What’s your “elevator pitch” and very briefly share what your company or organization does?
The team at Kim Orthodontics has dedicated itself to making aligner treatment simple, convenient, and rewarding so patients can focus on living their lives while we perfect their smiles without the inconvenience of braces. Having served Hawai‘i’s families since 1979, we combine decades of expertise with today’s most advanced technology. With remote monitoring, anyone across all the Hawaiian islands can enjoy the same expert care without needing frequent office visits. Our clinic is conveniently located in the Ala Moana medical building with sprawling views of Honolulu.
What inspired you to pursue the path you’re on today?
My father is an IT Director and my older brother works in digital marketing, so I grew up naturally curious about technology and its impact on businesses and their customers. After high school, I worked in design in San Francisco and later in sales in Los Angeles. Through those experiences, I developed a strong understanding of how to guide users from awareness to sales conversion by leveraging digital funnels, intuitive UI, and by designing user journeys that drive decisions.
You have one day off and no responsibilities—what’s your dream way to spend it in Hawai‘i?
I’d start the morning off with pickleball at the Pacific Club downtown followed by a pot roast loco moco for breakfast. In the afternoon, I’d head west for a round of 18 at Ko Olina Golf Club, grab a couple drinks, and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your industry?
If you’re in your 20s today, remember that the generation right behind you will be even more tech-savvy and quicker to adopt new tools. Your ability to not only keep up with trends but to adapt and execute on them will be synonymous with your success in marketing or any field that involves software utilization. The major question that business leaders asked the younger generation in the last five years: “How can social media help our business?” I believe that question is quickly pivoting to: “Can we automate that?” and “Is there an AI tool that can do this manual task?” Whoever can bridge the gap between how AI works and how business works will come out as the winner for the next five years in my opinion.
What local restaurant or food truck are you obsessed with right now?
Nori Bar in Kaka’ako opened up in the past couple years and I’ve been many times. Great ambience, incredible sushi and a stellar beverage selection. The smaller space allows for a more intimate experience with both the friends you are dining with as well as the chef preparing your omakase. I’ll definitely continue to go here for the foreseeable future!
What’s one item on your 2025 bucket list—personal or professional?
Continue developing deep expertise in the latest AI tools, how to use them, and how they will affect businesses’ workflows. There isn’t a single person I talk to who is not interested in this topic and there are very few if any at all “experts” in the field yet.
How do you want to make a difference in your community?
I hope to connect more people around my age with technology and the skills required to impact a business, agnostic of geographic location. Although Hawai‘i is beautiful, living on an isolated island can insulate us from growth and make it harder to stay on par with innovations on the mainland.
If we don’t keep up, technology will outpace us and replace us in the workforce. Additionally, with the current economic forecast, especially in Japan tourism to O‘ahu is on a large downtrend right now. It’s my personal opinion that many jobs related to hospitality, particularly in Waikīkī or other tourist hotspots, will be reduced if travel to the state continues to decline. I believe the best way to combat this is to equip more individuals with abilities they can perform remotely or in industries unrelated to Hawai‘i’s tourism trends.
