What’s your “elevator pitch” and very briefly share what your company or organization does?
We are Hawai‘i’s premier drone light show company, specializing in turnkey aerial productions that captivate and inspire. Using the night sky as our canvas, we transform your vision into a dynamic visual story—choreographed in light by state of the art drones.
From intimate gatherings to large scale public events, we craft unforgettable experiences that leave lasting impressions. If you can imagine it, we can bring it to life in the sky.
What local restaurant or food truck are you obsessed with right now?
There’s this incredible little sushi spot tucked away in the lobby of Central Pacific Bank Downtown—real low key, real delicious. It’s called Aloha Bento, and word on the street is they’ve got big things cooking for their second anniversary. It is totally hidden gem status, and hands down my favorite unknown pau hana spot with free parking, no less.
Who is a local mentor, friend, or role model who inspires you?
When I was younger, an older friend once gave me advice that stuck with me: “Go out and find your own mentors. They don’t need to know you—but if you can observe them, you can learn from them.”
That idea shaped my path early on. I studied leaders like Steve Jobs, Bruce Lee, Ron Paul, Gary Vaynerchuk, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, and even the Toyota Corporation along with many others. Each taught me something different—from relentless tenacity and creative vision to discipline, innovation, and a deep sense of accountability.
My real transformation, though, began when I chartered Junior Chamber International (JCI) Honolulu in 2014. Through this young leadership nonprofit, I found a community of peers and mentors who helped shape not just my leadership style—but my character. I was even able to meet my fiancée through our service to the community there. Many of my advisors then were from a time where we were called the Jaycees and served during a time when the organization was much larger than it is today.
They poured their wisdom into us—sharing stories of impact, failures, and hard earned lessons. We translated those insights into action and built something for a new generation of aspiring young leaders.
Today, I’m honored to serve as a Board Director for the Japan America Society of Hawaii, where I continue to learn from remarkable individuals committed to bridging cultures and generations. Hawai‘i is filled with leaders who lead not with titles, but with generosity and belief in others—and I’m grateful to learn from many of them every day.
I truly believe that legacy is not just what you build but who you empower—and there’s no limit to what you can do when good people believe in you.
What legacy do you hope to build as a young professional?
I believe leadership matters—whether in the private sector, public service, or our communities. Leadership is what brings great people together to accomplish great things. I first became involved with Junior Chamber International because I believed in the power of leadership and the importance of community. Through JCI Honolulu, I’ve spent years helping to build a culture of compassionate leadership where young professionals are empowered to take risks, to lead with purpose and serve with heart.
Alongside my peers, we didn’t just create programs—we built an ecosystem. A space where young leaders could grow, make mistakes, try bold ideas, and learn how to lead by doing. We proved that with the right support, young professionals can turn vision into action—and build something meaningful from the ground up.
The legacy I hope to leave is one of inspiration and impact—where others look at what we built and say, “I can do that too.” I want to show that young leaders can shape their future, not by waiting for permission, but by creating their own opportunities. As my chapter as a “young professional” begins to transition, I want what we’ve built to remain: an active, living ecosystem where future leaders feel seen, supported, and emboldened to find their own way forward. At the heart of it all, I hope they carry with them what I’ve come to believe deeply—compassionate leadership isn’t just powerful, it’s essential.
What’s next for you?
What’s next? Honestly, even I’m not entirely sure and that’s the exciting part. I’ve been meaning to finally sit down and learn Japanese, a goal I’ve carried since 2020. Maybe I’ll carve out the time, or maybe I’ll find myself back in Japan, not just as a traveler but exploring new ventures.
There’s also a part of me that wonders if I could even lead a company to IPO. Who knows? What I do know is this: I’ve never been one to sit still. I loved my LEGOs and I love building things. Whether it’s launching a new project, building community, or chasing the next big idea, I’ll keep moving forward—curious, driven, and maybe just a little unpredictable. I think it will be a lot of fun.
