WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2026
Alexis Akiona
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a woman in business? The greatest lesson I’ve learned as a woman in business is simple but powerful: Take care of yourself first. For years, I believed success required constant sacrifice—long hours, late […]
Bianca Alsip-Freeny
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a woman in business? Over the years, one of the biggest lessons I learned is that you can be talented in your craft but to be talented in business you have to be […]
Pam Cabrera
What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? One of my proudest professional achievements so far has been becoming the first female General Manager at OUTRIGGER, a milestone that carries both personal significance and broader meaning within an industry […]
Lan Chung
What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? My proudest achievement has been watching Fighting Eel grow into something far bigger than I ever imagined. We started with women’s clothing, and now we’ve expanded into men and boys, home, […]
Amy Damon
How do you define success for yourself? Success, for me, is reflected in the growth of our team—both personally and professionally. When people feel valued, empowered, and fulfilled, they bring out their best selves. That energy elevates the member experience […]
Francine Dudoit-Tagupa
What inspired you to start your career in this field? Watching my grandmother balance family, work, and community. She had 18 children of her own and raised 10 grandchildren while her husband was in the service. Who was your biggest […]
Ahu Hettema
What inspired you to start your career in this field? I entered this field out of necessity. I couldn’t return to my homeland, and I was caught between papers and worlds, without money or a sense of belonging. Cooking with […]
Paddy Kauhane
What inspired you to start your career in this field? I was raised in a family that believed in helping others. Whether it was through time, sweat, financial, or other support, I learned that lifting up others provides the biggest […]
Paulette Kitchell Fukumoto
What inspired you to start your career in this field? I was inspired by Henk Rogers, the designer of Tetris. What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? Raising three sons. Who was your biggest role model or mentor […]
Rachel Akaka Mamiya
Who was your biggest role model or mentor while growing up? My parents. I was lucky to have my mom at home full-time when my dad was in the Air Force. She taught me to read in pre-school and always […]
Rachel Pacarro
Who was your greatest role model or mentor growing up? I was lucky to grow up with many. My dad showed me what hard work and grit looked like, all while demonstrating the importance of showing up. No matter how […]
Amanda Pump
What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? My proudest professional achievement is the opportunity to serve others and positively impact families in our community. At Child and Family Service, we hold ourselves to a high standard, and I […]
Kashmira Reid
What motivates you on the tough days? For me, there are two types of tough days. The first is when something unexpected occurs or goes wrong. Typically, that requires so much extra time and energy to navigate through for things […]
Tamara Shaffer
What inspired you to start your career in this field? I had always dreamed of creating a new kind of wellness and lifestyle med spa—one that unites science, beauty, and health under one roof. I saw that the future of […]
Kay Sides
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a woman in business? Never feel guilty about being clear with your boundaries. That has been one of the hardest and most important lessons I’ve learned. It’s so easy—especially for women—to fall into […]
Trista Speer
What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? I’m proud of everything I’ve been able to do on behalf of the people I serve, from my time as a Deputy District Attorney in Oregon to a law professor at […]
Ashley Thomas
What inspired you to start your career in this field? It started with a personal crisis. After more than a decade in HR helping Hawai‘i employers support their teams, everything shifted when I became a mom during the pandemic. One […]
Christine Valenti
What inspired you to start your career in this field? I’ve always had a deep appreciation for Hawai‘i’s natural environment and a curiosity about how we could make better use of the resources already around us. When we started Bizia, […]
Meeta Vu
What inspired you to start your career in this field? When we first founded Hub Coworking Hawai‘i, coworking was still a relatively new concept on the islands. I saw an opportunity to create more than just office space—I wanted to […]
Aly Wee
What’s your “elevator pitch” and very briefly share what your company or organization does? I’m the founder of Aly Wee Consulting, a hotel revenue and asset management firm specializing in independent and boutique hotels. We partner with hotel owners and […]
Nili Yildirim
What inspired you to start your career in this field? Cooking became my way of caring long before it became a profession. With three children depending on me, I discovered feeding people was the clearest way I knew how to […]
Natasha Haukeaokalani Ho
Who was your biggest role model or mentor growing up? My biggest role model is my mother, Mary Ann Ho. She does everything with her whole heart. She is the one who taught me it is better to give than […]
Kamuela Potter
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a woman in business? One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that lasting success is never built alone. Whether in leadership or in life, progress depends on teamwork and a shared commitment […]
EDGE EVENTS
