Hawaii Business Magazine

09/19/2026

The Top 250 Blackbook Event presented by Central Pacific Bank

On August 13, we welcomed leaders from Hawai‘i’s Top 250 Companies and a select group of emerging leaders to Capitol Modern. Guests connected with colleagues, formed new relationships and celebrated the people and companies shaping Hawai‘i’s economy.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees!
https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/top-250-ceo-celebration-2026/

Mahalo to our sponsors!
Cades Schutte LLP and Boyd Gaming

09/18/2026

This is the CHANGE Framework in action, and it’s happening across every island.

Read More: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/change-starts-now/
Sponsored by Hawai‘i Community Foundation

This is the CHANGE Framework in action, and it’s happening across every island.

09/18/2026

Hawaiʻi’s business leaders are worried about the state’s quality of life, but many remain relatively optimistic about their own futures.

The latest BOSS Survey found that half of business owners and executives believe Hawaiʻi is a worse place to live than it was five years ago. The general public was even more negative, with nearly two-thirds sharing that view.

Yet when asked about their own quality of life, both groups were more positive.

The results point to a striking divide between how people view Hawaiʻi as a whole and how they feel about their own lives.

Read More: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/hawaiis-quality-of-life/

09/17/2026

Let’s revisit this story from our August issue as the October 16 deadline approaches.

Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae is in the final stretch of one of Hawaiʻi’s most remarkable housing stories. Carrying on the legacy of their beloved matriarch Twinkle Borge, this Waiʻanae community is relocating from tents near the Small Boat Harbor to tiny homes on 19.5 acres of land they purchased themselves, with nearly $10 million raised through an extraordinary mix of community grit, private donations and pro bono labor.

“The greatest thing about moving up there is we can make more memories, and I’ll be right there beside you.”

Read More: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/this-waianae-community-had-a-home-but-not-housing-soon-theyll-have-both/

09/16/2026

The average job posting receives two to three times more applications than just a few years ago, and candidates are roughly 50% less likely to make it to the interview stage compared to five years ago. That’s the reality facing job seekers in Hawaiʻi and across the country right now.

We spoke with hiring managers and recruiters from Bishop & Co., ALTRES, American Savings Bank, Hawaii Pacific Health and University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Career Center to get their best advice for recent grads and early-career job seekers.

Here’s what they said:
✅ Customize your resume for every job. Don't let AI write it.
✅ Apply fast. Some companies close postings early due to high volume.
✅ Skills matter more than GPA. Focus on what you can do.
✅ Send a thank-you note after your interview. It's rare and it works.
✅ Network before jobs are even posted. "It’s not always about ability, it’s about your visibility."

Read More: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/its-a-tough-job-market-heres-how-job-candidates-can-stand-out/

09/16/2026

Does your company make people proud to come to work? Now’s the time to prove it.

Nominations are open for Hawaii Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work 2027! This program recognizes Hawaiʻi employers who are building cultures where employees feel valued, supported and proud to be part of the team.

Here's what you need to know:
📅 Registration Deadline: October 16, 2026
🔗 Register now: bestplacestoworkhawaii.com

There is no fee to register. The process is simple: companies complete an employer assessment, and employees fill out a confidential feedback survey. Winners are recognized in Hawaii Business Magazine and celebrated at our annual awards event.

Whether you’re a small business or a large organization, if you’re creating a workplace worth bragging about, we want to hear from you.

Register today: https://www.bestplacestoworkhawaii.com/

09/15/2026

Gov. Josh Green held to a neutral stance on the proposed combination of Hawaiʻi’s largest medical insurer and the second-largest hospital system, but he urged local leaders and medical professionals to proactively reform the state’s healthcare landscape before outside forces dictate its future.

Addressing a crowd of medical professionals and medical students at the 2026 Hawai‘i Health Workforce Summit on Saturday at the University of Hawaiʻi’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, Green said Hawaiʻi remains vulnerable to major insurers pulling out of the market or being acquired by out-of-state entities.

Read More:

Gov. Josh Green held to a neutral stance on the proposed combination of Hawaiʻi’s largest medical insurer and the second-largest hospital system, but he

09/15/2026

How do Hawaiʻi’s business leaders feel about the state’s business climate? The latest BOSS Survey offers a sobering answer.

Among the local business owners and executives surveyed, 57% said Hawaiʻi is a worse place to run a business today than it was five years ago. At the same time, 71% believe people growing up in Hawaiʻi today have worse chances of achieving financial success than the Baby Boom generation.

The survey also found that rising costs, tourism, government effectiveness and the economy are among the biggest concerns among business leaders and the general public.

Read the latest BOSS Survey to see what Hawaiʻi’s business leaders are thinking about and what their outlook could mean for the state’s economy.

https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/boss-survey-from-bad-to-even-worse/

09/11/2026

Matson isn't the biggest company in Hawaiʻi, but it's the most profitable one. For the fifth year in a row, the dominant ocean shipping company in the Islands took top place in the Hawaii Business Magazine ranking of Most Profitable Companies in the state.

Click the link in bio to read more: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/hawaiis-most-proftiable-companies-2026/

09/10/2026

Revisiting this article from our May issue in honor of the leaders who shape Hawaiʻi quietly, and profoundly.

Colbert Matsumoto doesn't need to be the loudest person in the room. The Tradewind Capital chairman leads the way a conductor leads an orchestra: by listening, observing and knowing exactly when to let others shine.

"Good leaders listen. They don't always need to talk."

From his days at a Zen monastery in Kalihi Valley, to his pivotal work as court master during the Bishop Estate controversy, to stepping away from a peak legal career to save Island Insurance as a locally owned company, Matsumoto has spent decades making consequential decisions with patience, purpose and humility.

"I don't aspire to be remembered. The important thing is what we do in the moment."

Read More: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/the-conductor-who-doesnt-need-to-speak-colbert-matsumoto-one-of-hawaiis-most-consequential-leaders/