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, we wanted to show that materials often seen as problems, like invasive Albizia, could actually become part of the solution. Bizia was built as a reminder to connect people to place, to the forest, and to the idea that solving Hawai‘i’s most challenging issues can also create beauty.
How do you define success for yourself?
To me, success is related to impact. When our work at Bizia benefits our community, restores forests, supports local jobs, and inspires others to think differently about consumption, that is true success. It’s not by scale, but by the quality of our impact—how well we care for the people and places that make this work possible.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a woman in business?
That you can lead with empathy and still be strong. For a long time, I thought professionalism meant keeping emotions out of it, but I’ve learned that my intuition and compassion are real business assets. Building a team, balancing family, and managing growth and growing pains all require a huge heart, and that’s something women naturally bring to the table.
Who is one woman (famous or local) you’d love to have dinner with and why?
I’d love to have dinner with Robynne Maii, Chef and Co-owner of Fête in Chinatown. I have a real appreciation for fine dining. Right after college, I had a short stint working in an office position at The French Laundry, and that experience gave me an eye for the level of detail and intention behind exceptional food. Robynne’s approach resonates deeply with me: She sources locally, supports Hawai‘i’s farmers, and creates
dishes that tell the story of our islands through the seasons. To me, Fête is doing more than cooking. They are building community, supporting the local food system, and redefining what it means to eat thoughtfully in Hawai‘i. I’d love to talk story with her about bridging agriculture, sustainability, and hospitality in a way that truly honors Hawai‘i.
What’s the most recent book, podcast, or show that inspired you?
The Acquired podcast episode on Howard Schultz and the founding of Starbucks really struck me recently. It was incredible to hear how difficult it was to start something that now feels so obvious. At the time, the idea of a coffee shop culture didn’t even exist, and the paper cup lid hadn’t been invented yet. Over 300 investors turned him down, and his own father-in-law told him to stop with this coffee hobby and get a real job.
That story felt so relatable with the skepticism we faced starting our first company, Albizia Project. What we’re building in Hawai‘i with locally sourced wood building material, regenerative surfboards, and community-rooted design also challenges old assumptions. It reminded me that many ideas which shape the future first sound unrealistic until persistence and purpose make them inevitable.
