Managing with Aloha: Aloha is Our Rootstock
Aloha is a value, one of unconditional love. Aloha is the outpouring and receiving of the spirit. Second in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say I remember my year a decade ago quite vividly, for in 2003 I began to…
Every Store Has a Story: Kīlauea General Store
By Alan McNarie Nestled in a grove of feral bamboo in old Volcano Village is a love affair that looks like a general store. There are some outward signs that this is more than just a store: the big mural…
The Life of Business: WaterWorks
Verne Wood, founder of WaterWorks, is a pioneer in the business of water catchment services and products on an island where many homes are independent of the County water system and rely on collecting rainwater. The company began more than…
The Life of Business: Hawai‘i Biological Dentistry
Dr. Randy Ressler may be the most musical dentist in town! “Music has always been a big part of my life,” says the owner of Hawai‘i Biological Dentistry in Kailua-Kona. He’s been performing since he was 10 and he helped…
The Life of Business: Island Edges Beads
Sharon Turner retired from being a high school theatre teacher in Arizona. Looking for something different and creative, she took a few classes in jewelry making. A native of Phoenix, the single mom of two boys taught there for 26…
The Life of Business: Big Island Coffee Roasters
Brandon Damitz and Kelleigh Stewart have combined their expertise in biological and culinary sciences and organic farming to create a business that offers the finest local products to the public along with support for other coffee growers in commercial roasting,…
Island Treasures: Hawaiian Macadamia Granola
Barbara Andersen, owner of the Shipman House Bed and Breakfast, developed her own special recipe for island-style granola to serve her guests at the breakfast buffet—something that reflects Hawai`i Island. “I started tweaking recipes, adding and subtracting ingredients, until I…
Island Treasures: Pele’s Glass Creations
Glass artisan Dave Karl, who lives close to actual lava flows in Puna, wanted to create the beauty of the lava eruptions. With Pele as his inspiration, he developed a special way of playing with glass to replicate lava explosions.…
Why Values? And Why “Manage with Aloha?”
Be true to your values.” It’s advice you’re likely to hear several times in your lifetime, and read in countless books and articles. What does it mean? Looking at it through the lens of ALOHA, it means, “Manifest your spirit…
Every Store has its Story: Holy’s Bakery in Kapa‘au
By Hadley Catalano It’s pie day at Holy’s Bakery in Kapa‘au, where handmade empty pie shells, stacked high on baking racks, are waiting to be filled with the Hori family’s signature frozen buttered peach, pear, coconut, and apple pie recipes.…
Every Store Has a Story: Glenwood’s Hirano Store
By Hadley Catalano Every day, while working in her husband’s family store, Shinae Hirano would watch as her elderly father-in-law, Naojiro Hirano, picked up her eldest daughter at the store after primary school. Taking her by the hand, he would…
The Life in Business: Coldwell Banker Day-Lum Properties/Day-Lum Rentals & Management, Inc.
Nancy Cabral has worked her way up from the little island of Moloka‘i to become a major player in the real estate and property management business on Hawai‘i Island. She came to Hilo in 1978 and has lived here for…
The Life in Business: Synergy
Synergy is “a collaboration of like-minded practitioners, artists and healers who believe in wellness on all levels of life.” Patricia’s Transitions, Trystin’s Therapeutic Massage, and Clay’s DreamScapes were finding it challenging to operate as individual practices, and that led them…
The Life in Business: Quindembo Bamboo Nursery
Peter Berg and Susan Ruskin came to Hawai‘i in 1987 specifically to start a bamboo nursery. “We located the nursery in Waimea, because it is near the beach and we foolishly imagined we’d have lots of time to hang out.…
The Life in Business: Ho‘oulu Community Farmers Market
About three years ago, the Keauhou Beach Resort asked Kumu Keala Ching if he could help to bring the community of Kona to the resort. The kumu hula and Hawaiian cultural teacher introduced several programs and events to educate the…
Every Store Has a Story: H. Kimura Store–Oshima and Kimura Families Still Operate Historic Kainaliu General Stores
By Hadley Catalano If you walked into Kimura Store as a child it was almost guaranteed that Mrs. Irene Kimura would give you a piece of candy. While that reason alone might be good enough for any seven-year-old to visit…
Behind the Scenes at the Lu‘au: History and ‘Ohana Craft a Memorable Experience
By Marya Mann The emcee’s voice sets the tone of enchantment for visitors to Hawai‘i, first through a culinary feast and into the dreamscape of a Pacific odyssey. They’ve been anticipating this evening for a long time, a climax to…
Home on the Ka‘u Range: The Kuahiwi Family Ranch and Natural, Free-Range Beef
By Denise Laitinen When Captain John Vancouver presented King Kamehameha with cattle on the Big Island as a gift in 1793, no one imagined the impact it would have on the future of the island. Kamehameha placed a kapu on…
Every Store Has a Story: The Saito Family and Pa‘auilo Store
By Hadley Catalano It might just be that a simple bento roll is what has kept the Saito family of Hāmākua in business all these years, and helped their family store to recently reach its 63rd anniversary. You may have…
Life in Business: Hawai‘i Whole Person Healing Arts Collective
When Christopher Lawinski entered medical school in 2001, he says, his clear intention was to practice holistic medicine and “be surrounded by talented colleagues offering an integrated array of healing modalities. That is exactly what I have created here at…
Life in Business: One Gallery
One Gallery is the merger of three artists into one business partnership. Amy Markham and Deborah Beaver started the gallery in January of 2011. Arthur Johnsen became a partner in March of 2012, relocating his entire gallery to merge with…
Life in Business: Ironwood Custom Framing
Margo Ray wanted to come home to Hawai‘i, where she was born and raised, and was looking for an opportunity for herself and her husband in 2006. At the time, she was finishing her master of fine arts degree in…
Life in Business: Pacific Biologic Co.
When Cyndy Dyal moved to Kona more than 22 years ago, she was drawn to the island’s clean air, beautiful forests and sparkling views. Over the years the vog (smog created by volcanic emissions) created by Kīlauea Volcano continued to…
Life in Business: `Ohia Fields Farm
When Jeff and Miliana Johnson started talking seriously about getting married and starting a family, the two discovered they both had dreams of farming. “We wanted to farm in a place where it would make a difference, where farming would…
Life in Business: `Imiloa Astronomy Center
The mission of ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i—located next to the campus of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo—is “to honor Maunakea [sic*] by sharing astronomy and the Hawaiian culture to inspire exploration.” The Center’s interactive exhibits: 3D full dome…
Life in Business: Island Spirit
Ken and Christine Bevis, both healing practitioners, had worked in many different places, both in Hawai‘i and internationally. They wanted to take the quality of service they could provide to the next level and decided to open their own business…
Life in Business: Great American Self Storage
Jana and Mack Powell, resident managers of Great American Self Storage in Kailua-Kona, found a service business that almost everyone can use. Who doesn’t need a place to put extra “stuff?” Businesses with excess inventory; restaurants needing space for decoration,…
Life in Business: Big Island Coffee Roasters
Brandon Damitz and Kelleigh Stewart have combined their expertise in biological and culinary sciences and organic farming to create a business that offers the finest local products to the public along with support for other coffee growers in commercial roasting,…
Life in Business: Hawai‘i Biological Dentistry
Dr. Randy Ressler may be the most musical dentist in town! “Music has always been a big part of my life,” says the owner of Hawai‘i Biological Dentistry in Kailua-Kona. He’s been performing since he was 10 and he…
Life in Business: Water Works
Verne Wood, founder of WaterWorks, is a pioneer in the business of water catchment services and products on an island where many homes are independent of the County water system and rely on collecting rainwater. The company began more than…
