photography by Aaron Yoshino

At 8:40 a.m., Sherman Maka, a resident of Kaua‘i’s northern moku of Halele‘a, greets 30 shuttle riders disembarking at Hā‘ena State Park. The visitors, most dressed in hiking attire, take in views of vibrant lo‘i kalo that lead to some of the most popular beaches and trails on the island. Maka speaks passionately to the group, even about mundane matters like the shuttle schedule. He tells them that lifeguards are on duty and to make sure they have enough water, and the times they must leave certain trail locations to make the last shuttle at 6:40 p.m. The 62-year-old Native Hawaiian grew up living off the land and fondly recalls the days before the North Shore became a destination for tourists, multimillion-dollar properties and vacation rentals. As a young man, he never thought he’d be educating visitors on proper behaviors, but a 43-year hospitality career changed that notion. “To encourage and educate the visitor industry on everything Hawaiian as much as we can; mālama the ‘āina; mālama the kahakai, from mountain to the sea, take care of it; respect the land: It has been fulfilling,” he says. His role is part of a new destination management system that’s being touted as a successful community-led solution to overtourism. The 65-acre state park is the first to set a daily visitor cap, and nonresidents must make reservations and pay for 26

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entry. They also have to pay to park their own car or to ride the affiliated North Shore Shuttle from Waipā. There’s also increased law enforcement to deter illegal parking. Signs, shuttle messaging and Maka’s talks educate visitors about the area. Those who created it say the Hā‘ena system has resulted in a more equitable relationship between tourism and the local community. Two nonprofits, Hui Maka‘āinana o Makana and the Hanalei Initiative, manage the park. Their efforts have helped Native Hawaiian lineal descendants like Maka to be part of the overtourism solution and encouraged locals to return to the park. “You just become overwhelmed with gratitude,” says Joel Guy, who grew up in Hā‘ena and is the executive director of the Hanalei Initiative. “You’re part of a process that says early on, there were way too many people, we weren’t even going there anymore. And now people go back to Kē‘ē (Beach) who hadn’t been there in decades.”

Lessons learned from this system are being shared with hot-spot communities around the state. It’s all part of Hawai‘i’s transition to a regenerative tourism model that aims to contribute to the Islands’ cultural, natural and community well-being and repair the harm done by tens of millions of visitors over the years. INCREASING VISITORS D I S C U S S I O N S A N D C O N C ERN S about overtourism in Hawai‘i are not new, says Frank Haas, president of Marketing Management, a hospitality-focused consultancy. He says plans in the 1970s, when tourism became the state’s primary industry, addressed the need to manage growing visitor arrivals, which by decade’s end had reached nearly 4 million visitors a year. “It’s just that there was never an urgency to it until we got so big and conditions changed so that people were really feeling that,” he says. Haas was the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s VP for tourism marketing in the early 2000s and a consultant for HTA’s current strategic plan. Those changed conditions included increased resident frustration with the local tour-

ism industry, which accounted for a record 10.4 million visitors in 2019. More and more tourists were venturing At left, Sherman out of resort areas in search of new and at times danMaka is part of gerous adventures, and residential neighborhoods were the destination facing an explosion of unregulated vacation rentals. management team at Hā‘ena Over the years, Hawai‘i has strived for a visitor inState Park. He dustry that’s environmentally friendly and culturally helps educate sensitive, and one that mitigates the impacts of millions visitors about the park’s of visitors – so-called “sustainable tourism.” But since history and 2020, momentum has increased for a tourism model how to be safe and respectful. that’s regenerative, rather than just sustainable. To reBelow, Joel flect that change, HTA’s 2020-2025 strategic plan largeGuy, who ly focuses on destination management, and its marketgrew up in Hā‘ena and is ing efforts target high-spending, low-impact visitors. the executive “For me, when we think about tourism, it should be director of done in a way that allows our future generations to call Hathe Hanalei Initiative, says wai‘i home for a long, long time,” says Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā, the new system chief brand officer at HTA. And that home, he says, should has encouraged locals to visit be in better condition than it is today. “It’s not just about after decades preserving what is left, it’s about remediating, re-enhancof being ing, regenerating what was partially lost or impacted.” pushed out. In 2021, HTA underwent a reorganization to emphasize that new direction and launched its Mālama Hawai‘i program to target mindful travelers. HTA videos encourage visitors to give back to the destination and direct them to the Mālama Hawai‘i website, where 50 partner hotels offer incentives to guests to volunteer with local nonprofits. The shift to regenerative tourism also gives residents a greater say in how tourism is rebuilt and redefined. During the pandemic, HTA worked with community members, business owners, farmers, hotel executives and cultural practitioners to create destination management action plans for each island. “The DMAPs are a framework for us to be able to engage communities, have a dialogue, really listen, get out there in person and see what communities are asking for, and then partnering with them to find solutions on some of the hot spots that exist,” Ka‘anā‘anā says, “and also finding other ways to empower them to tell their story.” The three-year plans stretch into 2025 and emphasize visitor education, community-led management solutions, increased local food and product purchases, and investments in programs to support the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture. The plans also rely on the collaboration of government agencies and private and community organizations. Some state lawmakers have long criticized HTA’s management of tourism and some even tried during the 2023 legislative session to replace the agency with a new tourism management entity. One challenge, according to Haas, is that HTA doesn’t have the statutory authority to enforce collaboration. He and others have argued that what is needed is a management approach based on policies that assign well-defined roles and functions to various government agencies. “Tourism is unique in how complicated it is. It affects the community, it affects the economy, it affects natural resources, it intrudes on neighborhoods,” he says. “So you have to find some model H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

where you can cut across all the silos to manage it properly.” One example of that model is at Hā‘ena State Park. EMPOWERED COMMUNITY

Chipper Wichman and Presley Wann of Hui Maka‘āinana o Makana sit comfortably under a pop-up canopy surrounded by 5 acres of restored lo‘i kalo in Hā‘ena State Park. They say the area was the breadbasket of the surrounding Hawaiian community for 800 or more years. It was eventually turned into a state park, but with no management, invasive trees and plants overwhelmed the traditional landscape. As the land deteriorated, many Native Hawaiian families lost their connection to Hā‘ena. So, in the mid-’90s, Wichman, Wann and other founding members of the nonprofit started considering how they could once again care for the land. “The Hui Maka‘āinana o Makana, we’re all lineal descendants of this place, so it seems so natural to want to take care of it,” Wann says. Under a curatorship agreement with the State Parks Division, the hui cleared and cleaned the area, mostly by hand. They ripped out invasive trees, unearthed ancient stone walls and restored the traditional waterway. Along the way, they cultivated kalo for the community and created educational programs to reconnect the next generation. The hui’s long-term goal was to manage the park. They spent decades helping the State Parks Division create a master plan for facilities and infrastructure improvements and crowd control. That master plan’s implementation was fast-tracked after a record-breaking storm in 2018. “The flood created the opportunity to not have to scale back from 3,000 people a day but to scale up from zero,” Wichman says. The hui began managing the park under a revocable permit in 2021. While it focused on its farm and cultural restoration work, oversight of the management system was subcontracted out to the Hanalei Initiative, which had launched its North Shore Shuttle in 2019 to reduce the number of cars on Kūhiō Highway. The two nonprofits share the park’s parking and shuttle revenues to support operational costs and park maintenance. Two of the hui’s next big projects are to build a restroom at the eastern end of the parking lot and restore the sand dunes that contain ancient burials. Wann says the revenue also supports the hui’s youth education programs, which reach about 1,200 keiki a year. Meanwhile, the Hanalei Initiative has used its revenue to host an engineering class and to support community organizations with micro grants. Together, the hui and Hanalei Initiative created 35 jobs for parking attendants, laborers, shuttle drivers, administrators and cultural practitioners. Twenty-one of those positions are filled by North Shore residents. And some are held by lineal descendants of Hā‘ena. “Regenerative tourism in my mind is where tourism leaves a community and a resource better than you found it,” Wichman says. “It’s regenerating. That’s what this is doing here – those community jobs, the ‘āina right here, this ‘āina kūpuna that our ancestors farmed and lived off of in harmony with for hundreds and hundreds of years – it’s better today because of this model.” He adds that he’s proud Hā‘ena can KALANI KA‘ANĀ‘ANĀ be a road map for other communities. Chief Brand Officer, “Across the pae ‘āina, across the state, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority now we’re all looking at this concept

“

FOR ME, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TOURISM, IT SHOULD BE DONE IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CALL HAWAI‘I HOME FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.”

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TOURISM CAN BE A CATALYST FOR LOCAL AGRICULTURE

The 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, situated on a steep hill, was built to blend into its surroundings. On one roof is an organic chef’s garden; others are lined with thick pili grass to help insulate the rooms below and to reduce stormwater runoff. Sustainability and regenerative travel are key to the 1 Hotel brand. Alexis Eaton, director of marketing, public relations and programming at the luxury property, says when she first joined the hotel in June 2022, she and other leaders visited nearby farms to see how they could work together. Those visits ended up shaping the property’s culinary and wellness offerings. “Instead of saying like, oh, we need to source this, we need to source that, we took the approach of what is available here, and then started to build from there,” she says. About 85% of the ingredients used by 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s signature restaurant, 1 Kitchen, are sourced from Hawai‘i. Kaua‘i vendors include Mālama Kaua‘i, Moloa‘a Organica‘a, Aloha Honey Bee Farm, Buena Vista Gardens, Kainoa Fishery and Jerry’s Rice Farm. “We’re paying significantly more for rice, but we’re able to work with him (Jerry’s Rice Farm),” says Corrine Hanson, who until June was corporate director of sustainability and impact at SH Hotels and Resorts,

which operates 1 Hotel. “Maybe he can scale and he can grow. The fact that we have a large enough business to be the catalyst for some of those things really makes me feel like we’re contributing in a way I would hope we could.”

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF 1 HOTEL HANALEI BAY

Tourists Willing to Pay More A 2021 study co-authored by UH professor Jerry Agrusa found that U.S. visitors to Hawai‘i are willing to pay more for locally grown food, as well as for experiences that are respectful of Hawaiian culture and sustainable tourism. Hawai‘i’s tourism industry in 2019 contributed an estimated $98 million in direct visitor spending to Hawai‘i’s agricultural industry, according to a July 2022 DBEDT report. That climbs to $399 million when indirect visitor spending and spending by workers in tourism or other supportive industries are included. Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā, chief brand officer for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, says that money helps local producers continue growing food for residents, and serves as a baseline for the positive impact that visitors have in diversifying the economy. Agrusa, who’s conducting a second study on locally grown food, says small farmers can’t consistently meet the volume and quality that local hotels and restaurants need. One solution to that is to have farmers aggregate their products for large purchasers. In Kahuku on O‘ahu, the 468acre Kuilima Farm essentially acts as a food hub for its 11 tenant farmers and Pono Pacific, the farm’s manager. It produces about 2,000 pounds of produce a week, about 800 of which are sold to the five restaurants at the 408-room Turtle Bay Resort.

Above, dishes made at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay with locally grown ingredients. Right, produce from Mālama Kaua‘i.

Ramsey Brown, VP of diversified agriculture at Pono Pacific, says the hope is that Kuilima Farm will grow into a true food hub model so its tenant farmers can also collaboratively serve other large purchasers. Another challenge: Institutions want local food but don’t want to pay premiums for it, so they’ll opt for imported food that’s cheaper, says Pomai Weigert, a board member and trainer with the Hawai‘i Agritourism Association. She’s also an agribusiness consultant with GoFarm Hawai‘i. “When you even just look at hotel price points in Hawai‘i, hotel room rates, people are spending thousands of dollars a night, but that doesn’t trickle all the way down” to the farmers, she says. “They’re still trying to keep their food costs low.” She says hotel leaders need to prioritize buying more local food, even if it costs more. In the spring, over 20 hotels, restaurants, schools and nonprofits signed the O‘ahu Good Food Pledge to use more locally sourced food. Ka‘anā‘anā

says this is an example of how destination management action plans are guiding HTA’s work to make sure tourism is supporting other industries. “Tourism also needs to be catalytic – it needs to be something that causes other sectors of our economy to grow,” he says. Combining Tourism and Agriculture Using locally grown food in hotels and restaurants is just one way the tourism and agricultural industries intersect. Agritourism also includes farm, ranch and nursery tours; agricultural fairs and festivals;

farmers markets; and farm-related accommodations. Weigert says agritourism provides a way for visitors to help farmers grow more food for Hawai‘i’s residents, and that it’s more relevant than ever. She specializes in helping rural communities to create and package authentic visitor experiences that are focused on culture and that give back to local people. “With agritourism, it’s agriculture first,” she says. “It’s not tourism first. So that’s also the big shift, and that is also why more rural and cultural communities are more open to it.”

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

of scaling back and creating an equitable balance, and this term regenerative tourism is now kind of becoming a buzzword,” he says. OTHER COMMUNITY HOT SPOTS E A RLIER TH I S S U M M ER , the key players

involved in creating the Hā‘ena management system released a 60-page handbook on how to replicate their model. What’s been crucial, they say, is that communities build trust and mutual respect with other organizations and government agencies. Alan Carpenter, assistant administrator of the State Parks Division, says his relationship with Hui Maka‘āinana o Makana began about 30 years ago when he was a DLNR archaeologist documenting Hā‘ena’s historical and cultural resources. And Wichman says the hui’s curatorship work showed the state that the group was committed to its love of place and community. Strong working relationships were also built among community members, government and visitor industry leaders to help implement the Hā‘ena master plan. Rep. Nadine Nakamura, who represents Kaua‘i’s North Shore, facilitated over 200 hours of meetings that led to the creation of new laws to help deter illegal parking on Kūhiō Highway and gave DLNR flexibility in setting parking and entry fees. Another new law signed this summer allows the state parks to enter into long-term contracts with community nonprofits to operate parking lots and concessions. “That’s a huge shift, right, because people want to take part in managing their own parks, their own communities,” Carpenter says, adding that the new laws pave the way for other communities to follow Hā‘ena’s lead. He says Kealakekua on Hawai‘i Island and Wai‘ānapanapa on Maui are looking at Hā‘ena’s example. And Wichman says lessons learned are being shared through the Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance’s Ahupua‘a Accelerator Initiative, which brings together six ahupua‘a focused on restoration efforts. The hope is that the work at Hā‘ena will compress the timeline for other communities seeking change.

Visit hawaiibusiness.com for a video on Hā‘ena State Park’s community management model. 30

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Below left, Hā‘ena State Park used to see up to 3,000 visitors a day; today, it has a daily visitor cap of 900. Kamealoha Hanohano Pa-Smith leads the way into Uhau‘iole Valley, where tourists are encouraged to work in lo‘i.

And community-based efforts are happening outside of state parks too. For instance, HTA initiated a pilot program for four part-time community stewards in Pololū Valley, a visitor hot spot near Hawai‘i Island’s northern tip. Those stewards inform visitors about the valley’s importance and dangers. The program is now managed by the state DLNR. HTA and Hawai‘i County also funded four community stewards in July at Waiuli and Lehia beach parks under the Keaukaha Steward Pilot Program, and the agency is working on another community-based program in East Maui. HTA’s board of directors also voted at the end of July to approve the creation of a Destination Stewardship Branch, further increasing the organization’s focus on tourism management. Ka‘anā‘anā will lead the new branch as chief destination stewardship officer. R E G E N E R AT I V E E X P E R I E N C E S

TH E S O U N D O F S Q U ELC H IN G M U D REPE ATS with each footstep as I move closer to a

10-by-12-foot lo‘i kalo in Uhau‘iole Valley, in the eastern interior of Kaua‘i. Noa Mau-Espirito and two other farmers have been cultivating kalo here for their families and community. The farm is about a five-minute walk from a parking lot for three state-managed trails, so Mau-Espirito says he’ll occasionally invite inquisitive visitors to help in the lo‘i. In the process, they’ll get a lesson about Hawaiian history and traditional farming practices. Mau-Espirito’s work is part of a visitor engagement program being created by the Hanalei River Heritage Foundation. Kamealoha Hanohano Pa-Smith, the foundation’s program administrator, watches as Mau-Espirito pulls weeds. “These are appropriate actions for visitors to be involved in,” he says. “We want them to know the journey behind what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.” As we talk under the shade of a banana tree, Pa-Smith points out that the breeze blowing from the northeast is called moa‘e lehua. The nonprofit’s work is supported by the Hō‘ihi Grant from the U.S. Department of

the Interior. The program gave nearly $1 million to seven Native Hawaiian organizations in fiscal year 2022. And it acknowledges that tourism has long been an extractive and transactional experience for Native Hawaiians. Ka‘aleleo Wong, Hō‘ihi Grant manager with the Interior Department’s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, says the grant is meant to encourage a mindful tourism model that accurately showcases Hawaiian culture and traditions. “We are out here to show that there’s a way to solve these issues by practice,” PaSmith says. “In Hawaiian we say ma ka hana ka ‘ike – you can learn and you can gain knowledge by doing. So that’s where my heart is.” And while visitors get to engage in meaningful experiences, the grant also benefits locals and Native Hawaiians, says Lia Sheehan, a foundation board member. “We’re giving purpose to our folks on the island who can be growing their own food and telling their own stories and just validating their own life and livelihood and existence,” she says. She and Pa-Smith agree that Kaua‘i’s other popular destinations are ripe, as well, for community-hosted interpretative visitor education programs. Over the summer, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement began work on its $27.1 million contract with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority to provide stewardship services. Kūhiō Lewis, the nonprofit’s CEO, says the contract is an opportunity for Native Hawaiians to be seen as leaders. Between 2015 and 2019, nearly 49,000 Native Hawaiians worked in tourism, according to a 2021 report by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. That’s about 20% of all tourism workers. “We are tourism, we are the culture,” he says. “We are the backbone of the industry and I think our value in the industry hasn’t necessarily been up to par with what we bring to the table. With a Native Hawaiian organization now being at the forefront, there’s a lot more people coming forward because they’re starting to see that opportunity.” B U I L D I N G C A PAC I T Y AS H AWA I ‘ I C O NTIN U ES ITS S H IF T to regenerative tourism, the Hanalei River Heritage

Foundation and other organizations recognize that better bridges need to be built to

“

ACROSS THE PAE ‘ĀINA, ACROSS THE STATE, NOW WE’RE LOOKING AT THIS CONCEPT OF SCALING BACK AND CREATING AN EQUITABLE BALANCE.” CHIPPER WICHMAN

Founding Member, Hui Maka‘āinana o Makana

connect tourism and community groups. “I think the trick is going to be we still have to build the system where the people of the place are able to truly be the hosts,” Sheehan says. Pa-Smith adds that he’s been proactive in talking with tourism organizations about how his nonprofit can work with them, and cited efforts by other groups to do the same, on a larger scale. The Hanalei River Heritage Foundation was one of 29 community groups that participated in the 2021 Kaiāulu Ho‘okipa Impact Studio Cohort put on by the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association and travel2change, a Hawai‘i nonprofit that connects visitors to volunteer experiences. Cohort members learned about good business practices and how to accurately present Hawaiian culture while developing their regenerative experiences. They also received mentorship for three months after six-week training. “We believe in the potential of our community leaders who are already doing the work to be able to come up with the solutions, and just because they’re not always super mainstream doesn’t disqualify them from having the answers,” says Mondy Jamshidi-Kent, who was travel2change’s executive director until March 2023. She is now principal of Naupaka Pacific, a consultancy that helps nonprofits and social enterprises offer regenerative tourism experiences. The Council for Native Hawaiian H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

Advancement already helps businesses and nonprofits build capacity and access financial support through its Pop-Up Mākeke online marketplace, financial counseling, loans and business classes. Now, using its existing tools, it’s pivoting to better help local organizations get involved in tourism, Lewis says. S U S TA I N E D B Y T O U R I S M LO CA L S ’ VIE WS O F TO U R I S M A RE STA RTIN G TO IM PROVE , according to

From left, Kamealoha Hanohano Pa-Smith, Noa MauEspirito and his daughter. Mau-Espirito grows kalo in Uhau‘iole Valley, while PaSmith works at a nonprofit that encourages tourists to work on that farm.

HTA’s latest resident sentiment survey from fall 2022. About 44% of the 1,950 residents surveyed said that tourism was being better managed on their islands, up 5 percentage points from fall 2021. And 57% of respondents agreed that tourism’s benefits outweighed its problems, up 8 percentage points from a record low the prior year. However, visitor numbers are almost back to their pre-pandemic peak, with arrivals each month between January and June this year at least 93% of what they were during the same month in 2019. “I think we universally agree that 10 million visitors a year is too many, but we also sort of have to agree our economy is dependent on the tax base that’s generated from tourism dollars,” says Tyler Iokepa Gomes, chief administrator of Kilohana, CNHA’s tourism arm. In 2022, the industry generated $2.24 billion in state tax revenue and supported 197,000 jobs, according to HTA. And in June 2023 alone, nearly 890,000 visitors spent $2 billion – 22.7% more than four years ago. The key is figuring out how to make sure tourism is contributing more than it’s extracting, Gomes says. Regenerative tourism by itself won’t solve Hawai‘i’s high cost of living issues, but it can help, he says, by creating job diversity and wage and hiring equity for Native Hawaiians, among other things. 32

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“I think if you were to ask me what does the future look like for tourism, it’s one in which our community is being sustained by tourism – where our farmers don’t need to struggle to farm, where our businesses aren’t clinging on to life,” Lewis says. “This is a multibillion-dollar industry and there’s no reason why it can’t regenerate our community and provide for them and their families, their future.” Back at Hā‘ena State Park, Maka, the Hanalei Initiative employee, is somber. He says Kaua‘i has been flooded with visitors since pandemic-closures lifted. And because the park now requires advanced reservations that quickly sell out, tourists are flocking instead to nearby and sometimes more dangerous beaches. “In order to save this place, the community has to really come together, the county has to come together or even the state, and slow these people down, really slow them down because there’s just too much people,” he says. “We have to start slowing them down now because we have to save (these places) for when we’re gone.”

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The Workforce: Preparing for Today, and Tomorrow pg.38

Connecting Employers to Talent pg.42

Building for the Future pg.44

Greater Access to Care pg.45

P R O U D L Y P R E S E N T E D B Y H A W A I I B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E

Ka‘ala Farm and Cultural Learning Center

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CONTENTS

In fast-growing West O‘ahu, there are strong demands for quality education, a dynamic workforce and health care services. Meet some of the people and companies who are rising to address the area’s needs with passion, commitment and vision.

SEPTEMBER 2023

Letter from the Chancellor of UH – West O‘ahu

The Workforce: Preparing for Today, and Tomorrow

Connecting Employers to Talent

Building for the Future

Greater Access to Care

COMPANY PROFILES 39

Queen’s Medical Center - West O‘ahu

Island Pacific Academy

Kent Coules Associate Publisher kentc@hawaiibusiness.com (808) 534-7536

Mea Aloha Spady Account Executive meaalohas@hawaiibusiness.com (808) 364-6126

Liesel Steinhauer Business Development Representative liesels@hawaiibusiness.com (808) 864-0499

Pam Saito Account Executive pamelas@hawaiibusiness.com (808) 364-5897

Rebecca Brooking Senior Account Coordinator rebeccab@hawaiibusiness.com (808) 534-7560

Kelsey Ige Creative Director Kathryn Drury Wagner Writer

WEST O‘AHU

PHOTOS: THIS PAGE, AARON YOSHINO; PREVIOUS PAGE, DAVID CROXFORD

We provide QUALITY CARE that women DESERVE. Women’s bodies are different than men’s – and their medical care should be as well. From health screenings and well-woman exams to pregnancy, heart health, cancer care and senior needs, our teams at Pali Momi Medical Center and Straub Medical Center neighborhood clinics in ‘Aiea, Kapolei and Mililani provide personalized care in Central and West O‘ahu for women of all ages.

HawaiiPacificHealth.org/WomensCenters

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Letter from the Chancellor of UH West O‘ahu TH E U N IVERS ITY O F HAWAI ‘ I–WEST O‘AH U serves as an anchor institution that sparks thoughtful and meaningful change through academic excellence, innovative programs, and place-based instruction to support our west-side region.

Our commitment to workforce development in areas such as health professions, including nursing, early childhood education, and teacher preparation, ensures that the Kapolei and greater communities will be fortified with visionary leaders. Foundational programs such as accounting and behavioral health/psychology, alongside innovative projects in artificial intelligence and digital media, cybersecurity, and cyber operations, tackle the challenges of our 21st century. Our value proposition places the learner at the center of all our efforts, elevating opportunities for our students to engage with the business community to integrate theory and practice with real-world implications. We welcome you to learn more about UH West O‘ahu and join us on our journey to elevate our community and those around us! E mālama pono!

Dr. Maenette K.P. Benham Chancellor, UH West O‘ahu

SEPTEMBER 2023

WEST O‘AHU

UH West O‘ahu graduates are primed

for a successful integration into the workforce through the completion of place-based, experiential projects and practicums in the course of their studies. Our alumni are ready to address your needs. University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.

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THE WORKFORCE: PREPARING FOR TODAY, AND TOMORROW

he University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu (UHWO) is working to address a critical shortage of qualified teachers. It graduated 42 newly minted teachers in Spring 2023, including 32 elementary and 10 middle school/high school teachers—who were promptly hired.

“OU R CAN D I DATES ARE ALWAYS SOUG HT-AFTER ,” says Mary F. Heller, PhD, professor and chair of the school’s Division of Education. Equally important, 85% of UHWO education-program alumni since 2006 are still teaching in Hawai‘i schools. “That is

SEPTEMBER 2023

a phenomenal percentage considering the national data on teachers dropping out of the profession after five years,” says Heller. The school’s Ho‘opuliko Kumu Hou Program supports middle and secondary candidates with a teacher preparation program grounded in Hawaiian Culture Based Education (HCBE). Once graduated, UHWO alum build their confidence by meeting with faculty and their peers with a supportive new-teacher hui that meets at least

WEST O‘AHU

PHOTOS: AARON YOSHINO

Creating vital pathways for future teachers and nurses.

S PEC I A L PRO M OTI O N A L S ECTI O N

once a semester. About a third of the education majors are Native Hawaiian or part Native Hawaiian, and many graduates remain in West O‘ahu to teach. “Our students become teachers because they love working with children and young adolescents,” says Heller. “They understand that teaching is the ultimate act of service.” Students who are being called into another service-oriented profession—nursing—have a new opportunity with the UHWO’s Pre-Nursing Pathway program. It allows students to do their prerequisite coursework at UHWO, then transfer into University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s nursing program to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, yet all classes are taught at the UHWO location. “The program was designed so students are cohorted in smaller class sizes; wraparound services and extra support are provided all without compromising the rigor of the program,” says Nicole Akana, co-coordinator for the Pre-Nursing Pathway Program. The pilot group started in fall of 2022, with 21 students, and cohort 2 starts in fall 2023 with about 30 students, and the first graduating class is

expected in fall 2027. Benefits include savings on tuition and time spent on transportation, as well as an educational model that supports students from Indigenous backgrounds. “Our curriculum includes native values and tradition, such as mele, oli and Hawaiian protocol,” says Akana. “Students participate in several courses that educate and train them with a sense of place and understanding of the ‘āina. … Our goal is to build a sense of pride and stewardship among our students to sustain a long-lasting positive impact on the community.” Another new development is opening up routes to education—literally. The Skyline rail’s Hālaulani station is in the parking lot of Leeward Community College, while the Keone‘ae station serves the UHWO campus. It’s a boon for students who want to either transfer in from LCC or take classes concurrently, expanding the course offerings a student can take, and can also help faculty with their transportation needs. The transfer option has been particularly popular with psychology, elementary education, and accounting students.

Queen’s Medical Center West O‘ahu FROM PRIMARY CARE TO EMERGENCY CARE, to a wide range of spe-

cialty services, The Queen’s Medical Center - West O‘ahu in ‘Ewa Beach provides families with access to high quality health care conveniently located in their neighborhood. We are firmly committed to ensuring that we are delivering on our commitment of ensuring access to care by honoring the legacy of our founders, Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, by becoming lifetime partners in health for Native Hawaiians and all of the people of Hawai‘i. Queen’s-West offers an array of services include gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, ear, nose & throat (ENT), adult primary care, sports medicine, rehabilitation, women’s health, cancer care, and much more. Queen’s also offers other health care options to those living in the ‘Ewa/Kapolei region. At EmPower Health, located at the corner of Kapolei Parkway and Keoneula Boulevard, we focus on a multidisciplinary approach to health care where patients are cared for by their core health care team. With our comprehensive primary care services for whole families, convenient location, on-site parking, as well as the added services of Diagnostic Laboratory Services and Queen’s Island Urgent Care, our patient population has grown in part through word of mouth and trusted communication throughout the community. The Queen’s Health System is proud to have a dedicated team of caregivers who continue to demonstrate unwavering perseverance, innovation, and aloha on a daily basis as part of our ongoing commitment to delivering high quality compassionate care to all of our patients. (808) 691-3000 WWW.QUEENS.ORG/WESTOAHU

WEST O‘AHU

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

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Students at Island Pacific Academy.

Just as the original Hawaiian navigators crossed the ocean to islands they had never before been to, educators are preparing students for an unknown future—for working in careers that may not yet exist.

“P

art of our mission is to be navigators of change,” says Gerald Teramae, Head of School at Island Pacific Academy,

located in Kapolei. “We’re a college preparatory school, and 100 percent of our students graduate and get into at least one college. That said, we’re looking at a holistic perspective on teaching and learning. We don’t know what issues and challenges may be forthcoming

Island Pacific Academy Island Pacific Academy is West O‘ahu’s premier choice for a quality K-12, independent, college and future-focused school. “Our vision

SEPTEMBER 2023

is to provide a place where students grow into confident, caring, contributing citizens able to succeed in an ever-changing world,” says Head of School

Gerald Teramae. We encourage students to learn through experimentation as they become imaginative, independent, selfdirected individuals in a culture where values matter. We nurture curiosity, creativity,

and critical thinking so students learn to apply knowledge to real world challenges. We equip students to become Navigators of Change – and go forward with confidence into careers that have yet to be

created, using technology that has yet to be invented, solving problems that have yet to be recognized. (808) 674-3523 WWW.ISLANDPACIFIC ACADEMY.ORG

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY

PREPARING STUDENTS TO NAVIGATE IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD

in careers; we know we must prepare students for careers where they will likely change jobs a lot, and for entering professions in a global society.” That’s why IPA hones what Teramae calls “21st century skills.” Academic knowledge is important, he stresses, but so are the school’s core values: human kindness, generosity of spirit, having a growth mindset, a commitment to excellence, and ingenuity. Teramae also notes that the school is committed to providing opportunities for all families on the West Side, and that many have been able to take advantage of financial aid or financial support. Next year, Island Pacific Academy will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and many of the early graduates are now entrenched in the workforce—living throughout Hawai‘i, across the U.S., and internationally and able to serve as true networking partners for current students. Additionally, the school is in the process of developing an intern mentorship program specifically for juniors and seniors. “We need to move away from the mindset of ‘high school students cannot do internships; they are too young.’ I think we are behind if we wait,” says Teramae. “Let’s give them the experience while they are in high school, connect them with organizations so they can experience the career or profession first-hand. There are great opportunities on the West Side for internships at both for-profit and nonprofit companies. You don’t have to go into Honolulu to get that experience.”

DISCOVER THE HEART OF WEST O‘AHU

These are just some of our ‘ohana who are proud to work and live in this community. Your neighbors and your lifetime partner in health. QUEENS.ORG/WESTOAHU

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CONNECTING EMPLOYERS TO TALENT

n employee shortage can bring even the most popular of establishments to its knees—and in some cases, kill off a business entirely. “There is definitely a labor shortage,” says human resources specialist Danielle De Lima, CEO of Superior Staffing and Services.

In an incredibly tight labor market, staffing requires more than a want ad.

she launched her own Kapolei-based company

SEPTEMBER 2023

AFTER M O RE THAN 15 YEARS I N STAFFI N G,

WEST O‘AHU

PHOTO: AARON YOSHINO; COURTESY OF DANIELLE DE LIMA

S PEC I A L PRO M OTI O N A L S ECTI O N

in January 2022, seeing a need for a staffing agency on the West Side. It’s also a way to serve her community, she says. “I live on Kaupe‘a Hawaiian Homestead and I’m very proud to be Native Hawaiian. I want to encourage people, and especially motivate women to become business owners.” Recruiters like her, “have a big role to play in this market,” she says. “Recruiting is a skill set and a lot of small businesses miss the mark on this. They think it’s just putting out an ad or hiring friends or family.” With Hawai‘i’s unemployment rate at a mere 3 percent, according to the latest data from the Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), more thoughtful hiring approaches are called for. Says De Lima, “I don’t think the concept of using staffing agencies has really caught on with some sectors. Especially with hospitality and retail businesses, they are used to hiring walk-ins. I

wish businesses knew that there’s an HR skill set you need.” She sees a growing demand for workers on the West Side in nonprofit, health care and hospitality industries. Her advice to those in the hiring seat? “I like to educate clients on a healthy pay range,” De Lima says. “Pay a little more and attract the right people. It’s an upfront cost, but it takes so much effort and money when you have a high turnover. Think about how many more sales can you make with experienced staff on the line versus training someone and having to do a three- to six-month ramp up. People forget to do the math to calculate the loss when you have high turnover.” She also sees an opportunity to better connect job seekers with employers on the West Side. “There are a lot of readiness programs for industries for people to develop skills or certifications,” she says. But, “I think the gap is placing them into the field. We’re

equipping people but the bridge to employment isn’t always there. You have to know who needs these workers and come up with a pipeline that is a feeder,” she suggests, adding this is “an opportunity to fix a lack of relationships.” She also sees room for workshops on interviewing skills, communication skills, and creating résumés (writing those correctly is especially important in the era of AI screening of applicants). “I want people to be successful in finding jobs,” she says. “I try to prepare them during the screening process about how to be authentic to who they are and what they can bring to the table.”

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BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Steady construction means the workforce needs to be built up, too.

HAWAII’S MOST DEPENDABLE LOCAL READY-MIX CONCRETE SUPPLIER Island Ready-Mix Concrete has been providing Hawaii with quality since 1983. Our mission is to give the most dependable service no matter what you’re looking for. From residential driveways to State highways, we do it all.

Ready to place an order? Call us today!

H I G H ER I NTEREST RATES , permitting issues and inflation have impacted projects, and in some cases halted them entirely. But plenty of others, such as Ho‘opili, move forward. “There’s a lot of infrastructure work going on there,” says Fo of the planned 11,750-home community in Kapolei and ‘Ewa Beach. That includes work for the new East Kapolei High School, being planned to address the area’s fast-growing population. “There are also a lot of commercial and industrial warehouses and spaces coming up in Campbell Industrial Park and the harbor,” reports Fo. Island Ready Mix Concrete has resumed using CarbonCure technology, which injects captured carbon dioxide into fresh concrete, where it becomes permanently embedded. It helps reduce the carbon footprint of construction, and also makes the concrete slightly stronger. “We’re now putting that technology into 100% of our projects,” says Fo. As is the case in many industries, Fo says finding workers remains a challenge. “Most of my employees are mixer drivers, and it’s hard to find drivers. Everyone is looking for drivers,” he says. “I wish there were more programs on the West Side that could inform people that it’s not just driving a truck; it’s a career. We want to work with universities and high schools, to let young people know about the job opportunities in concrete, with steady work, good pay and benefits.” The work, he says, would also appeal to someone who wants to be outdoors and doing different things all the time. “It’s an adventure every day, a new job site, different kinds of concrete,” he says. “It’s satisfying as they are also able to look back and see something that has been completed and know they helped build something.”

808-682-1305 | IslandReadyMix.com 44

SEPTEMBER 2023

WEST O‘AHU

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

onstruction in West O‘ahu continues briskly, says Keoki Fo, general manager for Island Ready Mix Concrete, Inc., a locally owned and operated concrete company based in Kapolei.

S PEC I A L PRO M OTI O N A L S ECTI O N

GREATER ACCESS TO CARE Creating a centralized location for care and offering state-of-the-art techniques brings better results to cancer patients.

“T

here’s a big push in population health to bring the health care to the communities instead of expecting them to come to us,” says Paula Lee, MD. Lee is a gynecologic oncologist and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I PACIFIC HEALTH

“ HAVI N G TH E PRES EN CE H ERE and

pies. We also offer telehealth where having the foresight to open on the appropriate to try to fit [care] into West Side is really a testament of their schedules.” what Hawai‘i Pacific Health is trySome of the cutting-edge cancer ing to achieve,” says Lee. HPH’s Dr. treatments HPH offers, Lee says, James T. Kakuda Cancer Center at include robotic advanced laparoPali Momi Medical Center serves scopic surgeries for cancer and for patients in Central and other surgeries such as West O‘ahu areas in one, treating endometriosis. centralized location. HavLee notes, “These aren’t ing this type of integrated offered in many places.” care means cancer patients She also cites new techdo not need to drive into niques such as sentinel downtown or make stops lymph node mapping, at multiple facilities for “which we are incorpothings like infusions, rating in treating three Paula Lee, MD, Gynecologic radiation, or blood draws. gynecological cancers, Oncologist and “Having a new diagnosis of including endometrial, Professor of cancer can be overwhelmvulvar, and cervical canObstetrics and ing to the patient and cers.” It takes certain Gynecology, also to their family,” says training and a comfort University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School Lee. Many female cancer level for physicians to use of Medicine patients are their family’s this method, she says, “so primary caregivers, which even in the continental can make time-consuming weekly U.S., not everyone offers that.” treatments such as chemotherapy Her advice to women when it especially challenging. “Cancer usucomes to their health? When it ally requires multimodal therapy, comes to both routine screening with different physicians in different appointments and anytime changes specialties. Having everything in one in the body are noticed, don’t wait. place helps with patients’ ability to “Get an evaluation,” urges Lee. “You carry through with the treatments, have to care for yourself before you to be compliant, to handle the theracan care for others.”

WEST O‘AHU

Pali Momi Medical Center and Straub Medical Center PALI MOMI MEDICAL CENTER

was founded by a physician, Dr. Joe Nishimoto, to serve the families of Central and West O‘ahu. More than 30 years later, the focus remains the same; to provide patients high-quality care close to home. Pali Momi’s standard of care is nationally recognized. The medical center has earned Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience award for the past five years, which places it among the top 15% of hospitals nationwide. Pali Momi is home to Central and West O‘ahu’s only interventional cardiac catheterization unit, which helps detect and treat heart disease, a comprehensive women’s center and one of the largest centers for cancer care in Hawai‘i. A new pulmonology clinic now provides screening and minimally invasive treatment for lung cancer. Straub Medical Center was also founded by a physician, Dr. George Straub, as a place where families could receive all the care they needed in one space. Now, more than a century later, Straub neighborhood clinics make seeking high-quality care even more convenient for families in Central and West O‘ahu. Straub’s Kapolei Clinic and Urgent Care is open until 8 p.m. daily, so patients can see a doctor after work. Specialty services include women’s health as well as cardiology, sports medicine and orthopedics for both adults and children. Hawai‘i Pacific Health has committed to making health care easily accessible in Central and West O‘ahu, with more than 13 new centers and clinics connected to Pali Momi and Straub all dedicated to their mission, to create a healthier Hawai‘i.

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

S PEC I A L PRO M OTI O N A L S ECTI O N

he Queen’s Medical Center-West O‘ahu, has expanded access to care in several areas, including Women’s Health services.

“ EARLI ER TH IS YEAR , WE I N STALLED a second 3D tomosyn-

thesis mammography unit used in breast cancer screenings,” says Robin Kalohelani, RN, MSN/ Ed, CCM, vice president of operations at The Queen’s Medical Center-West O‘ahu and associate chief nursing officer. “This form of technology combines multiple x-rays, generating a three-dimensional image of the breast. This addition helps increase access

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Left, doctors and employees at The Queen’s Medical Center West O‘ahu.

and availability to this important imaging test.” In addition, Queen’s Medical Center-West O‘ahu opened a new radiation therapy department and expanded its cancer clinic and chemotherapy infusion center to become one, comprehensive cancer center. In October, Queen’s Medical Center-West O‘ahu also is expecting to have in place a second 128-slice CT scanner. “This state-of-the-art piece of equipment will be able to offer cardiac-computed tomography scans that can reveal issues with a heart’s structure, valves, arteries and aorta,” explains Kalohelani. It will enhance the availability of biopsies and other CT-guided special procedures, she says. In addition to the hospital at Queen’s-West, Kalohelani notes that the 2020 opening of EmPower Health in the ‘Ewa-Kapolei region “is a testament to ensuring that we are delivering on our commitment of expanding care.” EmPower Health focuses on a multidisciplinary approach, with patients being cared for by a core health care team (including physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, and medical assistants) as well as receiving support services like physical therapy, dietitians, pharmacists, behavioral health specialists, care coordinators, social workers and patient educators. The Queen’s Island Urgent Care and Diagnostic Laboratory Services are also located in the same building. The goal is to empower patients by addressing prevention as well as active health-care needs. “We know there is a high demand for health care services in West O‘ahu,” says Kalohelani. “That’s why we are committed to investing and being a part of the community with a focus on ensuring access to care for everyone.”

WEST O‘AHU

PHOTO: COURTESY OF QUEEN’S HEALTH SYSTEM

In West O‘ahu, increasing access to high-quality health care and addressing health inequities are the goals.

S USTAINABILITY HEROES Climate change has raised the stakes for Hawai‘i and communities around the world. That’s why we are sharing the stories of three companies, two nonprofits and one individual that are taking significant climate action.

By RYANN NOEL ANI COULES, TORI DEJOURNETT, CHAVONNIE RAMOS, CYNTHIA SWEENEY AND CURSTYN YOSHIMOTO

Photography by E LY S E B U T L E R ,

N I C H O L A S S M I T H A N D A A R O N YO S H I N O

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

Pono Home Reduces Energy and Water Waste Where You Live

In an amazing act of generosity, founder Scott Cooney recently gave the business to longtime employee Mike Vise fter nearly a decade in business, Pono Home is more than living up to its name. Since 2014, the company says its handful of technicians have serviced close to 15,000 homes and small businesses across the Islands. Their mission is to help reduce electric and water bills by providing assessments for problems like appliances that drain too much power; unsealed windows that let air-conditioned air escape; and incandescent bulbs, which drain far more power than LEDs. But instead of just telling residents about the problems, Pono Home fixes them too – often immediately. CEO and owner Mike Vise says the company’s efforts have amounted to customer savings of more than $6.3 million a year. The savings often cover the costs of any changes within a few months. Pono Home recently partnered with the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to help bring its properties up to date with energy-efficient lighting. The company is also working with Hawai‘i Energy and its Smart Homes project, a publicly funded program to help retrofit showerheads and faucets to conserve water. The company often finds solutions for multifamily buildings, “where people don’t always have transparency with their utility bills,” Vise says. The aim is for people in those buildings to know exactly how much water and energy they’re using. A Native Hawaiian born and raised on O‘ahu, Vise and his family now live on Hawai‘i Island. “Mike’s story is a very

SEPTEMBER 2023

Mike Vise

quintessential story for Hawai‘i,” founder and former Pono Home owner Scott Cooney says. “He grew up here, is hardworking and very entrepreneurial.” Last year, Cooney says, he decided to sell the business he founded and considered an offer from a mainland company. But then he had second thoughts. Over lunch in Hilo, Cooney asked then-employee Vise about taking over the business. Vise didn’t have the money to purchase the company, so, in an amazing act of generosity, Cooney gave it to him. “I was super shocked,” Vise says. “I thought I was on a reality show or something. That is the type of person Scott is though. He was always pushing and challenging me to take the next step in leadership and this is how I was rewarded. “Nobody really gets these kinds of opportunities – especially local guys like me with no college degree and coming from a lifetime of blue-collar work. I am super grateful for all that he has done for me and my family.” Part of his decision, Cooney says, was about undoing some of the cultural appropriation that he felt was “not quite right” in originally naming the company without invoking the true meaning of “pono,” and also wanting Native Hawaiians to have some ownership over the ecosystem, including the business of providing clean energy. – CY N T H I A S W EEN E Y

B lue Planet Foundation Wants Everyone Involved in Climate Action “It’s not just a clean energy or environmental challenge, it’s a human challenge,” says Executive Director Melissa Miyashiro

lue Planet Foundation fights climate change with local action: at the Legislature, in our homes and high schools, on Hawai‘i’s roads and highways, and in many other places. Executive Director Melissa Miyashiro says one example is the nonprofit’s work at the state Capitol this year, where it helped persuade lawmakers to pass SB 691, a law expanding the list of products sold in Hawai‘i that must meet minimum water and energyefficiency standards. “This will help lower electricity bills for residents by ensuring that we’re not bringing energy-wasting products into the state, and that what’s sold is the most efficient products that are going to save people money,” she says. Larger products like washing machines and refrigerators have nationally regulated standards, but SB 691 extends efficiency standards to products like toilets, water coolers and residential ventilating fans.

Energy efficiency is sometimes overlooked, Miyashiro says, but it’s a simple way for people and companies to save money. “To get to the 100% renewable energy future that we envision, it’s important we are thinking about the challenges that Hawai‘i residents and businesses face in respect to affordability.” Another measure passed this year and signed into law by Gov. Josh Green is HB 192, which phases out the sale of fluorescent bulbs containing mercury, which is toxic. Those bulbs can be replaced with LED bulbs, which are safer, better for the environment and use less energy, Miyashiro says. Blue Planet is also working with the state Public Utilities Commission on a new “energy equity” docket. “This is one of those opportunities for the community and stakeholders who haven’t previously been part of the conversation to engage in collaboration.” The PUC says the goal is twofold: to bring about more equal social and economic participation in the energy system by different groups, and to address the social, economic and health burdens of those who historically have been harmed by the energy system. Miyashiro says she’s proud of the foundation’s Climate Crew, a cohortbased program for Hawai‘i high school students. “It’s aimed at activating and supporting the students who are uniquely motivated to dive deeper on bringing about climate change solutions in their communities,” she says. The first four Climate Crew cohorts were island-specific and ran for three to four months, but this fall’s cohort will be statewide and last the whole school year. “The students will be diving into how climate impacts human health, public health, and also mental health, as we hear from students experiencing things like climate anxiety,” Miyashiro says. Miyashiro says it takes more than just the state’s core group of climate practitioners to succeed. “It’s not just a clean energy or environmental challenge, it’s a human challenge, and has connections to all industries and all sectors. We hope that we’ll see more enthusiasm from folks in different sectors coming to the table and sharing their perspectives.” – C U R ST Y N YO S H I M OTO

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

Forest Frizzell, left, and Olin Lagon

No One Left Behind: Shifted Energy Creates Green Solutions for Renters and Property Managers The company uses machine learning and devices installed in your home to save energy and money

SEPTEMBER 2023

lin Lagon was on the board of the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative in 2014 when the state committed to generating 100% of its power from renewable energy by 2045. But he grew concerned that many efforts to make that happen were inaccessible to renters and low-income residents.

So Lagon and Forest Frizzell founded Shifted Energy in 2016. “One-third of our single-family homes have rooftop solar, but those who are lower on the socioeconomic scale, renters, and people living on homestead or in multifamily buildings have largely been overlooked,” Frizzell says. “Our mission is to ensure equity and access are at the forefront of achieving that (clean energy) goal.” He says 90% of his company’s installations have been in lower-income, multifamily and rental buildings, including condominiums – homes often left out in other clean energy initiatives. Shifted Energy uses software it calls a virtual power plant to optimize home energy use. “What distinguishes us from the rest of the field is the way we use machine learning to create forecasts and predictions based on aggregating and analyzing data from all the various energy assets.” The company’s algorithms predict when appliances and devices will be used or not used. For example, most households don’t need their water heater operating at full capacity in the middle of the night since no one is likely to take a shower or do the dishes then. Shifted Energy’s software can limit the electricity going to the tank while still leaving enough hot water for out-of-the-ordinary usage, minimizing energy waste. Shifted Energy also considers the needs of the power grid. If the wind dies, less energy is created by wind turbines, and heavy rain reduces the generation of solar energy, so the company conserves energy then. The results are good for the environment and your wallet. Since 2020, participants in Shifted Energy’s collaboration with Hawaiian Electric on a smart water heater program have received a total of $215,000 in bill credits, Frizzell says. “On average we’re seeing between $75 and $125 in monthly savings from making the switch.” They also save clients money by detecting problems early – such as leaks, broken parts and underperformance – so they can be fixed. “We provide value to utilities, property managers and households – contributing to the transition to a decarbonized grid,” says Frizzell. “With all of the various federal funding mechanisms, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new energy-focused workforce. It’s going to take leadership, public-private partnerships and vision. We are laser-focused on being part of this vision and are all in on making it happen.” – RYA N N N O EL A N I C O U L ES

Makena Coffman Came Home Because She Loves Hawai‘i and Wants to Protect it

The UH Mānoa professor focuses her work on economics and reducing carbon emissions, especially from transportation

akena Coffman spent a lot of time outside while growing up in Kāne‘ohe, which she says helped feed her lifelong passion to preserve the environment. “I love being outdoors in the water, as well as do a lot of hiking, and just getting out there and connecting is really important to me,” Coffman says. After graduating from Punahou School in 1998, she attended Stanford University, where she studied the environment and climate change, before returning to O‘ahu. “I love Hawai‘i and missed it when I was away. I wanted to live in Hawai‘i to be close to my family and the ocean.” Coffman got her doctorate in economics at UH Mānoa, where she has served as a professor of urban and regional planning for 15 years. She is also director of the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience and a research fellow with UHERO, the university’s economics research arm. “Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions have been particularly challenging because of the global nature of damage,” she says. “That, I think, is what got me really, really interested in it, this kind of connection between the global nature of the pollutant and the localized nature of damage. And how do we bridge that kind of meaningful policy and planning approaches?” Her focuses now include low-carbon transportation and greenhouse gas reduction strategies. She is helping assess Hawai‘i's greenhouse gas emissions in collaboration with consulting firm ICF International and is working with the City and County of Honolulu on the electrification of transportation. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions effectively and efficiently, Coffman says, should be done “in a way that limits harm to low-income people.” “If we only do policies like tax credit subsidies for rooftop solar PV, this will tend to benefit higher-income homeowners,” she says. “We need to extend and target policies to ensure that policy interventions support people who cannot otherwise afford to make a transition to lower carbon technologies.”

– TO R I D E J O U R N E T T

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

Pono Pacific Restores Hawai‘i’s Environment, Acre by Acre The company is on a mission to conserve land and resources, save native species, promote food security and develop renewable energy from agriculture

ono Pacific’s first project was for the Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife, removing invasive species from Kailua’s Kawainui Marsh in 2000. What began as a team of three – Pono Pacific founder John Leong; his wife, Julianna; and Matthew Bauer, along with a couple of weed whackers – has grown to be the largest private natural resource conservation company in Hawai‘i. “Before John came up with this business concept, conservation work was always done internally by state or federal departments,” says Pono Pacific’s president, Jonathan Marstaller. “Pono gave them an effective way to outsource some of their projects.” Pono Pacific is contracted by government agencies and landowners throughout the Islands to take care of land and resources on their behalf. The work is called environmental stewardship. For instance, the company has installed over 203,000 feet of fencing to protect native plants and animals from invasive species. “Fencing is one of the first steps in conservation management because you are able to control what’s coming in and out of the area. Then can come those next steps of invasive species eradica-

tion, native planting, habitat restoration or whatnot,” explains Marstaller. Pono Pacific now does much more than conservation. One of its latest projects is overseeing Kuilima Farm, 468 acres on the North Shore of O‘ahu owned by Turtle Bay Resort, which is on the other side of Kamehameha Highway. “Pono Pacific is actively farming about 25 of the 468 acres,” says Marstaller. “We have 11 other partner farmers that license out various areas of the farm and grow produce, but we manage all of the other farmers.” The farm harvests over 2,000 pounds of produce a week – much of it used by chefs at Turtle Bay’s restaurants or sold to the nearby community. “Our goal is to promote food sovereignty, reduce our carbon footprint, diversify the local economy, and support farmers while creating regenerative tourism,” Marstaller says. Pono Pacific is also looking for clean energy solutions in agriculture. “We’ve recently launched a new partnership with Par Hawaii, where we’re working on identifying crops that can be developed into locally sourced, plant-based renewable diesel fuel and sustainable aviation fuel,” says Marstaller. Production of renewable fuels is projected to begin in 2025. Pono Pacific also manages field operations at Mahipapa, a facility that generates about 10% of Kaua‘i’s electricity by burning wood chips harvested from local eucalyptus trees. “Our perspective is that the land is an asset and we want to develop it to its best use, whether it’s conservation, agriculture or energy,” Marstaller says. – RYA N N N O EL A N I C O U L ES

SEPTEMBER 2023

Jonathan Marstaller

Dawn Lippert

Elemental Excelerator Drives Climate Solutions and Inspires Action The CEO of the Honolulu-based global clean technology accelerator says more than 150 companies have gone through its program

lemental Excelerator, a global clean technology accelerator based in downtown Honolulu, aims to drive positive change and propel entrepreneurs toward a sustainable future. Since its launch in 2012, EEx has accumulated “one of the largest climate technology portfolios in the world with over 150 portfolio companies, and those companies have over $8 billion in additional funding,” says Dawn Lippert, CEO and founder of EEx. The accelerator devised a five-year strategy in 2021 that focuses on three pillars:

investing in startup success; partnering deeply with businesses, community leaders and policymakers; and inspiring action. Lippert says the organization’s goal is to facilitate the scaling of food, energy and transportation solutions that improve the lives of people. As an example, Lippert says, EEx helped facilitate a partnership between two of its companies – the Hawai‘i Ulu Cooperative and Propagate, a software and farm services company – to enable the growth of ‘ulu agroforestry on Hawai‘i Island. While the accelerator provided the grant funding to start the partnership, the companies were eventually awarded part of federal grant from the USDA’s Climate Smart Commodities program. Lippert says the companies found that ‘ulu farms with at least one other crop can be more profitable than just ‘ulu, which could provide a framework for growth. EEx also launched its Earthshot Ventures capital fund in 2021 and has since raised $95 million in funding – double its target, according to Lippert. The fund invests in climate repair companies and entrepreneurs. Earthshot Ventures shares profits with EEx, and Lippert notes that two of the accelerator’s three Earthshot partners are based in Hawai‘i. Lippert says EEx has also been busy with its Elemental Policy Lab, which gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect with policymakers and other leaders in the climate tech sector. “We are focused on helping local communities and startups take advantage of funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act,” says Lippert. That federal law includes billions of dollars in funding and resources to boost clean energy. The accelerator had 76 interns this year participate in its Empowering Diverse Climate Talent program, which aims to create a diverse pipeline of talent for the climate sector. EEx will announce its 12th cohort of companies in October. “Climate change isn’t slowing down, so neither can we,” Lippert says. “As we continue to grow, a key question we ask ourselves is, ‘Will this help advance climate solutions and social impact at 100 times the speed or scale?’ ” – C H AVO N N I E R A M O S

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

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3 W AM O N IT TH

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Your Fave Car Not in Stock? Be Prepared to Wait 3 Months or More Servco Pacific, Hawai‘i’s largest dealer, says 90% of vehicles coming in are specifically ordered by customers and can take three months or more to arrive BY CH AVO NNIE RA MO S

F YOU WANT TO BU Y A N EW CAR

in Hawai‘i, the vehicle you want might not be in stock. That’s what happened to Makakilo residents Wendy Marx-Cunitz and her husband. Marx-Cunitz says her husband ordered a 2024 Lexus ES 300 Hybrid in June to replace his more than 10-year-old Toyota Avalon hybrid, which had 180,000 miles on it. Her husband wanted a new Avalon, but Toyota had discontinued the model. They looked at similar Toyotas, but local dealerships here didn’t have versions with the specifications and features they wanted. She says they visited multiple Toyota dealers and noticed most vehicles in stock were Tacomas or RAV4s, which are among the carmaker’s bestsellers. “So if you want a sedan like my husband does, particularly a hybrid sedan, 54

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you’re pretty much out of luck,” Marx-Cunitz says. “And so, you have to order one.” Charles Lee, senior VP of Hawai‘i Retail at Servco Pacific Inc., which owns Hawai‘i’s Toyota, Lexus and Subaru dealerships, says that if a vehicle is not in stock, the wait time for a customer’s order can be as “quickly as three months,

but it could take much longer than that.” Melissa Pavlicek, executive director of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, which represents 70 of the new car dealerships in the Islands, says, “We are catching up now on the new vehicle purchases that were delayed during the pandemic.”

“OUR CONSUMERS AND OUR DEALERS ARE COMPETING WITH DEMAND FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO GET VEHICLES FROM MANUFACTURERS.” —Melissa Pavlicek, Executive Director, Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association

MOST POPULAR CAR BR ANDS IN HAWAI‘I NEW CAR SALES IN JANUARY TO JUNE 2023 AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL SALES:

27.6%

Toyota

10.9%

Honda

8.8%

Tesla

Nissan

6.4%

Ford

6.3%

Subaru

5.9%

Kia

4.9%

Hyundai

4.6%

Chevrolet

3.8%

Lexus

3.7%

SOURCE: HAWAII AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION

The dealerships she has talked to “are restocking and they are much more able to fulfill demand now.” She adds that wait times can vary for models that must be ordered. AVAILABILITY OF CARS IMPROVING

HADA’s July report forecasts there will be about 52,000 new car registrations this

year – up 8.2% from 2022. For the first half of 2023, the increase in new car registrations from the first half of 2022 was uneven across Hawai‘i’s four counties: Hawai‘i County registrations were up 11.6%, Kaua‘i County up 8.5%, Honolulu County up 2.6% and Maui County down 5.5% Pavlicek says reduced sales during the pandemic has led to pent-up demand statewide. She estimates the remaining

pent-up demand at an additional 20,524 new vehicles, which is about 42% of average annual registrations. “Trying to absorb that extra will take some time,” at least until 2024, she says. In 2022, Servco – which is Hawai‘i’s largest car dealer – saw about 22,000 new car sales across all its brands, according to Lee. Lee says Servco has seen higher H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

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EVs on the Rise THREE CATEGORIES AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL NEW VEHICLES SOLD.

HYBRID BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES PLUG IN HYBRID

13.5%

7.8% 7.6%

7.4%

1.9%

1.5%

First half of 2022

First half of 2023

SOURCE: HAWAII AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION

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inventory for each of those brands, though most hybrid and electric vehicles still have to be ordered, he says. “If you are in need of a vehicle in the near future, we recommend starting the research and purchase process early.” Pavlicek says demand is high for electric vehicles in Hawai‘i – they were 13.5% of all new vehicle registrations in the first half of 2023 – and nationwide. “So our consumers and our dealers are competing with demand from people across the country to get vehicles from manufacturers,” she says.

fuel vehicles like hybrids and EVs now make up 15% of all Servco sales. The company has shifted some of its business practices so customers can preorder vehicles “exactly to their spec,” says Lee. In fact, about 90% of the cars coming into Servco are preordered, with customers specifying colors, options and more.

“You can still walk in (a showroom) and at certain times, the vehicles are available,” he says. “But I think if you need a vehicle, like in the near future… get in touch with us and let us help you every step of the way. “And hopefully, you’re getting into your dream car here really soon.”

TREND TOWARD CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED

Nationally, used car sales are outpacing new car sales, and certified pre-owned sales are up 5.4%, according to Brian Moody, executive editor of Kelley Blue Book and the online marketplace Autotrader. Certified pre-owned vehicles are popular with buyers because they’re cheaper than new cars, and since they’re generally inspected by dealers and come with warranties, they’re usually in better condition than other used cars. Toyota had the largest nationwide gain in certified pre-owned vehicle sales in May, Moody says, while Hyundai had the largest year-over-year percentage gain in that category. Chevrolet had the largest decline in those sales. Moody says the supply of both new and used cars has increased over the past few months. “Because of this increase in inventory, new car shoppers are likely to find a few incentives in the form of low financing, subsidized leases or, in some rare cases, cash back,” he says. The Kelley Blue Book website is one way for people to determine the current value of a particular new or used vehicle, Moody says. Besides the make, model, features and condition of a car, a lot of things can impact its value, including demand, maintenance history and overall appearance.

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S E C U R I T Y

Tech Boosts Hawai‘i Ag Ag tech and other innovations have already improved food production and reduced risk on some high-end Hawai‘i farms. These advances may eventually make farming a more attractive and stable career for many more people. BY RYAN N N OEL AN I COULES

IM WYBAN REMEMBERS BACK TO THE 1950S AND ’60S,

when agriculture generated about half of Hawai‘i’s GDP. Today, he says, ag accounts for about 0.4%. “We believe that the introduction of technology into agriculture could reverse this bad trend.” The “we” are Wyban and Jason Ueki, founders and organizers of the Thrive Hawai‘i Agrifood Summit, formerly called the Tropical AgTech Conference. “The conference is an economic development platform showcasing new climate-smart ag technologies that can increase Hawai‘i ag efficiencies, boost production, increase salaries, create exportable intellectual property and reinvent Hawai‘i ag to be a growth industry,” Wyban says. This year’s event will be held Sept. 26 and 27 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu.

REPLACING AN AGING AG WORKFORCE

Denise Yamaguchi, executive director of the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation, says “the average age of a farmer in Hawai‘i and across the nation is 60.” The aging farm workforce is not being replaced by 58

SEPTEMBER 2023

younger farmers. “Many of us living in Hawai‘i are the fourth or fifth generation of immigrants who came to Hawai‘i and worked on plantations,” she says. But most of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, she says, didn’t want their children to become farmers, which has created an ag labor shortage. Wyban points out another issue: “Farmers aren’t making any money. And when they’re not making any money, they stop farming.” Nor do their children want that often hardscrabble life. Ag tech may eventually make farming more appealing by alleviating some of the arduous manual labor and making farming more cost-efficient. “I think one of the emerging technologies that’s really interesting is robots that can pick fruit and vegetables. It’s eventually going to replace some of the more difficult work that is mostly done by immigrant labor,” says Ueki. Robotic technology is still expensive, but it will eventually be cheaper than human labor, Wyban says. “Maybe we aren’t going to create more jobs, but the farms will make more money, and it’ll be a more interesting space for young people entering agriculture because in addition to knowing about plant biology

and agronomic systems, they’re also going to have to understand how technology works.” The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation’s education programs teach K-12 students about farming operations and careers, with much of the curriculum focused on ag tech and how to use it, Yamaguchi says. “Kids are really interested in technology. Since the job is not necessarily in the field under the hot sun anymore, it may spark an interest in a different type of job in ag tech,” she says. MINIMIZING PROBLEMS WITH AG TECH

Agriculture is a complicated business. “More so than other industries,” says Yamaguchi, because farmers must consider soil health, pest control, food safety regulations, land leases, water supply and infrastructure. Weather adds unpredictability and climate change makes severe weather more frequent. One bad storm can ruin an entire harvest and kill livestock. Some farms are switching to controlled environment agriculture systems, or CEA, to mitigate unfavorable weather and other issues, Yamaguchi says. “You’re able to eliminate the pests that come in, birds that steal your crops, and you’re also able to ensure food safety.”

CEA systems – think greenhouses and other structures – also enable farmers to manipulate the internal climate of these structures so they’re always optimal. “With CEA you can carefully control the environment your plants or animals are in. That way, it’s not vacillating between the extremes of a very high rain event, and then a burning hot sun,” says Ueki. “That’s the pattern it seems we’re moving into with climate change – a fluctuation from super rainy weather to hot, sunny weather every couple of weeks.” One form of CEA is vertical farming, which involves growing food in vertically stacked rows or on tall towers so there are many

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I FARMING LLC

John Seward of Hawaii Farming says the farm deploys an array of data sensors throughout its Waimea greenhouses and hydroponic systems so its control room can continuously monitor and adjust temperature, light, humidity, water and nutrient levels. He says that optimizes the plants’ health while using as few resources as possible.

more plants on the same footprint. John Seward, Eric Batha and Lenny Feder of Hawai‘i Farming LLC are cucumber farmers in Waimea on Hawai‘i Island. Their farm uses many kinds of ag tech, including greenhouses, hydroponics and data sensors. “In controlled environment greenhouses, we can grow a lot more pounds per acre because we are less at risk to weather events,” says Batha. “We also use lots of real time data sensors to test our water chemistry, plant hydration and other variables. This allows us to give our plants exactly what they need to be the most healthy and greatest tasting cucumbers.” Adds Seward: “Every

cucumber plant has its own dripper. I’d say from an environmental perspective, we use 90% less water with very targeted hydroponic growing than you would farming in an open field.” Seward says CEA also means fewer pests, such as those that lead to rat lungworm disease, compared to open fields, which “definitely minimizes the use of herbicides and pesticides.” CEA systems like vertical farming and hydroponics require upfront investments beyond the reach of most farmers, but they have proven effective at reducing traditional ag problems. And they merely scratch the surface of ag tech’s possibilities.

REDUCING AG THEFT

Agriculture theft and vandalism are huge problems in Hawai‘i – and it’s not just people stealing a few papayas at a time. “Ag theft is industrial in the sense that they take everything,” says Sharon Hurd, chair of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture. “They take every avocado on your tree, every sweet potato in the ground, every flower off your tree. That’s ag theft – when you are left with nothing.” Criminals are also stealing livestock, equipment, chemicals and fertilizer and other farm property. A farmer’s worst nightmare can be waking up to find all of their crops stolen just before

the harvest. According to the latest survey on Hawai‘i agricultural theft and vandalism, conducted in 2019, the total number of theft incidents that year was estimated at 3,616. That same survey estimated there were a total of 14,262 trespassing incidents, posing a huge threat to food safety. “The total value of theft and vandalism losses, as well as security costs, from Hawai‘i farms is estimated at $14.4 million, or 10% of the 2018 Hawai‘i net farm income of $142 million,” the report said. For comparison, American retailers lost $94.5 billion from theft in 2021, but that was only 1.4% of total sales. “If we don’t solve ag theft. H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

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I think we’ll lose a lot of farmers because they aren’t reaping the benefits of their hard work,” says Hurd. “One farmer in Mililani spends about $200,000 a year on security measures because if he doesn’t, he’ll lose everything.” Heavy surveillance such as motion sensing cameras and drones can alert farmers. Extensive fencing, especially electric fencing, is another way to keep out unwanted visitors. And farmers who live on-site also deter thieves, trespassers and vandals. Hurd points to a newer tactic: Farmers can use “a magic liquid that marks every fruit on the tree.” It can only be detected with a certain kind of light, she says, so when you go to the farmers market or the supermarket you can shine it on produce to see if it might have been stolen.

S E C U R I T Y

“IF WE CAN CREATE SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY, EFFICIENCY AND PROFITABILITY OF OUR COMPANIES IN HAWAI‘I, WE CAN THEN EXPORT THAT TECHNOLOGY TO A LOT OF SMALL FARMS AROUND THE WORLD.” — Jason Ueki, Co-founder, Thrive Hawai‘i Agrifood Summit

KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

Farmers can also increase their revenue by transforming crops into value added products. Hurd provides one example: “If you have a raw potato and then turn it into a potato chip, you’ve added value to it. This means you can now sell it for a higher price.” Mangoes with bruises and

other imperfections may be shunned in the produce aisle, but they are perfectly good for making dried mango, mango juice, mango puree or mango powder for flavoring, soap, essential oils, lotions and more – using food processing equipment like dehydrators, juicers, pulverizers and freeze dryers. When I ask cucumber farmers Seward and Batha if they’d

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considered selling pickles, they both laugh. “Only about every 30 minutes!” says Batha. “Pickles would be a great business for us, absolutely. But first, we need the people and facilities to do it at that scale, and construction here is painfully slow. But we have plans to do it eventually.” Adding value to a product can also extend its shelf life. Cucumbers only last a cou-

ple of weeks in the fridge but an unopened jar of pickles can stay good for well over a year and much longer than a couple of weeks even after opening. A long shelf life is crucial for Hawai‘i exports, and that shelf life can be extended by techniques such as Hiperbaric high pressure processing. HPP uses intense pressure to kill microorganisms and because it does not use extra heat, it preserves taste, texture, appearance and nutritional value better than traditional preservation methods. “HPP is a game changer, but it’s expensive,” Hurd says. “So what we can do is have food processing facilities that multiple farms can share. That will provide the equipment that will extend the shelf life to maybe two years.” Food processing facilities are huge spaces that can contain myriad food processing equipment, including packaging and labeling machinery. “You have to have the whole supply chain, right? A place to accept it, process it, and then ship it,” Hurd says. There are currently nine food processing plants in Hawai‘i – two on O‘ahu, three on Moloka‘i and four on Hawai‘i Island – and more are being built to meet the high demand. The challenges faced by Hawai‘i’s agriculture industry are plentiful, but so are the ideas to overcome them. People like Hurd, Yamaguchi, Wyban and Ueki are passionate about coming up with solutions and they say innovation and technology are the keys to unlocking Hawai‘i’s potential to have a thriving agriculture industry. “If we can create solutions to increase productivity, efficiency and profitability of our companies in Hawai‘i, we can then export that technology to a lot of small farms around the world,” says Ueki. “So if we can grow profitably in Hawai‘i, we can probably grow profitably anywhere in the world.”

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AWAIIII BBUUSSIINNES ESSS HHAWA

61 61

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We’re already halfway through the season! Join our host Unyong Nakata of Nakata Advisory as she talks with some of Hawai‘i’s most inﬂuential business and community leaders. Catch up on Season 2 wherever you get your podcasts.

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SEPTEMBER 2023

L D ESIG

AW A R D S

2O23

THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, HONOLULU CHAPTER PRESENTS

DESIGN AWARDS Shaping Communities Through Design Excellence

Juried Awards Distinctive Detail Award Community Impact Award People’s Choice Awards Mayor’s Choice Award Hawai‘i Energy Award Hawaii Home + Remodeling Editor’s Choice Award Student Design Awards Distinguished Entrants

D ESIG NING F OR FUT UR E G EN ERATIONS

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Ho‘okupu Center strives to revitalize Hawai‘i’s communities by providing local youth with tools to reach their full potential as next-generation leaders and environmental stewards. The Ho‘okupu Center is also meant to nourish our community. The Hawaiian word ho‘okupu, means “offering.” The word also carries the connotation of creating an environment that encourages things to kupu, or “sprout”, and grow. The center’s aim is to move Hawai‘i toward a more resilient and pono (virtuous) future by engaging its youth members and the broader community in service and ‘āina (land)-based education. Congratulations to all the 2023 AIA Honolulu Design Awardees

G70.DESIGN

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENT 'S MESSAGE E S I D ENT ’ S 65 • PR M E S SAG E TO O U R 66 • MAHALO S P O N SO R S D LE VEL S 67 • AWAR AN D PROJ EC T CATEG O R I E S

FR AM E WO R K FO R 69 • AIA D E S I G N E XC ELLEN C E DS OF 70 • AWAR E XC ELLEN C E

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H O N O R AB LE M ENTI O N S

M M U N IT Y I M PAC T 77 • CO AWAR D

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HAWAI ‘ I EN ERGY AWAR D FO R E XC ELLEN C E I N EN ERGY- EFFI CI ENT DESIGN

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D I STI N C TIVE D E TAI L AWAR D HAWAI I H O M E + R EM O D ELI N G ED ITO R ' S C H O I C E AWAR D PEO PLE ' S C H O I C E AWAR D MAYO R ’ S C H O I C E AWAR D

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I am honored and excited to recognize the winners and entrants in the AIA Honolulu 65th Annual Design Awards. One of our current Strategic Planning Priorities is a commitment to promoting, recognizing, publicizing and celebrating design excellence. Providing creative solutions to our community’s challenges demonstrates how powerful the impact of architecture can be. This year, each entrant was required to address the principles of the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. These 10 principles are the definition of good design in the 21st Century. I chose “collaboration” as the primary focus for my year as President. Strengthening our impact as a community allows us to have a stronger influence and encourages positive change. Our calendar of events is an example of how hard our committees are working to accomplish this. We also continue to have regular group meetings with DPP and City Council-members to address our industry’s concerns. Our coordinated efforts with other community organizations allows us to expediciously achieve common goals. Many of this year’s entrants are inspiring examples of how collaboration can impact a community and provide a vision for what the profession strives to acheive. Sustainability, well-being, efficiency, equity and sensitivity were some of the common goals of the professional submissions. The diverse student submissions show a promising outlook for the profession. In addition to having a strong focus on quality design, many projects address critical issues such as food sustainability, housing, disaster resiliency, culture, education and renewable energy. Mahalo to our members and the students who submitted work for consideration. I also want to thank our jury for upholding a high standard for our winners as we celebrate these fantastic examples of design excellence. Congratulations to the awardees.

Table of Contents

68 • M EE T TH E J U RO R S

Aloha,

Todd Hassler, AIA

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STU D ENT D E S I G N AWAR D S

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D I STI N G U I S H ED ENTR ANTS

D E S I G N AWA R D S COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Ryan Sullivan, AIA Stephanie Ing, Assoc. AIA Juliann Chen, Assoc. AIA (Students) Kristoffer Jugueta, Assoc. AIA (Students) A I A H O N O L U L U S TA F F

Julia Fink, EVP

Camilla Nicholas, Assistant Director Jordan Schmidt, Admin & Events D E S I G N AWAR DS CO M M IT TE E

John Fullmer, AIA Liana Takamine, AIA Lorena Yamamoto, AIA

202 3 AIA HONOLULU PRESIDENT

S PECIAL THAN KS TO

Jason Takeuchi, AIA Angeline Joven Mauga, Assoc. AIA

INTERIM PUBLISHER

S E N I O R AC C O U N T C O O R D I N AT O R

A S S O C I AT E PUBLISHER

AC C O U N T EXECUTIVES

Steve Petranik

Kent Coules C R E AT I V E DI R ECTO R

Kelsey Ige

Rebecca Brooking

Mea Aloha Spady Pam Saito CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

Amy Lowe

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MAHALO TO O U R 2O23 A I A H O N O LU LU D E S I G N AWA R D S P O N S O R S !

K A I AU L U P R E M I E R S P O N S O R

Mahalo to Our Sponsors

PUPU SPONSORS

C O C K TA I L S P O N S O R S

AWA R D S P O N S O R

MAMALU SPONSORS

K AH UA S PO N SO RS

DESSERT SPONSOR

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PRINTING SPONSOR

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PROJ E C T CATEG O R I E S

AWA R D O F E XC E L L E N C E

Projects are submitted and judged in one of our seven categories. The number of projects awarded in each category and the award level (Excellence, Merit, Honorable Mention) shall be determined by the jury.

AWA R D O F M E R I T

Requires consensus from the jury that a project is deserving for a high quality of work overall. Granted to projects which display a high standard of architectural quality and design. HONORABLE MENTION

Responds to notable achievements in one or more particular project aspects; area(s) that stood out, as agreed through consensus by the jury.

RESIDENTIAL

Completed projects including single-family residential; multi-family residential; residential housing community planning; and residential renovations, additions and historic preservation. Residential projects of various sizes and scope are welcome as long as the project involved substantial exterior alterations.

public and private developments of an institutional nature; K-12 and higher education; recreational facilities/ parks, hospitals and medical facilities and utilities. INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

Completed projects involving substantial interior and minimal exterior alterations. Examples of projects falling in this category are, but not limited to, tenant improvements and new tenant spaces within an existing (or by others and/or previously completed) exterior shell/space. Also includes residential interior renovations with minimal exterior improvement. U N B U I LT

COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL

Completed projects including public and private developments of a commercial nature comprising retail, industrial, manufacturing, and hospitality. Commercial renovations, historic preservation, adaptive reuse as well as new construction projects are eligible. INSTITUTIONAL

Completed projects including

Unbuilt entries may include any project that is either commissioned (client sponsored) or intended for construction, or purely theoretical work not intended for construction, submitted individually (by AIA or Assoc. AIA), as a team or firm. The jury will review and select entries in this category based on creativity, originality, power and potential of the ideas presented.

D I S T I N C T I V E D E TA I L

Created to honor individual building components and design features that on built projects until now may not have been recognized for overall achievement. Whether it be a prominent façade, a grand staircase, or a custom piece of furniture, the Distinctive Detail Award celebrates the craftmanship, attention to detail, and spirit of innovation expressed by architectural elements big and small. C O M M U N I T Y I M PAC T AWA R D

Recognizes projects that are designed to remove barriers and burdens, physical or abstract, empowering and enabling people to gather, connect, live, and function to their highest potential, ultimately bringing a community together. This award is unique in that it relies on the experiences of end users. Entries must demonstrate significant social impact.

Congratulations to Brigham Young University - Hawaii on their continued success and innovation

Science

on display.

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Award Levels

Requires unanimous vote of the jury that a project excels in all aspects. Reserved for those projects which stand out from all of the meritorious award winners. This highest honor recognizes projects which are deemed to exemplify excellence of architectural design on all levels of analysis, and exemplify the highest standards to which AIA members aspire.

A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3

AWA R D L E VE L S

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M E ET TH E J U RO R S | PRO F E SS I O NAL CATEG O R I E S

Meet the Jurors

J E S S I C A F I G E N H O LT Z , AIA, LEED AP (AIA CHARLOT TE), A S S O C I AT E P R I N C I P A L , PERKINS & WILL

LO U I S F U N G , A I A ( A I A H O N O L U L U ) , P R I N C I PA L , FA I A R C H I T E C T S

As Associate Principal and Practice Leader in the higher education sector at Perkins&Will, Jessica is focused on enhancing learning experiences and outcomes in the rapidly evolving education landscape for institutions across the country. Jessica's curiosity constantly drives her to ask questions and promote dialogue, allowing her to empathetically engage with stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard in an authentic manner. Having served on the AIA Chicago Board of Directors for over 8 years, and as President of AIA Chicago in 2021, she co-led several initiatives to foster professional growth for members, drive the conversation around equity, inclusion and diversity, as well as chair the chapter’s ﬁrst strategic planning effort in over 20 years.

Louis is the Founder and Principal of FAI Architects. As an accomplished architect, he has completed numerous projects all over the world, from the Pacific coast to the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, winning various national and local awards for design and preservation efforts. Louis remains engaged in the design of every project, ensuring a personal relationship with each client from start to finish. He continues to lead FAI with zeal and enthusiasm, intentionally cultivating a balance of cultures and repertoires with each new project. Louis has served as President of AIA Honolulu Chapter, AIA Hawaii State Council, AIA Northwest, and Pacific Region Director, and AIA National Strategic Councilor.

H A Z E L G O, A IA ( A IA H O N O LU LU ), A S SO C IATE A N D P ROJ EC T A RC H ITEC T, WC IT A RC H ITEC TU R E

CHRIS HONG, AIA , NCARB, LEED AP (AIA HONOLULU), P R I N C I PA L , C H R I S H O N G D E S I G N LLC

MICHAEL LEE , RA , N C A R B , L E E D A P ( S E ATT L E ) , P R I N C I PA L , B E N C H DOG ARCHITECTS

A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Hazel is an architect with design and architectural expertise gained from working on local, national, and international projects in New York City, Washington, D.C. and now in Honolulu with WCIT Architecture. Her experience working on a broad range of project typologies and scales over the last 18 years has contributed to her attention to detail, efficiency, forward thinking and ﬂexible management style, and a design process grounded in the outdoor environment, the human experience of place, and story-telling; while her love of nature - animals, plants, and the ocean - provides a constant source of inspiration.

Chris oversees projects ranging from commercial and institutional facilities to healthcare architecture while specializing in project innovation and rebranding with an emphasis on sustainability and integrated collaboration. Born and raised in Honolulu, he started his own ﬁrm after spending time as an Associate at Group 70 International and NBBJ Seattle. Chris is a dedicated mentor with nearly 18 years of volunteer service to his profession. He currently serves as Board of Trustees for the Historic Hawaii Foundation and is a Past President of the American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter, the Hawaii Architecture Foundation, and serves on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Dean’s Leadership Council. He is a licensed architect in Hawaii and Washington and received a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cal Poly San Louis Obispo.

As a co-founder of Bench Dog Architects, Michael has established a wide range of design expertise in retail, urban master planning and mixed-use projects across North America, China, and the Middle East. His expertise is in creative placemaking and designing successful commercial environments. With a passion for design, Michael excels in establishing a strong design concept from the start, providing direction, and instilling a sense of place that connects with the user. He blends function, economics, and aesthetics, maximizing a project’s components to reach its full potential. Michael is a member of The Urban Land Institute and is a Co-Vice chair of the Redevelopment and Reuse Product Council.

M E ET TH E J U RO R S | STU D E NT CATEG O R I E S K AT H E R I N E M AC N E I L , A I A , LEED AP (AIA HONOLULU), P R I N C I PA L , G 7 0

Katie is a Principal with over 23 years of experience. She specializes in full-service design with client engagements from vision through realization and is recognized for her capacity for complex projects. By employing creative strategies, leveraging technical expertise, and building collaborative networks, Katie focuses her teams on securing client satisfaction. Her thoroughness in all phases results in a continuity of design that realizes the vision in the execution. She is a proponent for a built environment that delights, one that serves the community and the environment.

KEN NUKUI, A I A , W E L L A P, LEED AP (AIA HONOLULU), 1ST CLASS REGISTERED A R C H I T E C T ( J A PA N ) | A S S O C I AT E P R I N C I PA L , G 7 0

Ken is a committed architect with over 18 years of experience based in Los Angeles, Tokyo and Honolulu. He is a unique and exemplary designer who has constantly challenged himself with a unique desire for exploration beyond the mainstream. He approaches every problem as an opportunity to generate new ideas. This self-prescribed challenge has been accompanied by his strong commitment to research methodically, resolve design decisions meticulously, and receive critique unassumingly.

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N E U - WA O ’ N E I L L , A I A (AIA HONOLULU), PROJECT A R C H I T E C T/ M A N AG E R , S E N I O R A S S O C I AT E , A H L

Neu-Wa is an architect and project manager with over 15 years of experience, and a Senior Associate at AHL. He has an international portfolio across multiple project types. Prior to joining AHL, he worked for six years with Multiply Architects in Singapore, as well as for Zarch Collaboratives in Singapore, Dubbledam Architects in Toronto, Canada, and Neil Erickson Architects in Hilo, HI. While in Singapore, NeuWa was a founding member of Friends of the Rail Corridor, a grassroots advocacy group that was instrumental in the preservation of a 45-kilometer-long former rail line, and its conversion to a national park.

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FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE

Principle 1

Principle 5

DESIGN FOR ECONOMY

Principle 8

DESIGN FOR RESOU RCES

Principle 6

Principle 9

DESIGN FOR E N E RGY

DESIGN FOR CHANGE

AIA Framework

Architects can harness the power of design to contribute to solutions addressing the most significant needs of our time. Every project submitted to the Design Awards described how the submission fulfills these Principles. Jury considerations include how the project aligns with the Framework for Design Excellence.

DESIGN FOR I NTEGRATION

Principle 2

Principle 7

Principle 10

DESIGN FOR WE LL- BE I NG

DESIGN FOR DISCOVE RY

DESIGN FOR EQU ITABLE COM M U N ITI ES

Principle 3

DESIGN FOR ECOSYSTE MS

Principle 4

DESIGN FOR WATE R

Congratulations!

To all the 2023 AIA Honolulu Design Awards participants! Commercial • Residential • Interiors

www.districtarchitects.com

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A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3 Award of Excellence

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE RESIDENTIAL

FIRM Bohlin Cywinski Jackson CONTR ACTOR Armstrong Builders LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu,

Hawai‘i

PHOTOS: NIC LEHOUX

Island Studio

S L AN D STU DI O I S A FLEXI B LE E NVI RO N M E NT – A G U E STH OU S E , CR EATIVE STU DI O, AN D GATH E R I N G PL ACE –

for t he homeow ners to pu rsue va r ied creative endeavors a nd host v isitors. The st ud io is located across a pat h f rom t he homeow ner ’s ma in residence on O‘a hu’s sout h shore.

THE AME RI CAN I N ST IT U T E OF A RC H IT ECTS | H ON OLU LU CHAPT E R

While situated within a dense residential neighborhood, the design embraces indoor/outdoor living and interweaves the homeowner’s passion for art and agriculture with open, lightfilled volumes to create a sense of abundance. Island Studio includes private guest quarters, artist workspaces and offices that support the homeowner’s art foundation, and support areas for large gatherings. Project materials are inspired and influenced by the homeowner’s diverse interests and the studio’s oceanfront location. The soaring pavilion roof is constructed with hand-shaped Douglas fir glulam beams, utilizing carpentry techniques that recall traditional Hawaiian canoe building. Durable

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exterior materials, including cedar siding, metal roofing, and stainless-steel flashing, were selected to withstand the corrosive marine environment. Along the studio’s southern side, growing rods support a range of climbing vegetables while creating a shaded breezeway outside the studio. The seamless introduction of aquaponics provides nutrient-rich aquaculture

water from tilapia ponds below the planter boxes to a range of hydroponically grown vegetables. “Island Studio is the result of our client's vision for a flexible studio space to make art, accommodate guests and events that responds to the special characteristics of this site and Hawaiian culture,” said David Miller, AIA, Associate Principal, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.

Award of Excellence

“Strong, clear architectural and structural parti aligned with a unique program as a residence and artist gathering space. Featuring an elegant roof grounded in a modern interpretation of Hawaiian culture, this project embodies the quintessential Hawaiian island bungalow with its openness to the outdoors, forms inspired by Hawaiian culture, regenerative and sustainable initiatives, and material considerations its proximity to the ocean.” — JU ROR’S CO M M EN T

“This project takes full advantage of its unique site conditions. The design skillfully blends various program elements with striking forms to create a light airy and connected environment for creativity. The careful attention to detailing and material selection connects the project to the environment in a modern way while acknowledging the indigenous legacy of the place.” — J U RO R’S CO M M EN T

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A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3 Award of Excellence

‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Campus AWARD OF EXCELLENCE UNBUILT

FIRM Brian Strawn, AIA & Karla

Sierralta, AIA, University of Hawai‘i Community Design Center CLIENT University of Hawai‘i at Hilo LOCATION Hilo, Hawaii Island, Hawai‘i PHOTOS: TOM TAKATA PHOTOGRAPHY

H E N FI NALIZE D, TH E ‘Ō LE LO HAWAI ‘ I CAM PU S WI LL B E TH E M OST CO M PLETE

Indigenous lang uage campus in the world. Since the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970’s, “Indigenous lang uage educators

from around the world come to Hilo to learn more about the pre-school to Ph.D. Hawaiian language education cycle that has been set up by UH alongside its partner organizations over the past four decades. The ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Campus will underscore UH’s worldwide leadership in this important effort,” says Brian Strawn, AIA, Principal Investigator, UHCDC.

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This project, in collaboration with some of these pioneers, is the culmination of four decades of effort in envisioning, designing, and building an ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i campus-within-a-campus on the grounds of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. The ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Campus project is focused on the design of three buildings: a Pre-School, a Production Facility, and a

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“The amount of engagement and care to capture stories heard, was unparalleled. Using the star compass as a theme and truly owning that throughout the design was evident and acknowledged. The craft and research is a solid demonstration of the possible intersection between research and poetic beauty, personiﬁed in this unbuilt example.” — JUROR 'S COM M E NT

Award of Excellence

Graduate School & Cultural Center. The assembly of these unique structures, supported by nearby buildings and programs, frame a programmable open green that can host a wide variety of events. The Pūnana Leo o Hilo preschool and infant daycare is centered around all-weather play spaces and ‘ohana-oriented, flexible classrooms. Hale Kuamo‘o is a compact, permeable structure that supports a teaching-practice that creates technologies and resources for Hawaiian language education. The Graduate Center & Mokuola Honua facility is composed of a series of pods that are designed to be completely offgrid when not in use.

“This project has a very clear vision mission rooted in the ‘āina and culture of the place. It is clear the design team went to great lengths to listen to and understand the goals, dreams, and aspirations of the current and future users of the facilities. The designs are elegant and modern in their ability to tie the project to the land and community. The light touch and creativity to creating purposeful and meaningful spaces is admirable. The forms are simple yet powerful and uplifting.” — J U RO R’S CO M M EN T

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A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3 Honorable Mention

HONORABLE M ENTION INSTITUTIONAL FIRM WRNS Studio CLIENT State of Hawai‘i

Department of Education

CONTR ACTOR Nan Inc. LOCATION Waikoloa, Hawai‘i

Island, Hawai‘i

PHOTO: ANDREW RICHARD HARA

Waikoloa Middle School Classroom Building

H E WA I KO LOA M I D D L E S C H O O L CLASSROOM BUILDING’S INITIAL G OA L was to meet the Living

Building Challenge benchmark—pushing the boundaries of sustainable design while embodying regenerative, resilient, and healthy principles. To achieve energy efficiency, extensive energy modeling was conducted, informing the design choices and allowing for optimal energy performance.

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“Success on multiple fronts. With aggressive sustainability goals, compliance with DOE and serving as a green pilot example for new classroom design, this project tackled the challenges and crafted a design that welcomes all students and inspires them throughout the day. The attention to detail is apparent in naturally lit learning environments with minimal glare and pockets of study space carved out of circulation, crafting an experience that will support strong student success outcomes.” — JUROR’S COMMENT

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3 Honorable Mention

HONORABLE M ENTION INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE FIRM Lowney Architecture ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRMS Looney

Architecture (Restaurant Design); Interstore (Grocery Display Casework & Fixtures) CLIENT Food Pantry Ltd. CONTR ACTOR Swinerton Builders LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i PHOTO: ADAM TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Waikiki Market

A I K I K I M A R K E T, S I T U AT E D O N T H E S E C O N D F LO O R O F L Ī L I A

WA I K Ī K Ī , offers a commanding view of lively Kūhiō Avenue in the heart of Waikīkī. Owned by the Queen Emma Trust and serving as the anchor location for Food Pantry for nearly six decades, it has been the sole full-service grocery store in Waikīkī.

“Very unique Retail experience with open air and connectivity between ﬂoors. Creative planning and layout that welcomes people into space. Great use of materials and nod to mid-century modern heritage of the neighborhood. Nice details and accents. The project creates a lantern like effect from the street for the entire development.” — JUROR’S COMMENT

HO NO LU LU CHAPT E R | T HE AM E RI CAN I NST I T U T E O F ARCHI T ECTS

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3 Honorable Mention

HONORABLE M ENTION RESIDENTIAL FIRM Craig Steely Architecture CLIENT Gary Beuschel and

John Kruse

CONTR ACTOR Hilo Coast

Construction LOCATION Pāpa‘aloa, Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i

Pāpa‘aloa Homestead

H E PĀ PA‘A LOA H O M E S T E A D I S A N O F F - G R I D H O M E sitting at the top

of a gently sloping pasture with panoramic views along the Big Island’s Hāmākua coast. The openness of the terrain that allows for this view comes at the expense of exposure to intense winds and rain during the wet season and sun and heat during dry times.

PHOTO: DARREN BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

THE AME RI CAN I N ST IT U T E OF A RC H IT ECTS | H ON OLU LU CHAPT E R

“There is a quiet elegance in the design of this home. On the surface it seems like a simple design but there is complexity and careful consideration of all aspects of the design. The project blurs the lines between the land and sky from every viewpoint possible. Solar tracking and acknowledgement of passive design was well thought through with overhangs, setbacks, and articulation of massing.” — JUROR’S COMMENT

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3 Community Impact Award

COMM U N ITY IM PACT AWARD + HAWAI I EN ERGY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EN ERGY- EFFICIENT DESIGN '

INSTITUTIONAL FIRM G70 CLIENT Kupu Hawaii CONTR ACTOR J. Kadowaki, Inc. LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu,

Hawai‘i

PHOTO: OLIVIER KONING A B O U T T H E H AWA I ‘ I E N E R GY AWA R D F O R E N E R GY- E F F I C I E N T D E S I G N The Hawai‘i Energy Award

recognizes buildings that help Hawai‘i toward our 100% clean energy goals by incorporating energy efficiency as a foundational value.

Ho‘okupu Center

R I G I N A L LY C O N S T R U C T E D A S A S H E D FO R D RYI N G FI S H I N G N ETS ,

it became a canoe shed and a warehouse for discarded material – falling into a state of disrepair, frequented by drug users and squatters. The shell of a space had no interior partitions except for unserviceable restrooms. The Task: Turn the space into a vibrant community center that would focus on the education and workforce training for at-risk youth offering a GED as well as programs in agriculture, conservation, and culinary arts – a place that could be “all things, to all people.” Given the limitations, the interior spaces, landscape, and building façade was given a facelift. By using the limited site and beyond to the horizon, the retrofitting of low-cost semi-transparent

exterior garage roll-up doors and interior sliding glass panels, allowed for enclosure and security as appropriate blurred the separation of interior and exterior spaces. This provided flexible interior/exterior spaces for a wide variety of programs that range from small group instruction to large community gatherings of up to 400+. “This project changed an otherwise abandoned and forgotten area into a safe training space while revitalizing the entire area. Not only does this project house a program with a large social impact, but by bringing activity to the area it has made the entire area safer for the whole community to enjoy. The architectural moves, while minor, were impactful without compromising the character of the original building.” — JUROR’S COMMENT

HO NO LU LU CHAPT E R | T HE AM E RI CAN I NST I T U T E O F ARCHI T ECTS

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3

Beyond Wayfinding: Prototypes DISTINCTIVE DETAIL AWARD FIRMS Brian Strawn, AIA & Karla

Distinctive Detail Award

Sierralta, AIA, University of Hawai‘i Community Design Center & Kūha‘o Zane, Nālani Kanaka‘ole and Sig Zane, Sig Zane Kaiao CLIENT University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i PHOTO: TOM TAKATA PHOTOGRAPHY

“Dynamic integration of community and culture with multiple layers of meaning that ignites wonder from those just passing by to those who want to dive deeper into the stories behind the campus and the land. This is a project achieving functionality of wayfinding and perpetuates knowledge and appreciation of place.” — JUROR’S COMMENT

The wayfinding system prototypes were co-designed with Native Hawaiian practitioners and designers with extensive knowledge of and familial roots in Mānoa.

Coral House

RESIDENTIAL FIRM de Reus Architects ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRM

Philpotts Interiors (Interior Design) CONTR ACTOR

Colt Construction LOCATION Maui, Hawai‘i PHOTO: TRAVIS ROWAN PHOTOGRAPHY

At its heart, this vacation house was designed as a sanctuary where a multigenerational family can share experiences and create memories. Overlooking Maui’s southern shore, with views of Haleakalā’s mountainous landscapes, the Pacific Ocean and nearby islands, this home’s design supports active lifestyles and the enjoyment of nature.

THE AME RI CAN I N ST IT U T E OF A RC H IT ECTS | H ON OLU LU CHAPT E R

“Contemporary and casual, modern and traditional — the Coral House by de Reus Architects is an exemplary take on Island living, a home connected to nature and the spirit of multigenerational ‘ohana.” — HAWAI‘I HOME + REMODELING

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3

Brigham Young University - Hawai‘i Science Building PEOPLE 'S CHOICE AWARD INSTITUTIONAL FIRM AHL ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRM

People's Choice Award

Chernoff Thompson Architects (Lab Designer) CLIENT Brigham Young University - Hawai‘i CONTR ACTOR

Okland Construction LOCATION Lā‘ie, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i PHOTO: ANDREA BRIZZI PHOTOGRAPHY

“Science on display” was the design mantra, focusing on accelerating student immersion and interaction. Labs are open to view from corridors, the roof houses a celestial observatory and infrastructure is displayed in the open ceilings. Coral-inspired materials for the walls highlight the connection to the science of ‘āina and nature.

ABOUT THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWA R D The People’s Choice Award

is selected following a two-week online voting process that is open to AIA members and the public at large.

Beachfront Sea Level Rise Adaptation MAYOR'S CHOICE AWARD UNBUILT Non-Commissioned Theoretical Work FIRM University of Hawai‘i at

Mānoa School of Architecture, Environmental Research and Design Laboratory; Hawai‘i Sea Grant, Center for Smart Building and Community Design; School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Climate Resilience Collaborative LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i RENDERING CREDIT: DESIREE MALABED, GEORGINA CASEY, ERIC TEEPLES AND GERRY FAILANO

Living with frequent flooding in 2050, adaptation strategies include elevated walkways, one-way drainage, wave energy dissipation, living shoreline, beach nourishment, and wet floodproofing.

A B O U T T H E M AYO R ’ S C H O I C E AWA R D The Mayor’s Choice Award

was selected by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi from among all the entries.

HO NO LU LU CHAPT E R | T HE AM E RI CAN I NST I T U T E O F ARCHI T ECTS

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3 CALIFORNIA . HAWAII . NEVADA

THE AME RI CAN I N ST IT U T E OF A RC H IT ECTS | H ON OLU LU CHAPT E R

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3

STUDENT DESIGN AWARDS Reestablished in 2016, the Student Design Awards were created to honor student achievements in the design studio and provide a forum for student design excellence to be celebrated beyond the academic setting.

HONORABLE M ENTION

GRADUATE

UNDERGRADUATE

Bishop Museum

FoodHub Avenue

STUDENT Zoe Angelopulo

STUDENT Airon Castaneda

SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

HONORABLE M ENTION

PEOPLE 'S CHOICE AWARD

UNDERGRADUATE

Seed-To-Waste Center

Pixel Forest

STUDENT Thanh Nguyen

STUDENT Hieu Huynh

SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

HO NO LU LU CHAPT E R | T HE AM E RI CAN I NST I T U T E O F ARCHI T ECTS

Student Awards

HONORABLE M ENTION

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3

COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL

DISTINGUISHED ENTRANTS

Lydia House COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL

FIRM Ferraro Choi And Associates. Ltd

Huihui at Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRMS Philpotts Interiors (Interior Design) CLIENT KBHL, LLC CONTR ACTOR Swinerton Builders LOCATION Lahaina, Maui, Hawai‘i

ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRMS Kai Hawaii (Structural Engineer); Inatsuka Engineering, LLC (Mechanical, Plumbing & Fire Protection); Bennett Engineers Inc. (Electrical Engineer); Wilson Okamoto Corporation (Civil Engineer) CLIENT Lili‘uokalani Trust CONTR ACTOR Gateside Inc. LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i

PHOTO: DAVID MURPHEY PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: ANTON KISSELGOFF / HI MEDIA CREATIVE

FIRM FSC Architects

Distinguished Entrants

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE INSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONAL

Kekelaokalani Building Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus

World Language Center FIRM Dean Sakamoto Architects LLC with Saka-

Commercial Renovation Papa Pilialoha the Friendship Floor FIRM Ferraro Choi And Associates. Ltd

LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i

moto-Newman Architects Joint Venture CLIENT State of Hawai‘i Department of Education CONTR ACTOR Phase 1: S&M Sakamoto, Inc. & Phase 2: Close Construction, Inc LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i

ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRMS Inatsuka Engineering, LLC (Mechanical, Plumbing & Fire Protection) CLIENT Central Paciﬁc Bank CONTR ACTOR J. Kadowaki Inc. LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i

PHOTO CREDIT: ANTON KISSELGOFF / HI MEDIA CREATIVE

PHOTO: ANDREA BRIZZI PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: OLIVIER KONING

FIRM Ferraro Choi And Associates. Ltd CLIENT Kamehameha Schools CONTR ACTOR Constructors Hawaii Inc.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

B. Here Now

Līlia Waikīkī

FIRM O.Brighenti Architect ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRM Delta Engineering,

LLC (Structural Engineer); MCYIA Interior Architecture & Design (Interior Design) CLIENT Joseph A. Bobich CONTR ACTOR Intero Group Hawaii LOCATION Kapolei, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i PHOTO: DAVID TONNES

RESIDENTIAL

Koko Kai Cliffside Renovation FIRM Peter Vincent Architects CONTR ACTOR Canaan Builders LLC LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i PHOTO: KYLE ROTHENBORG

UNBUILT

Alia Commissioned Work to be Built FIRM WRNS Studio ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRM The Vanguard Theory (Interior Design) CLIENT Kobayashi Group LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i RENDERING: STEELBLUE LLC

UNBUILT

North Shore Residence Commissioned Work to be Built FIRM FSC Architects LOCATION North Shore, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i RENDERING: FSC ARCHITECTS

THE AME RI CAN I N ST IT U T E OF A RC H IT ECTS | H ON OLU LU CHAPT E R

FIRM Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB); Benjamin

Woo Architects (Architect of Record)

ADDITIONAL DESIGN FIRM Jules Wilson Design

Studio (Interior Design) CLIENT Brookﬁeld Properties; OliverMcMillan CONTR ACTOR Nordic PCL Construction LOCATION Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i PHOTO: ADAM TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

A S PEC I A L PU B L I CAT I O N O F A I A H O N O LU LU A I A H O N O L U L U D E S I G N AWA R D S 2 O2 3

STUDENT DISTINGUISHED ENTRANTS

GRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE

STUDENTS Hana Matsunaga, Beau Nakamori,

Maleah Reynolds, Austin Torralba, Hunter Wells SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

Student Entrants

Piko

Hale Kōwā STUDENT Frank Jiang SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

UNDERGRADUATE

Ho‘ola Lako Pono STUDENTS Anson Kimura, Branden Nakagawa, Madyson Sable, Dylan SchlegelSmith, Grace Taheri, Joshua Tolentino SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

UNDERGRADUATE

Tseng-Yuho Museum STUDENT Jingsong Zhou SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

UNDERGRADUATE

Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center STUDENTS Erin Kelly, Musuai Pauulu, Camryn

Pedro

SCHOOL Chaminade University of Honolulu

UNDERGRADUATE

The SU.NI House STUDENT Katelen Orquia SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

UNDERGRADUATE

Umeke ‘Ai Center STUDENT Haixin Ruan SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

Waialae Mixed-Use STUDENT Jasmyn Carlos SCHOOL University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Architecture

Congratulations To All The Winners! VI EW I N FORMATION ABOUT ALL SU BM ISSIONS H E RE HT TPS ://W W W. AIAHONOLULU.ORG/ANNUAL-DESIGN-AWARDS/

HO NO LU LU CHAPT E R | T HE AM E RI CAN I NST I T U T E O F ARCHI T ECTS

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Campus

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Ka Haka �Ula o Ke‘elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language would like to mahalo AIA Honolulu for presenting the ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Campus design its 2023 Award of Excellence.

Photo by: Tom Takata Photography

We are honored, and strive to be a model for Indigenous language education and revitalization in Hawai‘i and around the world.

T H E

B O T T O M

L I N E

Hawai‘i’s Most Profitable Companies Matson tops the list for a second year in a row, with more than $1 billion in net profit last year BY CY N TH IA WESSEN D OR F

N AUGUST, HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE published

the 40th annual Top 250 list, which ranks companies and nonprofits based on gross revenue in 2022. Nearly every industry saw year-over-year gains, from an average of 93% among tourism companies and 60% in the energy sector to more modest gains of about 3% in health care and construction. This complementary list reports on 2022 profits and losses for 65 of those companies. Most of the data is self-reported, but some is pulled from annual reports. SHIPPING REMAINS STRONG

At the top of the list again is Matson, a pandemic-era powerhouse that deftly expanded its capacity as demand for goods from China surged. Matson opened a second China-to-Long Beach, California, line in 2020 and a new service from China to Oakland, California, in 2021. The expansion paid off. Matson reported $4.34 billion in gross revenue in 2022 and an unprecedented $1.06 billion in net profit – the largest amount ever reported in our Most Profitable Companies list. But those outsized numbers are expected to fall in 2023. Rising inflation and interest rates cooled spending last year, and retailers cut back on inventory. Matson discontinued its newest line in the third quarter of 2022 as demand lagged on the China routes – a development that Chairman and CEO Matt Cox predicted a year ago when he told Hawaii Business Magazine that supply and de-

mand would return to normal once the “supercycle” had ended. By the close of 2022, Matson reported an 11.7% decrease in container volume on its China routes, and a 5.8% decrease in Hawai‘i service. Global container shipping rates also fell throughout the year, ending just slightly above pre-pandemic rates. Despite the declines, Matson maintained its profit margin of about 24% in both 2022 and 2021. Much of the money was returned to investors, but last year more than half was funneled into a capital construction fund to purchase new fuel-efficient ships. Another $100 million payment went into the fund in February 2023, and the company pledged to add anticipated tax refunds to it as well. “This remarkable generation of cash has allowed us to pre-fund nearly twothirds of our expected $1 billion in capital investments for the next generation of Matson vessels,” writes Cox in the company’s 2022 annual report. In November 2022, Matson announced that it had commissioned the building of three new vessels. The cargo ships will operate on cleaner-burning liquified natural gas and will feature fuel-efficient hulls, both of which will help Matson meet its environmental goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, and reaching net zero by 2050. In addition to the new vessels, which are expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027, Matson plans to equip three of its 20 company-owned vessels to run on liquified natural gas. The LNG installations are expected to be completed in the next two years, according to the annual report, with more conversions possible in the future.

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES IMPROVES

At the bottom of the list for the third year in a row is Hawai‘i’s other global transportation company, and the anchor of its tourism industry, Hawaiian Airlines. In good news, Hawaiian Airlines reported gross revenue of $2.64 billion in 2022, up 65% from the year before. The results reflect the resurgence of tourism: 9.2 million visitors arrived in the Islands in 2022 – a 36.5% increase from the year before, according to UHERO data. But Hawaiian also reported a net loss of $240 million in 2022 as it continued its long financial recovery. One of the pressures last year included higher fuel prices, which were largely triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent boycott of Russian crude oil. The average cost per gallon for the carrier’s aircraft fuel was $3.42 in 2022, up from $2.02 in 2021 and $1.52 in 2020, according to Hawaiian Airlines’ 2022 annual report. Fuel as a percentage of operating expenses went from 10.8% in 2020 to 28.7% in 2022. Other pressure came from fierce competition. Southwest Airlines, which entered the Hawai‘i market in 2019, increased its interisland flights in 2022 and began offering $39 tickets, triggering a fare war with Hawaiian. While cheap tickets are great for passengers, Hawaiian took a financial hit in its effort to stay atop the interisland market. But perhaps the biggest challenge in 2022 was the lack of visitors from Japan, once “a large percentage of our pre-pandemic international revenue,” according to the airline’s most recent annual report. Even as the Japanese government eased travel restrictions in the fall of 2022, visitors were hampered by a terrible exchange rate, which reached 150 yen to 1 U.S. dollar in October 2022; in January 2021, the rate was 103 to 1. Hawaiian cut back its service to Japan, and kept some lines suspended. As of August 2023, the yen remained weak against the dollar, but Airline Weekly reported that Hawaiian’s bookings from Japan were finally accelerating. To strengthen its bottom line, Hawaiian Airlines took a number of steps to improve service and diversify. In October 2022, the company announced it had entered an eight-year contract with Amazon

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

T H E

LOCAL BANKING IS HEALTHY

The FDIC said U.S. banks reported a 5.8% decline in profits in 2022, but were still doing better financially than before the pandemic. National results align with the data PROFIT RANK ON PREVIOUS LIST

LATEST TOP 250 RANK

L I N E

that banks and credit unions reported to Hawaii Business Magazine. All 11 financial institutions on the list enjoyed net profits in 2022, with an average gain of over 26%. Overall, profits in the sector declined by 4.7% in 2022 from the prior year, which was smaller than the national 5.8% decline. Hawai‘i’s top-ranking financial institution is First Hawaiian Bank, which reported nearly $843 million in gross revenue last year and nearly $266 million in net income – a 31.5% profit margin. In 2021, the bank reported more than $734 million in gross revenue and also about $266 million in net income – a 36.2% profit margin. In its 2022 annual report, First Hawaiian Bank announced that it finished the year with a record $14.1 billion in loans and leases, $21.7 billion in deposits

to lease 10 Airbus A330-300 freighters and fly cargo for the retail giant. The service is expected to start this year or next. The airline hired hundreds of new employees last year as it scaled up to pre-pandemic levels. And looking forward, Hawaiian Airlines has partnered with Par Hawaii to develop sustainable aviation fuel, and is working on all-electric “seagliders” for interisland travel with a Massachusetts company.

PROFIT RANK ON THIS LIST

B O T T O M

COMPANY NAME

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES (2022)

and $24.6 billion in total assets. MANY NONPROFITS STRUGGLE

Near the bottom of this year’s list are some of Hawai‘i’s largest nonprofits that provide critical services to people in need. Hawai‘i Foodbank, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Child & Family Service and Hale Kipa reported losses last year, the result of operating with far less revenue than during the height of the pandemic, when federal funding and charitable contributions were high. In 2022, Hawai‘i Foodbank reported $17.7 million less gross revenue than in 2021, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i reported $14.8 million less and Child & Family Service reported $6.6 million less.

GROSS ANNUAL SALES (2022)

NET PROFIT/LOSS (2022)

PROFIT/LOSS AS % OF REVENUE

Matson Inc.

2,362

$4,343,000,000

$1,063,900,000

24.5%

First Hawaiian Bank

2,093

$842,745,000

$265,685,000

31.5%

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. 1

3,602

$3,741,985,000

$241,138,000

6.4%

Bank of Hawai‘i

American Savings Bank

2,029

$754,907,000

$225,804,000

30%

1,100

$309,545,000

$79,989,000

26%

Central Pacific Financial Corp.

743

$263,482,000

$73,928,000

28%

Kawailoa Development LLP

891

$175,650,000

$31,405,520

18%

Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA)

1,277

$4,010,212,475

$26,884,345

0.7%

UHA Health Insurance (University Health Alliance)

167

$337,760,000

$16,840,000

112

Territorial Savings Bank

253

$66,911,000

$16,156,000

24%

First Insurance Company of Hawaii Ltd.

244

$265,900,000

$15,300,000

5.8%

n/a

Jones Hawaii Acquisition Co. LLC

136

$136,252,083

$9,062,370

6.7%

130

Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union

177

$44,654,825

$8,970,523

20%

157

Barnwell Industries Inc. 2

n/a

$28,545,000

$5,513,000

19.3%

n/a

197

Maui County Federal Credit Union

$12,956,233

$5,333,729

41%

n/a

134

Hawaii Water Service Co.

$41,012,800

$4,414,500

10.7%

152

Atlas Insurance Agency

$30,203,000

$4,258,000

14%

n/a

209

Lung Rose Voss & Wagnild

$9,998,000

$3,984,000

40%

n/a

230

Hawaii Law Enforcement Federal Credit Union

$7,283,811

$3,445,553

47%

156

Hawaii National Bank 3

140

$28,657,000

$3,349,000

11.7%

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative

143

$174,807,926

$3,172,759

1.8%

182

Blood Bank of Hawaii

164

$18,700,000

$2,723,540

14.6%

195

Honolulu Federal Credit Union (HOCU)

$13,149,491

$2,628,849

20%

154

Parents And Children Together

337

$29,499,262

$2,403,667

n/a

241

Independent Energy Hawaii

$5,700,000

$2,340,000

41%

SEPTEMBER 2023

T H E

PROFIT RANK ON THIS LIST

PROFIT RANK ON PREVIOUS LIST

LATEST TOP 250 RANK

B O T T O M

COMPANY NAME

L I N E

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES (2022)

GROSS ANNUAL SALES (2022)

NET PROFIT/LOSS (2022)

PROFIT/LOSS AS % OF REVENUE

224

Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association

$8,059,252

$2,273,681

28.2%

HEMIC

108

$93,331,598

$2,230,911

2.4%

Hawaii Medical Assurance Association (HMAA)

$211,000,000

$2,200,000

142

Cyanotech Corp. 2

n/a

$35,968,000

$2,154,000

n/a

AlohaCare

268

$513,336,553

$1,912,434

0.4%

174

Hickam Federal Credit Union

103

$21,966,306

$1,809,056

8.2%

177

Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. 2

n/a

$20,960,000

$1,787,000

8.5%

160

YMCA of Honolulu

177

$27,707,500

$1,782,400

6.4%

207

Hawaiian Humane Society

114

$10,834,055

$1,674,028

15.5%

n/a

231

Kilauea Pest Control Inc.

$7,087,000

$1,641,000

23%

n/a

Adventist Health Castle

770

$630,565,192

$1,629,398

0.26%

129

Pacxa

$45,280,000

$1,480,000

3.3%

n/a

245

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hawaii

$5,068,572

$1,352,711

26.7%

n/a

202

JR Doran Inc. / Ceramic Tile Plus and Exclusively Yours

$11,623,448

$1,213,238

10.4%

214

Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union

$9,401,000

$1,108,000

11.8%

n/a

173

Le Jardin Academy

153

$22,600,348

$1,005,016

4.4%

204

Maui Clothing Co. Inc.

$11,263,853

$887,732

191

Express Employment Professionals

$14,791,891

$887,010

158

Waikiki Health

197

$28,442,085

$818,442

n/a

235

Maui Family Support Services Inc.

$6,334,923

$630,137

10%

199

Hawaiian Islands Freight Association

$12,325,258

$570,874

4.6%

219

Life Cycle Engineering

$8,950,000

$472,000

5.3%

n/a

132

Allana Buick & Bers

188

$42,029,687

$344,533

0.8%

176

Honolulu Community Action Program Inc.

335

$21,435,777

$286,956

1.3%

223

Gartner Inc.

$8,394,750

$269,210

3.2%

n/a

211

Wave Inc. 4

$9,601,380

$248,038

2.6%

208

Bishop & Co. Inc.

$10,067,321

$219,604

2.2%

234

Integrated Facility Services Hawaii

$6,511,103

$106,466

1.6%

237

Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii

$6,019,254

$101,778

1.7%

247

Century 21 iProperties Hawaii

$4,719,417

$76,440

1.6%

186

Easterseals Hawaii

230

$16,509,972

$6,000

0.04%

232

ATN Construction

$6,708,030

-$365,000

-5.4%

226

Hale Kipa Inc.

$7,669,731

-$413,513

-5.4%

136

Hawai‘i Foodbank Inc.

$40,423,000

-$1,008,000

-2.5%

206

Video Warehouse Inc.

$11,182,153

-$1,160,154

-10.4%

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i

255

$103,784,000

-$2,279,000

-2.2%

162

Child & Family Service

324

$27,670,000

-$3,270,000

-$11.8%

126

Shioi Construction Inc. dba Creative Partition Systems

208

$47,000,000

-$3,534,599

-7.5%

141

Kāhala Nui

201

$35,985,929

-$23,914,632

-66.5%

Hawaiian Airlines

6,226

$2,641,267,000

-$240,081,000

-9%

HEI data includes American Savings Bank. 2 Data from annual report and form 10-K. 3 Net income from bank and noncontrolling interests, FDIC report. 4 Net figure estimated.

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

C E S S P O OLS ARE K I LLI NG OUR C ORAL –

B U T I T DOESN ’ T H AV E TO B E TH AT WAY BY STUART COLEMAN

Cover (%) >80

CORAL MAP: COURTESY OF HAWAIICORAL.ORG

Coleman was a member of the statewide Cesspool Conversion Working Group, which concluded its work in 2022.

This map from the Global Airborne Observatory shows the prevalence of live coral cover at Kīholo Bay on Hawai‘i Island in 2019.

H ER E A R E A FE W FACT S YO U WO N ’ T FI N D

in any travel guide about Hawai‘i: There are 83,000 cesspools across the state, and these substandard systems discharge an average of 52 million gallons of untreated sewage per day into the ground and groundwater. That’s like a massive sewage spill every day. In fact, Hawai‘i has more cesspools per capita than any other state and it was the last state to ban them, by more than three decades. The toxic stew of poo, pee, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants sent into the ground, seeps into the groundwater and often ends up in the ocean, where it harms nearshore coral and can sicken swimmers. In recent years, a coalition of scientists, citizens and environmental groups set out to change sanitation policies and create public awareness. The state Legislature passed several laws to reduce sewage pollution: Act 120 banned the construction of new cesspools (2016); Act 125 mandated the conversion of all cesspools to approved sanitation systems by 2050 (2017); and Act 132 created the Cesspool Conversion Working Group (2018). It seemed like progress was being made. After four years of meetings, the working group submitted its final report to the Legislature in 2022 about the best 90

SEPTEMBER 2023

ways to convert cesspools and find funding to help homeowners with the high cost of conversion. An omnibus bill, HB 1396, supported several of the group’s recommendations and different versions were passed by the House and Senate, but the measure died in conference committee behind closed doors. “Disappointed is an understatement, let me put it that way,” Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, told Civil Beat in August. “Lots of different people … put their heart and their soul into this thing. It’s not like this is a manini thing. It’s a huge problem we have, and it’s affecting all of us.” Gabbard said advocates would try again next year to pass the bill. To understand the problem requires a deep dive, and while the ocean may look clear and blue from a distance, new research into land-based sources of pollution makes it clear that all is not well in the coral kingdom.

T H E P RO B L E M S W I T H C E S S P O O L S

ES S P O O L S A R E B A S I C A L LY H O L ES in the ground, and their untreated sewage seeps into our groundwater, streams, fishponds and nearshore

PHOTO: COURTESY OF GREG ASNER/ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

areas. That pollution contains many harmful waterborne pathogens that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses whose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, and fever in humans. Sewage-related pathogens in our groundwater can also contaminate drinking water sources. One Department of Health study revealed that 50% of the samples from private drinking-water wells in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Hawai‘i Island showed signs of fecal indicator bacteria. A 2018 DOH study found elevated rates of nitrogen in the Upcountry Maui groundwater, and this can lead to illnesses like “blue baby syndrome,” a potentially fatal reduction in blood oxygen in infants. EPA and academic studies have revealed links between higher levels of nitrogen from cesspools and elevated rates of bladder and other cancers. Long Island, New York, is the only place with more cesspools than Hawai‘i and the resulting contamination has led to costly and harmful algal blooms, massive fish kills and the collapse of the area’s shellfish industry. A groundbreaking paper just published in the scientific journal Nature suggests that increasing land-based sources of pollution and decreasing herbivore fish populations are two of the biggest stressors on the survival of Hawai‘i’s reefs, especially during and after coral bleaching events. The land-based sources of pollution mainly consist of stormwater runoff, sedimentation and the nutrient loading of nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture and wastewater pollution. Together, they wreak havoc on Hawai‘i’s nearshore ecosystems and coral reefs. This is especially concerning because current El Niño conditions could cause another massive coral bleaching event like the one in 2014-2015, when Hawai‘i lost more than 25% of the area that living coral reefs previously covered. One piece of good news is a new program called ‘Āko‘ako‘a, which means both “coral” and “to assemble” in the Hawaiian language. The program focuses on restoring corals along the 120 miles of reefs off the west coast of Hawai‘i Island. Funding for this ambitious undertaking comes from Arizona State University, the Dorrance Family Foundation, the

state Division of Aquatic Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The $25 million initiative is led by Greg Asner, director of Arizona State’s Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science. Asner is also on the faculty of ASU’s School of Ocean Futures and has helped the university make a big splash in Hawai‘i. Along with that, Asner is a senior author of the new Nature paper and the managing director of the Allen Coral Atlas, an online map of all the world’s coral reefs. Armed with decades of research, he is now in the process of assembling and coordinating a team of coral reef restorers. A former deep-sea diver with the U.S. Navy, Asner is based on Hawai‘i Island and has spent much of his life monitoring coral reefs from air, land and sea. Since 1998, he and his team at the Global Airborne Observatory have used planes, satellites and high-tech instruments to monitor and diagnose damage to reefs. It’s a daunting task, especially with the cascading threats from climate

change, rising temperatures, overdevelopment of coastal areas and land-based sources of pollution. Flying along the coastline in his highly modified twin-turbo prop aircraft, Asner can see huge patches of macro algae growing off West Hawai‘i’s coast. In contrast to the harmful algal blooms that grow on the water’s surface off Florida, this kind of algae grows on the seafloor, fueled by excessive nutrients from agricultural runoff and wastewater. And the rapidly spreading invasive macro algae is seriously damaging the coral reefs off West Hawai‘i. “What we know about wastewater is that it increases nitrate concentrations in seawater, and that nitrate stimulates the growth of macro algae,” Asner says. This creates a vicious cycle when combined with overfishing and decreasing populations of herbivore fish that normally eat the algae. Without enough herbivore fish to eat them, the seaweeds grow until they smother the reefs. And with the added stressors of marine heat waves and the chronic cocktail of nutri-

ents, Hawai‘i’s reefs are more prone to coral bleaching and collapse.

T H E VA L U E O F C O R A L R E E F S

the K sea, coral reefs are beautifullyofcomN O W N A S T H E R A I N FO R ES T S

plex ecosystems. A quarter of all known ocean species inhabit these coral kingdoms, yet they only cover 1% of the ocean. They are extremely valuable in providing food, jobs and recreational income, and they help to protect coastal areas against storms, flooding and rising sea levels. A report by the U.S. Geological Survey estimates Hawai‘i’s coral reefs are worth more than $863 million a year. Culturally, they are priceless. In the Kumulipo, Hawai‘i’s creation chant, the coral polyp, or ko‘a, is the first organism created and one of the key building blocks for all forms of life in the Islands. “These reefs are fundamental to the cultural identity of Hawai‘i,” says Asner. “They are literally linked through generations of cultural identity.”

Greg Asner leads a $25 million initiative to restore corals along 120 miles of reefs off the west coast of Hawai‘i Island.

H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

SEPTEMBER 2023

He mentions the community of Puakō, which has wrestled with wastewater pollution from cesspools and other individual wastewater systems for decades. The area was once home to pristine corals, but now Asner says its reefs are in the D to F category. “It has really declined,” he says. “There’s a data set that shows in 1970, when I was 2 years old, the reef had around 70% coral cover, and now it’s somewhere around 7%.” The challenge is how to improve these hot spots of coral decline and find ways to reduce the nutrient loading from cesspools and septic systems, as well as sedimentation from stormwater runoff and rapidly growing residential and commercial developments.

HOT SPOTS

Ā‘A L A E A B AY O N M AU I

is another

M area where the coral reef cov-

er has declined dramatically over the last 50 years. Peter Cannon, a fifth-generation kama‘āina, recalls swimming in the bay as a boy. He says it was like diving into an aquarium with brightly colored corals and fish swimming all around him. But those tropical fish and pristine reefs faded from sight as large condo buildings sprang up along the coast.

The partially treated wastewater from the condo systems was pumped into injection wells and eventually percolated into the bay through underground springs. Nutrients from the wastewater and sediments from stormwater runoff gradually led to a deterioration of water quality and a near collapse of the coral reef system. Now, Cannon says, “It’s a dead zone.” According to the EPA, Mā‘alaea is one of 34 “impaired bodies” of water across the state. Not ready to give up on his beloved bay and reefs, Cannon has gathered a team to fight for better wastewater treatment. The Mā‘alaea team has developed plans for a decentralized treatment system that will produce high quality water and biochar to be used for irrigation and landscaping. The coalition is currently working with Maui County and Mayor Richard Bissen’s administration to create the proposed Mā‘alaea Regional Wastewater Reclamation System. The plant would reuse all of the liquids and solids and be a model of wastewater recycling for the rest of the state. Despite declines in Puakō, Mā‘alaea and other areas, Asner says, “The good news is that in Hawai‘i, especially on the Big Island, we have lots of hot spots of high quality reef left.” He refers to these areas as “reference reefs,” where the coral cover is up to 80%-95%. “Those are our biological arks at this point. They are

Global Airborne Observatory’s map shows the percentage of live coral cover at Mā‘alaea Bay on Maui in 2019.

Cover (%) >80

CORAL MAP: COURTESY OF HAWAIICORAL.ORG

Cultural engagement and leadership are key parts of the ‘Āko‘ako‘a program. Asner has been working with such Native Hawaiian leaders as Cindi Punihaole, director of the Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center on Hawai‘i Island, on blending modern science and ancient Indigenous wisdom. “We can combine kilo (sustained and careful environmental observation) with experimental science,” Punihaole says, “to develop innovative ways to preserve and restore precious ecosystems and share findings with other sites throughout the Pacific and beyond.” With its shallow, protected coral reef, Kahalu‘u Bay acts as a marine nursery for corals and fish that can replenish other fisheries along the coastline. “Unfortunately, the safe and shallow nature of Kahalu‘u Bay is also one of its biggest threats,” Punihaole says. “Over the last several decades, the natural and cultural resources of the park have been degraded by an increase in several chronic stressors, including the unmanaged impact of poor water quality from nearby cesspools and increased runoff from development.” From his airborne lab, Asner sees the damage to the coral reefs along the Kailua-Kona coastline. “There are very large areas of severe macro algae, and those tend to be more common near these areas of development,” he says. “The macro algal cover along Ali‘i Drive in Kona is pretty bad. But when we get to Kahalu‘u, it lights up on our screens with macro algal cover.” The ‘Āko‘ako‘a program has the funding for reef restoration work, but Asner says his team has to be careful about where it focuses its efforts. “When it comes to reef restoration, $25 million sounds like a lot of money, but we have to be practical. There are areas of reef that have declined so far that the framework, the carbonate framework that makes a reef have structure, is failing. As the leader of ‘Āko‘ako‘a, it would be unwise to put all of my eggs in areas where the outcome is likely to be unsuccessful.” Asner says the program will prioritize its efforts and funding for coral reef restoration on areas that would be graded as “B’s and C’s” on a report card. “For the areas that are D’s and F’s, we cannot put a lot into them,” he says.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF GREG ASNER/ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

AS S E M BL ING P E OP L E TO PROT E C T T H E RE E F S Along with building a new coral propagation and reef restoration facility in Kailua-Kona, Greg Asner says the ‘Āko‘ako‘a program will collaborate with government agencies and offer “multimodal education.” The program seeks to educate decision-makers and the public about the importance of protecting our coral reefs. Members of the Cesspool Conversion Working Group have offered to continue their volunteer work and to help implement their list of recommendations, but so far the state and counties have not acted on those recommendations. Often, state and county agencies work in silos and don’t include local nonproﬁts and community groups in their efforts. But Kathy Ho, deputy director for Environmental Health at the state DOH, suggests that “the state can leverage existing partnerships with trusted community organizations and other stakeholders to conduct outreach focusing on the protection of our coral reefs by reducing wastewater and nutrient pollution from cesspools.” DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources is working with Asner on community outreach for the new ‘Āko‘ako‘a program. The division is also trying to increase herbivore ﬁsh populations through its Holomua Marine Initiative. “Holomua aims to help align and coordinate place-based work being done to reduce land-based sources of pollution with marine management actions so that these efforts can work to complement each other,” says the Division of Aquatic Resources’ Luna Kekoa. A new organization called Fish

Pono – Save Our Reefs is on a similar mission to educate decision-makers and fishers about the dire need to limit the overfishing of reef fish. As one of the founders of FishPono.org, Mark Hixon, a marine biologist at UH Mānoa, says overfishing is a hard challenge to overcome. Few of those in power, including politicians and the fishing industry, he says, understand or want to acknowledge the critical link between healthy herbivore populations and healthy coral reefs. Because coral reefs are the living foundation and building blocks of life in the Islands, we would do well to protect them. Referring to the new paper in Nature, Asner says: “As complex as it is written, the story is really simple and straightforward. It’s also very actionable. The paper is not saying, ‘Oh, well, there’s no hope.’ It’s saying, ‘Wait a minute, we have a major role to play on land in how these coral reefs are doing.’ ” Improving Hawai‘i’s sanitation practices will play a key role in the health and survival of our reefs. “It’s a hallmark of a good society to have access to effective sanitation,” says The Nature Center’s Kim Falinski, who also worked on the Nature paper. “Technologies are available to reduce those impacts, and it’s worth it to protect our reef and coasts.” Now, Hawai‘i’s policymakers need to weigh the costs of improving the Islands’ sanitation systems with the value of its coral reefs and coastal areas. Once they agree it’s worth it, the transformational process of converting cesspools, reducing sewage pollution and protecting the health of Hawai‘i’s coral reefs can begin.

holding most of the biodiversity for the West Hawai‘i reef system.” In Asner’s home community of Miloli‘i, rapid development is transforming the landscape and creating hazards for the area’s corals and the newly established Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area. About 200 homes have been built in this remote community on the South Kona coast, and 700 more lots could be developed in the coming decade. The area has a number of cesspools, but most of the homes there have traditional septic systems embedded in lava rock. Unfortunately, these traditional individual wastewater systems don’t provide enough treatment or denitrification to protect the reefs. One solution being discussed in Miloli‘i is to connect the homes to a Pressurized Liquid Only Sewer system. The PreLOS model includes a small collection tank at each home that pumps liquid wastewater through small PVC pipes that are buried 1-2 feet beneath the surface. These pipes convey the effluent to a decentralized treatment facility that can produce clean, recycled water, which is desperately needed in dry areas like Miloli‘i. “The solutions have to be wastewater treatment systems that do denitrification. It’s a straight line between the science and the solution,” Asner says. “People are going to have to figure out how to decentralize wastewater treatment and get it moving in subdivisions that are growing fast. In South Kona alone, there is an explosion of development.” Heather Kimball, chair of the Hawai‘i County Council, is working with Asner to find practical solutions to protect valuable reefs. She says, “There are three things we can do: Provide incentives to connect (homes) to existing wastewater treatment systems; encourage transition to on-site treatment systems that remove nutrients as part of their function; and look at installing smaller multi-household distributed systems.” Kimball hopes to get support from OSCER, Hawai‘i County’s new Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience. “OSCER’s kuleana will include both natural resource protection, as well as looking for opportunities to save energy and expand reuse with treated wastewater,” she says. The treated water can be reused for irrigation, landscaping and other uses. H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

THE HIGH COST OF CONVERSION

H E B I G G ES T C H A L L EN G E is how to fund the conversion of 83,000 cesspools across the state. In Hawai‘i, conversion costs range between $30,000 and $50,000 per home. The estimated total cost would be about $3 billion to $4 billion, and it’s not clear who would pay those bills. At the state level, the Hawai‘i Department of Health has been working on a pilot program with the EPA to give counties access to forgivable federal loans through the State Revolving Fund program to help with the costs of converting their cesspools. “The counties will pass these funds in the form of grants to homeowners for cesspool upgrades,” says Sina Pruder, the Wastewater Branch chief. “DOH is committed to providing up to $1 million to each county in fiscal year 2024 for their respective

Stuart Coleman is a public speaker, freelance writer and the author of three books, including “Eddie Would Go.” After working as the Hawai‘i manager of the Surfrider Foundation, Coleman became co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations. He also served as a member of the Cesspool Conversion Working Group. 94

SEPTEMBER 2023

pass-through programs.” Currently, DOH can only offer the forgivable loans from the State Revolving Funds directly to the counties, but for the last two years, the counties haven’t been able to figure out how to process these funds for homeowners. One solution would be to amend the state’s Intended Use Plan so eligible nonprofits can access the revolving funds to help homeowners with the conversion process. The revolving funds pilot program is a good start, but the EPA and DOH will need to increase that initial funding of $1 million for each county dramatically to cover the cost of replacing cesspools across Hawai‘i. In 2022, the state passed Act 153 to offer rebates of up to $20,000 to help homeowners with the costs of conversion. Demand was so great that applicants depleted the $5 million fund in less than a week. When the Cesspool Conversion Working Group delivered its final report in 2022, it included a list of recommendations to the state Legislature. Two of the top recommendations included creating a new cesspool section at DOH and establishing earlier deadlines for priority areas where cesspools pose significant health and environmental risks. A cesspool section would streamline the per-

ILLUSTRATION: COURTESY OF ORENCO WATER

Diagram of a Pressurized Liquid Only Sewer system (PreLOS).

mitting process, and earlier deadlines would increase the rate of conversions. The current rate is fewer than 300 per year, but that will need to increase to 3,000 per year to meet the state mandate to convert all cesspools by 2050. But after not passing any bills this year related to the working group’s recommendations, some legislators seem to want to continue kicking the can down the road. Meanwhile, new research shows time is running out. Who is responsible for cleaning up this mess: the state or the counties? The counties are in charge of municipal sewer systems, but the state oversees permitting of all individual wastewater systems, including cesspools. Traditional gravity sewer lines are expensive (over $1 million per mile) and building them blocks roads for months at a time, so they are unfeasible for remote, rural communities. But the counties could work with the state to create local, decentralized systems like the one planned for Mā‘alaea to treat and reuse wastewater. In the end, we will all have to work together to solve Hawai‘i’s massive sanitation problems. That includes the state and the counties, federal agencies and local nonprofits, scientists and concerned citizens. The upsides include economic opportunities for workforce development, like the new Work-4-Water program to train workers on Maui and Hawai‘i Island in the rapidly growing wastewater industry. Gov. Josh Green says that converting cesspools “is an incredible opportunity for us to protect our water and environment and simultaneously create a new industry and hundreds of high-paying jobs.” The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the federal Inflation Reduction Act provide large amounts of grants for infrastructure improvements, especially in poor, rural and disadvantaged areas. “I view federal grant opportunities like this as a way to jump-start a new area of economic development in the green jobs space,” Green says. “We shouldn’t pass it up.” Hawai‘i’s government agencies must apply for these grants or lose a once-in-a-generation opportunity to access vast federal infrastructure funding to clean up the Islands’ waste.

X L R 8 H I

preX Helps Local Companies to Scale Their Businesses 111 companies have participated in the virtual program run by XLR8HI and combined they have generated more than $110 million in revenue, says one of XLR8HI’s founders BY CHAVO NNIE RA MO S

In 2019, XLR8HI hosted a talk story session with Pono Shim, left center at the front of the room, then CEO of the O‘ahu Economic Development Board. Work it Out Kaua‘i’s Jeni Kaohelaulii says a memorable moment in the preX program was later talking with Shim about connecting her culture and identity with her business.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF TARIK SULTAN

p r eX , A S C A L I N G AC C E L E R ATO R FO R LO C A L B U S I N E S S E S , passed a signifi-

cant threshold this year: The number of companies that have graduated from its program is now in triple digits. The free monthlong course – which is offered two to three times a year and is 100% virtual – was created in 2020 by XLR8HI, which calls itself Hawai‘i’s Entrepreneur Center. Tarik Sultan, co-founder of XLR8HI and managing partner of Sultan Ventures, says preX was originally created to help companies and entrepreneurs who struggled during the pandemic. “We saw a massive, underserved need in

the community,” Sultan says. He says the program helps small business owners who want to get to “X” but don’t know how. That includes how to start or change a business, how to secure funding and how to expand operations. Since 2020, 111 companies have gone through preX. These companies have created or retained over 400 jobs, generated a total of more than $110 million in revenue since they entered the program and raised nearly $50 million in funding, according to Sultan. “We’re proud of these impact numbers, and it’s a true testament to the preX companies’ focus on creating products and ser-

vices that are needed and used in Hawai‘i, rather than simply chasing the next funding round.” The companies that have gone through preX’s program come from multiple sectors, including businesses that provide high-tech software, consumer-packaged goods and even artificial intelligence platforms. About 30% to 40% come from the Neighbor Islands; the rest are based on O‘ahu. “GUIDING LIGHT” FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Nova Signings, a mobile notary service in Honolulu, was part of this summer’s cohort. Since launching in 2021, Nova Signings has H AWA I I B U S I N ES S

served over 170 customers and leveraged over 5,500 real estate closings, according to co-founder Olivia Esquivia. Nova enrolled in preX to help as it pivots to additional services, she says. The company remains a mobile notary service but also is developing an e-closing software platform so it can offer remote notary services plus e-signature and e-recording capabilities. preX is “like a master class on business and how you can learn the process of your business,” including how to craft a pitch to investors and how to sell your business model, Esquivia says. “It’s a guiding light because sometimes as an entrepreneur you’re already wearing multiple hats and you’re in the weeds of your business. And sometimes you can’t see the bigger picture.” Work it Out Kaua‘i joined preX’s first cohort in 2020, which helped the retailer expand relationships with other companies.

GLOBAL MUSIC PHENOMENON AMERICA'S FIRST 100,000 WATT ASIAN POP RADIO STATION

SEPTEMBER 2023

PHOTO: COURTESY OF WORK IT OUT KAUA‘I

X L R 8 H I

Work it Out Kaua‘i, an online and in-store retailer that offers activewear, swimwear and everyday casual wear, was in preX’s first cohort in 2020. Co-owner Jeni Kaohelaulii started Work it Out Kaua‘i in 2008, and during the pandemic, she and her sister Jasmine wanted to learn how to grow their business. At that time, Work it Out Kaua‘i was “successful in the sense that we’ve had the business for over 10 years,” Kaohelaulii says. But that success came with a price, and day-to-day operations left her “pretty burned out.” The preX program helped spark “a whole other side of the business” because now, Work it Out Kaua‘i has extended relationships with other companies and entrepreneurs like Sultan and his brother Omar, who serve as consultants for the retailer. “The preX family is very open to you even after you graduate,” says Kaohelaulii. “You still have a lot of opportunity to ask questions and whatnot.”

PANDEMIC PIVOT

During the pandemic, Aline Steiner decided to pivot from her 15-year career as a private chef, but she still wanted to cook. By entering the consumer-packaged goods industry and co-founding Koko Kai Yogurt, she could do just that. The chef in her, she says, still wanted to “nurture people” and feed them something healthy. With that in mind, she created a probiotic-rich coconut yogurt that’s plantbased and dairy-free. She describes her time in a 2021 preX cohort as intense and worthwhile. “(It) gave me an insight into how to grow a business … and how to scale smartly.” And, she says, it taught her how to recognize the signs of a viable business. Steiner started by selling her yogurt at farmers markets; now it’s sold in Hawai‘i in stores such as Foodland, Whole Foods Market, Safeway and Down to Earth, plus some stores in California.

Tarik Sultan says preX is different from other accelerators and programs in Hawai‘i because it is “tailored to the specific needs” of companies. “We took a different path by intentionally catering to the vast majority of Hawai‘i’s economy – the small businesses and startups that make up 95% of the market – as well as the traditional high-growth companies.” Over a quarter of the companies that have gone through the preX program are led by Native Hawaiian founders, two-thirds by female founders, and 84% of the companies are spearheaded by people from traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities, he says. The accelerator has had six cohorts so far and plans to announce its next one in the fall. “preX is a transformative experience for entrepreneurs and company owners, allowing them to turn their innovative ideas into impactful businesses that drive positive change and make a lasting difference in Hawai‘i’s community,” says Sultan.

This is HOME Lets you live where you love.

Introducing our affordable first time home buyer program designed to help kamaaina buy a home in Hawaii. This is HOME program includes: Low down payment Discounted interest rate Lower mortgage insurance requirement Reduced closing costs Eligible borrowers’ annual qualifying income up to $169,950 for a family of four For details and full disclosures, please visit asbhawaii.com/thisishome.

“This is Home” applies to home purchases with an application submitted to ASB, closed, and funded by 12/31/2024. Offer is subject to change without notice. Applicant income limited to 140% Area Median Income. Applicant is subject to loan qualification, underwriting guidelines, and credit policy of ASB. Offer valid for Hawaii properties only. Certain other terms and restrictions apply. For more 97 H AWA I I B U S I N ES S information, please contact an ASB Residential Loan Officer, (808) 627-6900.

PA R T I N G

LOCATION: MAUNALUA BAY, O‘AHU

S H O T

PHOTOGRAPHER: BLAKE NOWACK

Coral Restorers Use New and Old Wisdom BY C HAVON N I E R A M OS

L Ā‘ IE NATIVE K APO NO K ALU H IO K AL AN I HAS S PE NT

much of his life in and around the ocean. As he got older, he noticed changes caused by natural disasters, climate change and land mismanagement. “I got to see a slow degradation of the coral reefs, also of our ﬁsh supply. What used to be plentiful and big and abundant wasn’t so much as it was before,” says Kaluhiokalani. That inspired him and others to start Kuleana Coral Restoration in 2019 “to give back to the ocean for providing for us for so long.” The nonproﬁt maps, researches and restores coral around O‘ahu, and educates local communities. Its current restoration sites are at Ko Olina and Pōkaī Bay, 98

SEPTEMBER 2023

and it has community partners to do coral restoration on Maui, Kaluhiokalani says. The nonprofit uses camera systems and computers to track and map coral sites and applies traditional Hawaiian practices based on the data collected. The group is seeking other nonprofits and community groups that would benefit from marine monitoring and mapping beyond the shoreline. Kaluhiokalani says anyone can help with coral restoration: Go out and “create a relationship with the ocean, with coral reefs. When you create that relationship, now you develop responsibility to take care of it.” kuleanacoral.com

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Eat Pono: From a Child’s Questions to a Sustainability Movement C A N D E S G E N T RY A N D H E R S O N P O E T CO AU T H O R E D A CO O K BO O K T H AT I N S P I R E D A F U N D S U P P O R T I N G COM MU N I T Y I N I T I AT I V E S FO R N U T R I T I O US , S US TA I N A B L E , A N D L O C A L LY S O U R C E D F O O D .

Candes and Poet Gentry taste-test recipes from their cookbook, “Eat Pono.” Photo: Katie Summers

T F I R S T , C A N D E S G E N T R Y was Pono,” which they co-authored as a taken aback when her son, pandemic project, packed with nutriPoet, refused a hot fudge suntious recipes—many of which are easy dae as a treat. “Why would we eat that?” for kids to make themselves, like Poet’s he asked. “I thought you said empty favorite, overnight oats, and an entire calories aren’t good for you?” section dedicated to smoothies. Her first reaction was to wave away Published in 2021, the book is a his reservations. “I grew up eating fast manifesto that can be summed up as, food occasionally, and I “Source locally. Eat nutrisurvived,” she told him. Live sustainably.” “When we give tiously. “Actually, I flourished as a It’s also a testament to the children the competitive athlete.” power of children to inspire conﬁdence to But Poet kept asking change in their families deeper questions—What are have a voice, that’s and communities. nutrients? Where does our “I feel like we’re putting when they can food come from? What’s fer- make a difference.” so much on our children,” tilizer? Why don’t we comGentry says. “There’s this  C AN DES GE NTRY post?—and it became clear eco-anxiety kids are facing this wasn’t just a typical right now, a world that’s 8-year-old being inquisitive. sort of broken, but they Gentry says she realized don’t really know or feel like that celebrating Poet’s bravery in questionthere’s much in their power that they ing their choices required her to address can control. Poet inspired us to say, well, the concerns driving his questions. we can try to live more sustainably at That effort led to a cookbook, “Eat home. That’s within our power.”

Further inspiration came from Poet’s father, Steve Shropshire, a fourth-generation farmer passionate about understanding where our food comes from and promoting love for the land. Rooted in her family’s legacy of community service, Gentry established the Eat Pono Fund at Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), to benefit community projects aligned with its mission: providing hands-on opportunities for children to learn to make healthy choices for themselves and their planet. Starting with kids is a more efficient approach to instilling sustainable behaviors, Gentry theorizes. “It’s almost like there’s an internal sustainability that needs to be there first, that leads to an external sustainability in the outer world. Kids are going to be one step ahead of adults, who have to backpedal from learned behaviors that are unhealthy for themselves, unhealthy for the planet. But kids are more pliable and flexible. They’re moving forward.” She also says it’s more effective to support organizations already doing good work. That’s why she is working with HCF to determine which organizations the Eat Pono Fund will partner with and support. “I am so inspired by how many capable, incredibly passionate, selfless humans there are working on these issues already.” Learning from her son’s experience, Gentry says she wants to build a future in which children are empowered to ask questions, make choices, and take actions that benefit themselves and their planet. “When we give children the confidence to have a voice, that’s when they can make a difference,” she says.

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Welcoming MV George III to our Fleet Meet MV George III, the first of two new U.S. Jones Act vessels to join the Pasha Hawaii fleet, with the MV Janet Marie entering service shortly thereafter. Our ‘Ohana Class containerships are among the most dynamic in the American fleet with natural gas propulsion and generator engines, along with expanded capacities to meet the high demand for refrigerated cargo and 45 ft. dry containers in the Hawaii market.