How do you handle pressure when the stakes are high?

I’ve learned that pressure doesn’t go away, but it does ease when I get clear and am prepared. I try to slow down and focus on what matters most: people, priorities, and principles. If I stay anchored in what’s right, not just what’s fast, I usually find the path forward. I also lean on my team. I don’t believe in carrying pressure alone or pretending I have all the answers. Transparency reduces anxiety. When I communicate clearly, invite input, and set a steady tone, it helps everyone breathe and we make better decisions together.

What’s one leadership quality you admire in others?

I admire leaders who are steady. I’ve been fortunate to learn from mentors who aren’t driven by ego, don’t panic when things go sideways, and don’t need to be the smartest person in the room. They listen before they speak, give credit freely, and they know how to hold both urgency and patience at the same time. The best leaders I’ve learned from are kind, but they’re not vague. They set clear expectations, they tell the truth with compassion, and they make hard calls without losing their humanity.

What’s one moment that reminded you of what you love to do?

Honestly, I get reminded all the time. I started at Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii 20 years ago working directly with youth and families, so that’s still where my heart is. Anytime I see mentoring working the way it’s supposed to, it brings me back to my “why.” When I hear about a youth or their family in our program and what they’re carrying—stress, uncertainty, hope—and why they’re asking for a mentor, it cuts through everything else and brings into focus why I love what I do.

What excites you most about the future?

I’m excited that we’re expanding our services and getting support from public and private partners who believe in making people-first investments that strengthen Hawaiʻi from the inside out and ripple forward for future generations. Mentoring, supporting one another, reconnecting across differences, and being a resource for someone else isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a real social infrastructure and it builds resilience in our community.

I’m also excited for a campaign we are launching this year, 100 Men in 100 Days. Right now, one of our greatest needs is for mentors, men in particular, because so many boys and young men are reaching out for a positive role model. This campaign is bigger than our organization.

We need more men in our communities involved in service such as coaching, mentoring, and volunteering because young people are watching what we prioritize. Showing up is powerful and our program harnesses that energy. Our mentoring programs start as young as age 6 and go up to young adults in their mid-20s, providing mentoring support for college and career pathways, and workforce development. That full continuum of mentoring is what gives me real hope for what’s ahead.

What’s your favorite way to celebrate a win?

My favorite way to celebrate a win is to share it with the people who made it happen. No project succeeds because of one person. It’s always a team effort. I try to make sure the spotlight goes to the staff and partners who did the work, solved the problems, and carried it across the finish line. I love calling that and taking a moment to say, “Congratulations, we did this!”

Personally, my celebrations are pretty low-key. A lot of it is just pausing to appreciate and reflect on the effort and the progress, especially when the work is hard and the needs are high. And then I bring it home. My favorite celebration is dinner out with my wife and our kids. Without my wife and family’s support, none of my wins would be possible.

The biggest inspiration for me has always been the people who invested in me. I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by mentors, teachers, and community leaders who believed in me and gave me opportunities to grow. Their support created in me a deep sense of kuleana, or responsibility, to carry that forward. That is what led me into public service and my work with the Native Hawaiian community.

For me, this path has never been about chasing personal recognition. It has always been about honoring the investment others made in me by opening doors for those who come after and proving that Hawaiian culture and values are not just part of our history but powerful tools for the challenges we face today.

Early bird or night owl and what’s your morning routine like?

These days I am definitely an early bird. I wake up before sunrise, usually around 4:00 am and spend the first hour working out. That time clears my head, grounds me, and gets me focused for the day ahead. If I don’t take that time, the day gets swept up by meetings, calls, and family responsibilities. By the time most people are starting their morning, I already feel sharper, calmer, and more intentional. That routine has become my way of making sure I start each day on the right note.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned the hard way but are grateful for?

I’ve learned you can’t be everything to everybody. When I first started my career as a fresh-face twenty-year-old kid, I wanted to please everyone and I stretched myself too thin. I said yes too often and paid for it with my own well-being. Over time, I realized leadership is not about winning everyone’s approval. It is about making thoughtful choices that align with your values, even when those decisions aren’t popular. That was not easy to accept at first, but it taught me to lead with integrity and conviction. You may not make everyone happy, but you will earn their respect and that shift has been transformative in both my professional and personal life.

What has been your proudest “pinch me” moment so far?

At thirty, I can’t point to a single proudest moment, but I am proud of the things I have been able to be a part of. Serving as communications director for the Hawaiʻi State Senate during the state’s Covid-19 response was one of the most intense experiences of my life, and I learned so much from being on the frontlines.

More recently, I have been part of the historic merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, which is shaping Hawaiʻi’s future in ways that will be felt for generations. Looking back, I still have those “pinch me” moments where I feel grateful to have been at the table where major decisions are being made. For me, the pride comes from knowing I have contributed to work that matters and will have lasting impacts in our community

How do you want to make a difference in your community?

For me, it always comes back to the next generation. Whether through my work with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines or through the different community hats I wear, the most important difference I can make is ensuring my children and every keiki in Hawaiʻi have the chance to live and thrive here.

Too often our young people feel like they need to leave home for opportunity or sacrifice closeness to family for career. I do not believe that should be the case. I want to help create a Hawaiʻi where growth is sustainable, rooted in our values, and inclusive of our people. If I can play even a small role in creating those opportunities, then the impact will ripple forward as our keiki grow into confident leaders of their own.

What’s a decision that changed the direction of your career?

One of the most defining decisions I made was choosing to step outside of a traditional career path and actively build multiple income streams through real estate and business investments. Early on, I realized that relying on a single source of income, especially when living in Hawai‘i, no matter how stable it may seem, limits both impact and opportunity.

That shift in mindset led me to pursue becoming a licensed real estate broker and eventually launching Adventure Capital, where I focus on acquiring, improving, and building cash-flowing assets and businesses.

Ultimately, this decision wasn’t just about money. It was about control, flexibility, and a long-term vision to create a legacy for my children. It allowed me to think more like an entrepreneur than an employee, and it completely changed how I evaluate opportunities, risk, and growth. The day I chose ownership over comfort is the day everything changed.

How do you handle pressure when the stakes are high?

It may sound simple, but breath! I’ve learned that pressure in high stakes situations are usually a sign that something meaningful is at hand. I don’t believe in giving up. Instead, take a deep breath, simplify it, analyze the problem at hand and reduce complex situations into smaller, controllable ones, and focus on execution rather than emotion.

In both health insurance and real estate, there are moments where timelines are tight, and decisions carry real consequences for those involved. In those moments, it’s best to rely on preparation, data, and discipline. I also remind myself that most problems in business are solvable, it’s just a matter of staying clear-headed long enough to work through them.

Don’t let pressure intimidate you. Every entrepreneur starts out as coal, but those who endure it emerge as diamonds.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about failure?

The most important thing I’ve learned about failure is that failure is actually opportunity in disguise. Failure is the greatest teacher in life, where we learn lessons from. Every lesson brings about an opportunity to grow and improve. I genuinely have a strong belief that we are all capable of great things, and failure gives us a chance to push forward to reach that potential.

Early in my career, I used to view failure as a setback, and even worse, beat myself up over it. Over the years, I’ve discovered every failed situation, missed opportunity, or

miscalculation has helped sharpen my decision-making skills.

I’ve learned the irreplaceable value of time versus money. Not every business deal may go as planned, but the time you put into it is still an investment in yourself. The main thing that matters is how quickly you identify what went wrong, adjust your approach, and move forward without losing momentum. Always continue to push forward. Never give up.

How do you stay focused in a world full of distractions?

I don’t consider myself exempt from the distractions of everyday life, especially since marketing plays a big role in all of my work. I believe we need to hold ourselves accountable and know when to cut the distractions out. Plan the next day the night before. Read that book or listen to that podcast about business or self-help instead of “doom scrolling”. Invest intentional time with your family.

Clarity of goals is everything. Write it down. I really can’t express this enough. WRITE IT

DOWN! When you’re clear on what future you’re building, distractions become easier to ignore.

I operate with a strong prioritization mindset focusing on high-impact actions that move projects forward. I also structure my time intentionally, and do my best to eliminate unnecessary noise. There’s always something competing for your attention, the key is knowing what actually deserves it. If your goals aren’t clear, distractions will always win.

How do you stay grounded as your responsibilities grow?

Accountability and time management are key. I often tell my peers to lean into the discomfort that comes with growth. It may sound counterintuitive, but comfort and complacency are often what hold us back the most. At the same time, I’m mindful that overcommitting and stretching ourselves too thin can cause everything we’re building to unravel faster than we expect.

Finding that balance requires discipline, self-awareness, and prioritizing mental clarity. For me, staying grounded ultimately comes down to perspective and purpose. No matter how much responsibility increases, I stay connected to why I started, creating opportunities, building something meaningful, and supporting the people around me.

Success isn’t just about how much you build, it’s about how you carry it and who you impact along the way. I also stay close to family, community, and the local culture here in Hawaiʻi, which naturally keeps things in perspective. At the end of the day, success isn’t just about growth, it’s about how you carry it and who you impact along the way.

What excites you most about the future?

What excites me most is the ability to create scalable impact. Especially to see where AI could take us! The future will reward people who know how to combine capital, technology, and execution. We’re at a point where access to information, technology, and capital has never been greater. That creates opportunities not just to build businesses, but to design systems that generate long-term value through innovation, real estate, investments, and partnerships.

I’m especially excited about continuing to expand my own investments and exploring new ways to combine traditional investing with modern strategies to create sustainable income and growth.

What’s a decision that changed the direction of your career?

One of the decisions that changed the direction of my career was to trust my vision and ideas instead of trusting people’s perception and adopting their insecurities.

People always told me that I’d never be able to compete with the big chains and it took time to realize I don’t need to if I’m able to break the mold of ordinary “cookie cutter” coffee shops and create a league of my own. That’s when I learned not to let people with small minds convince me my dreams are too big.

What’s a daily habit you can’t live without?

One daily habit I can’t live without is preparing my daily “to do” list while having my morning coffee. It forces me to ask myself questions, analyze the previous day, prepare for what’s on the agenda, study our numbers, address any challenge which ultimately creates an ever improving system.

What’s a personal rule you follow in business?

A personal rule I follow in business is to be ready for the worst and hope for the best. A lot of times as a young and passionate entrepreneur, you tend to believe everything will work out perfectly and skip the “if not” aspects. Nowadays, my team and I make sure to spend time on exploring the various potential negative scenarios that might arise so we can be ready to address anything that comes our way.

What’s one moment that reminded you why you love what you do?

One moment that reminds me why I love what I do is every morning when I get to watch people take their first sip of coffee in the morning like a “grounding ritual,” signaling a moment of self-care, a break from stress, or a nostalgic return to cherished memories.

That moment when the cup gets closer and the aroma hits the senses, the hot coffee touches the lips and the warm feeling of familiarity and comfort takes over. This combination of factors makes coffee a powerful tool, turning a simple beverage into a “warm hug” which sets you up for success.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about failure?

One thing I learned about failure is it doesn’t define me and it’s not permanent. It’s just the opposite. Failure should never demoralize. It should inspire you to try again or to try something different. It is never about winning—it’s about how many times you are willing to try.

What’s one thing you want to be known for outside of work?

One thing I’d like to be known for outside of work is my commitment to my community and for always elevating the people around me. I believe when you’re successful you shouldn’t build a higher wall but rather build a longer table. It’s always about how much you give and never about how much you take.

What’s a personal rule you follow in business?

A personal rule I follow in business is transparency. I focus only on orchestrating “win-win” situations. Never deceive, never over promise and under deliver, never have your personal agenda be superior to fairness.

I am the brand! Regardless of the name on the sign. At the end of the day, people deal with me and not the name on the sign.

What’s the first job that taught you real responsibility?

While working for Nike Golf, I had the rare privilege of having a one-on-one lunch with our legendary founder Phil Knight. It wasn’t planned. We were just at the same place at the same time for lunch, both having sandwiches.

I asked if I could ask him a question, he said yes, and we just started talking. I asked

him about what had driven his success. He told me, “You’ll never have all the knowledge you want. So, at some point, you need to trust your gut and pull the trigger or you’ll miss the opportunity.” It was simple yet incredibly wise advice.

A few months later, we signed a young kid named Tiger Woods and my marketing education took off as I began working with him. Phil and I would be in a lot of events and meetings after that. But at the time of the one-on-one, it was pretty rare for a kid like me in his 20s to sit down with the CEO. It stuck with me.

What’s a decision that changed the direction of your career?

My wife and I both received job offers on the same weekend in 2003—mine was in Colorado, where we were living, and hers was in Hawai‘i with The MacNaughton Group. We flipped a coin, she won, and we moved to Maui two weeks later. I left the global sports marketing world and eventually started over in tourism.

I didn’t know anyone when I arrived and was turned down for plenty of jobs. Everyone told me, “Sorry, you don’t have any experience.” It was humbling. I had to listen more, drop the swagger I needed for Nike, but focus on what my work there was all about: connections.

I learned quickly that on Maui your reputation is everything, much more than the company you work for. The shift taught me a lot about respect and developing relationships. It ended up opening doors I never expected. And I’m still on

Maui and still happily married.

What’s a daily habit you can’t live without?

Meditation and daily gratitude are habits I really rely on. We all have frustrating days, so taking a moment to breathe, reset, and let go of some of the bad stuff helps me keep perspective and get ready for what’s next. I meditate at night to clear my head and actually turn off my brain before bed.

Then in the morning, I start fresh and ask, “Okay, what can I do today?” Meditating has made me more empathetic and a better listener. I also like showing gratitude every day—thanking the team for their hard work, especially those working out in the fields in every kind of weather. When it comes from a real place, gratitude is always a good thing.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about failure?

We all fail. The real question is: How do you respond? I adopt an athlete’s mindset of getting back up and trying again. It goes back to my high school and college days as a competitive ski racer. There was a final race where the winner would earn a spot at state championships. It came down to me and one other skier. We ended up right next to each other at the finish line. Then the officials told us the timing gates had failed, so they’d relied on hand-held stopwatches to time the race. The stopwatches placed me second.

I congratulated the winner, but I knew I hadn’t failed—it was a failure of the moment, something out of my control. The failure of a situation. I just cleared my mind and moved on to my next race. I’ve carried this into my work: Do a quick post-mortem, learn, adjust, admit when you’ve miscalculated, and avoid the blame game because it’s what erodes work culture.

What’s one leadership quality you admire in others?

I really admire strong time management. We all have 24 hours in a day. Leaders have to make decisions while still creating mental space to think clearly and plan for the future—not simply react all day.

There’s so much compression of time now so safeguarding your schedule is critical. If as a leader you’re constantly in a decision-making hamster wheel, you lose the ability to think one, two or even five years down the road. I’m really impressed by leaders who handle huge demands on their time yet still avoid burnout and show up as good spouses, parents, or caregivers.

I’m also impressed when a leader can lead their company, do community service, take care of family needs, and still take care of their own mental and physical health. That balance isn’t easy so I really try to manage my time carefully and watch for signs of burnout.

What’s a decision that changed the direction of your career?

For the first 11 years of my career after I graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with my Bachelor of Science-Business degree, I worked for several different hospitality and retail companies in Hawai‘i focusing on sales and marketing.

Those years were very formidable in my career as they provided me with exceptional opportunities to learn and grow. I looked at it as a time that I could contribute to a company while it paid me to experience and learn.

The decision that changed the direction of my career was when I decided to start my own company after the 11 years of working and learning from the companies and ventured off as an entrepreneur. This was a very exciting time and changed the direction of my life and career.

What’s a daily habit you can’t live without?

I strongly believe that retaining and adhering to good habits are essential in life.

Good habits enable you to become more resilient and adaptable. They provide the stability and structure to adjust to the many changes and challenges our business and/or life throws at you.

The habit I cannot live without is training and fitness. Training everyday provides me with a place to release stress, stimulate blood flow and expand my endorphins. Training and fitness (gym, surfing, canoe paddling and snowboarding, for example) free my mind when I feel frustrated or stuck in a rut. I also prefer to train in the mornings. It invigorates my mind and body and gets my day off to a great start.

What’s something you once feared in business but now embrace?

Failure or losing a valuable client…I always feared failing or losing a piece of business that I’ve cultivated and supported and having it leave although not because of my company’s work or accomplishments. More due to change of ownership or direction of the company and its products or services. Whether it pertained to a creative campaign we developed or a relationship with a company that had been established and cultivated over a long period of time, I no longer fear losing it but embrace it.

I realize over the 28 years of owning JB Brands, things come and go. You have control of some and no control of others. Nonetheless, things typically work out for the best. When one door closes, another door opens.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about failure?

Failure is an opportunity to reflect, learn, and grow. If you are not failing, you are

not trying enough. You will never be perfect. Be honest with yourself and reflect on your failures. If you can, you will learn from those mistakes and will grow to become better.

How do you stay focused in a world full of distractions?

Stay committed to your path and stay within your guardrails. Continue to strive on being the best you can be at the skillsets you have. Have a strategic plan and stick with it. Have faith and trust in your analytics and your intuitions. Do not let all the other distractions in the world and in business take you away from your plan and blueprint to success.

What’s a decision that changed the direction of your career?

Thinking back, two decisions stand out in my mind. Decision #1 shifted my “what and where.” In college, I worked as an Educational Assistant in special education at a high school. I thought I would pursue a career in education. Just before graduation, I applied for an intensive mental health internship, found it was filled, but was invited to apply for an outreach job.

I shifted from working as a paraprofessional in the school system (special education) to being a mental health outreach worker in Chinatown-Iwilei.  There was a lot to learn. Over the next few years, I held roles of increasing responsibility, and attended as much training as I could, including a 3-day grant writing seminar.  Eventually, I served as a human services trainer for our shelter, case management, and outreach workers.

Decision #2 came in 2013, when I found myself suddenly covering for grant writing, reporting, and data management duties (previously, I’d helped for programs I worked in, but not for the entire agency). Replacements did not stick, and I was successful not just at keeping operations going, but growing programs that were successful. I decided to stick with the role, and I’ve worn it in one fashion or another ever since.

How do you stay grounded as your responsibilities grow?

As my work responsibilities have grown, reminding myself of what drew me to the agency mission and work are what keep me grounded. Continuous learning has helped also. I’ve had many fantastic teachers and mentors, among them clients whom I served directly. Giving back helps too. Mentoring and growing new staff, students, and volunteers has helped a lot as there is no shortage of need for helping professionals in our community.

Outside the workplace, family grounds me. Ema (my wife) is my all in one cheer squad, sounding board, and challenger. Spending time with my parents and my in-laws has become more and more precious. Also, putting first things first to center myself (e.g., doing laundry, washing dishes) to regain perspective.

What’s one thing you learned about failure?

I’ve learned that failures are the source of valuable lessons because at the moment, they feel so costly. Opportunities come and they go. Real failure only happens when you don’t apply your learnings to improve and pursue the next opportunity better prepared and equipped. Sometimes what feels like failure is pursuing an opportunity unprepared.

Another key thing I’ve found is that career desires I had once felt were squashed popped up later. Four years after leaving education, I created a training series for social services paraprofessionals, which led into a clinical training role for our case management, operations, and support staff. Later, the research methods and statistics I learned in college formed the basis of my grant writing, management, and evaluation work. This was supported by what I had learned hands-on, on the job.

How do you handle pressure when the stakes are high?

Ah—getting and staying in the zone. Maintaining focus is key. Part of this is minimizing distractions (via routines, planning, and calendars), and another is triaging items by urgency and importance.

Strengthening oneself through learning from others and strengthening others is really key. I have had to learn (and probably still am learning) to seek help and to seek it often: find mentors, build and sustain support networks of subject and process “go-to” people, and generally maintain a proactive posture.

Communicating to establish environmental awareness and interdependent needs with others is really important not just to getting the work done, but to maintain the wellness of the people doing the work, especially over time. This goes for letting family and friends in too, so they understand why I’m behaving a certain way.

Two key pieces of advice I offer: 1) Tolerance to pressure builds over time with exposure; and, 2) There is a limit to how much pressure you can handle and how long you can handle it. Different people have different limits. Know yours. Have people you can ask to keep you in check.

What’s a leadership quality you admire in others?

One leadership quality I admire in others is the ability to lead in an integrated, authentic way that applies their whole “self.” Rather than being compartmentalized, leading with a blend of intellectual decision making, value creation, and heart. These are the leaders who communicate readily through a combination of reason, emotion, and presence.

What’s a decision that changed the direction of your career?

I joined my current law firm about nine years ago. I was about five years into my law career, which is about the time a lot of young attorneys start to get the “itch” to leave law and do something different.

I was really close to leaving, when I had the happy coincidence of being co-council on a case with Chris Porter, the founding partner of my current firm. After working with him, I thought, I could stay in law if I could work with somebody like that. He had and still has the amazing combination of being kind and patient, while being an absolute top notch attorney and advocate for his client. Working for, and now with, Chris Porter has taught me so much about law and leadership.

What’s a daily habit you can’t live without?

I’ll have to go with two habits. Exercise and reading. For exercise, it doesn’t have to be crazy, at least 20 minutes a day. That’s all I need to clear the head and be able to focus for the rest of the day or the next day. I’m not looking to turn into the Rock here, it’s more about the mental clarity than anything else. That’s the same reason I try to read every day. For me, reading helps to calm my busy mind in a way that’s more restful and rejuvenating than the internet or television.

What’s one moment that reminded you why you love what you do?

A few months ago I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to present an oral argument in front of the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Contrary to what you see on TV, most civil attorneys do not get a lot of courtroom time.

As a kid I really wanted to play sports, but wasn’t allowed due to a heart condition. I found speech and debate in high school and that became my sport. Arguing in front of the 9^th Circuit felt like I was a kid again, debating with my friends over something silly. Anytime I get to argue in Court is a treat. It’s the one part of our job that feels like a game you would want to play as a kid.

What’s a personal rule you follow in business?

The advice that has served me best throughout my career has been to “choose your boss and not your job.” A boss creates a work environment, can serve as a mentor, and can help you grow and develop. You can have what sounds like the greatest job in the world, but if you don’t like your boss or the people you work with, you’re not going to get anywhere. Now that I am in a leadership role, that rule has changed to: “Choose the people you want to work with rather than the type of work you’re doing.” If you are on a team or with partners that you really gel with, the work becomes fun no matter what it is. Most of the time, at least.

How do you stay grounded as your responsibilities grow?

I’m not sure that I am successfully grounded these days, but I do try. In addition to family time with the wife and kids, the only thing that seems to work for me right now is turning off the “noise.” I like to go backpacking, fishing, and am getting into bowhunting. It gets me away from e-mails and people, and focusing on nature which helps to keep me grounded.

My biggest obstacle these days is staying present in whatever I am doing. In nature, you have no choice but to be present, there’s nothing else to do but focus on the trees and birds around you. After a few days of that I’m able to come back and focus a little better on the 10,000 things it feels like we need to do in a day.

What is a decision that changed the direction of your career?

One of the most important decisions I made early on was choosing to build something slowly and intentionally rather than chasing rapid growth. In the restaurant industry, it is easy to get caught up in expansion and numbers. I decided that if I was going to build a business in Hawaiʻi, it needed to be rooted here, grounded in relationships, and built with people I trusted. Chao Restaurant Group operates Paradise Poke Hawaii, Nori Bar, Chao, and   Thirty-Eight.

That choice influenced everything that followed. It meant being patient. It meant reinvesting in our teams instead of prioritizing short-term returns. It also meant accepting that growth would come with responsibility, not just opportunity. Looking back, that decision shaped not only the business but also the way I lead and define success today.

How do you handle pressure when the stakes are high?

Pressure is a constant in this line of work. There are moments when decisions affect not just the business, but the livelihoods of the people who work alongside you. Over time, I have learned that handling pressure well starts with staying calm and being honest.

When things are challenging, I focus on listening and understanding the full picture before reacting. I try to communicate clearly with my team, even when the answer is not perfect. I have learned that people value transparency more than certainty. Staying composed helps create stability for others, and that is something I take seriously. Leadership under pressure is not about having all the answers, but about being steady and accountable.

What is something you once feared in business but now embrace?

Earlier in my career, I struggled with letting go of control. I felt a strong responsibility to make sure everything was done right, and that often meant trying to handle too much myself. Over time, I realized this approach was not sustainable and it limited the growth of both the business and the people around me.

Learning to trust others was a turning point. Embracing delegation allowed team members to step into leadership and take ownership of their roles. It also taught me that growth comes from shared responsibility, not from doing everything alone. Letting go was uncomfortable at first, but it ultimately strengthened our culture and created space for others to succeed.

What is a personal rule you follow in business?

A rule I try to live by is to always take care of the people first. Decisions are rarely simple, but I believe that if you prioritize your team, the business will follow. This means being fair, being consistent, and being willing to make difficult choices when necessary.

I also believe trust is built through actions over time. Doing what you say you will do, admitting mistakes, and treating people with respect creates a foundation that cannot be rushed. These principles guide how I approach leadership and how I want our company to be known.

What is one moment that reminded you why you love what you do?

Some of the most meaningful moments come from watching people grow. Seeing team members develop confidence, take on leadership roles, and support their families through their work is incredibly rewarding. Those moments remind me that what we are building is about more than food or numbers.

Family has also shaped how I view success. Being a parent has made me more intentional about how I spend my time and how I lead. I want my children to see the value of hard work, but also the importance of integrity, balance, and treating people well.

Restaurants are about bringing people together. Being able to do that in Hawaiʻi, alongside a team I respect and care deeply about, is something I am grateful for every day. That sense of purpose is what keeps me motivated and grounded.

What’s a decision that changed the direction of your career?

In 2013, I made the decision to move back home to Hawaiʻi from Los Angeles. At the time, I had just earned my architecture degree and was doing what many young professionals do, follow the traditional path. I had a steady job in corporate architecture, worked on conceptual designs and drafting, and was learning the ropes in a structured environment. On paper, it all made sense.

Then my father suggested something that, at the time, felt slightly insane: quit my job and invest in a multi-home development project back home.

I was 23 years old, fresh out of college, and had no real-world experience in finance, construction administration, or development risk. The project itself wasn’t massive by industry standards, but it was large enough to be terrifying for someone my age. I went from drawing buildings to being responsible for budgets, timelines, lenders, contractors, and decisions that had very real consequences.

The transition from controlled, theoretical work to high-stakes execution was the hardest education I’ve ever received and one I could barely afford at the time. But it forced me to grow quickly, ask uncomfortable questions, and learn humility. That leap became the foundation of my real estate development career and shaped how I approach risk, leadership, and responsibility today.

What’s one skill you’re still actively working on to improve?

Communication. Specifically, how I communicate during moments of frustration.

As responsibilities grow, pressure tends to show up in tone before intention. I’ve learned that even when frustration is valid, how it’s delivered can either create progress or shut people down. I’m actively working on being more even-keeled with employees and middle management, especially in challenging situations.

My goal isn’t to avoid hard conversations. But it’s to make sure those conversations lead to clarity, improvement, and growth rather than defensiveness. I want to be the type of leader who pushes people toward their potential through encouragement and accountability, not fear of failure. It’s a work in progress, but one I take seriously because leadership is felt long after the conversation ends.

How do you stay focused in a world full of distractions?

I keep my life simple. Some might say it’s almost boring by design.

First, I try to get a morning workout in. The first half of my day is spent on site, checking in with teams and employees, walking projects, and staying connected to what’s actually happening. The second half of the day is office-focused, making sure the administrative side of the business is running smoothly.

Most importantly, I’m not on social media. I don’t have any accounts. It’s not a statement to any social agenda. It’s just my own self-awareness. I know I don’t have the mental bandwidth to be constantly plugged in and still show up as the best version of myself. Removing that noise helps me think clearly, stay present, and focus on what actually matters in front of me.

What’s one leadership quality you admire in others?

The ability to communicate in a way that makes people want to show up.

I deeply admire leaders who can engage their teams using empathy, encouragement, and genuine enthusiasm. People who create environments where employees feel seen, energized, and motivated not because they have to be there, but because they want to contribute.

Being a positive beacon of energy isn’t about being loud or charismatic all the time. It’s about consistency, emotional intelligence, and presence. That kind of leadership sticks with people, and it’s something I continue striving to embody more fully.

How do you stay grounded as your responsibilities grow?

As my responsibilities have grown, sometimes exponentially, the most grounding force in my life has been my wife-to-be, Jamie.

Having a stable, supportive home and a partner I can talk things through with makes an enormous difference. Whether it’s bouncing ideas around, venting after a long day, or simply doing something fun and unrelated to work, she helps me compartmentalize and reset.

Knowing someone truly has your back at home creates clarity and balance in everything else. Jamie has been one of the greatest blessings in my life and, without question, a major contributor to my ability to stay focused, productive, and grounded as the demands of work continue to grow.