Three Hilo born entrepreneurs were featured panelists on Wednesday, November 30 during the University of Hawaii Shidler College of Business, "Talk Story" Kipapa i ke Ala Lecture Series held at the Ala Moana Hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom.
Duane Kurisu, aio Founder, Barry Taniguchi, President, KTA Super Stores and Allan Ikawa, Founder, Big Island Candies sat down with Susan Yamada, Executive Director for PACE, Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship in front of an audience of around 600.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Duane Kurisu, Founder, aio (left) Barry Taniguchi, President, KTA Super Stores (center) and Allan Ikawa, Founder, Big Island Candies (right).
All three men are graduates of the University of Hawaii School of Business and have served as University of Hawaii Regentsin the past. They are also proud of graduates of Hilo High School.
As panelists for the "Talk Story" session, each were given the opportunity to share their early beginnings as young entrepreneurs and the road they took in reaching the pinnacle of success that they enjoy and share today with their families, employees, business partners and communities.
The commonality of growing up on the Big Island and the values that were instilled in them from birth, transcends today as they have taken their products and services to a global level while maintaining their local style of doing business. The local style mentality has built trust and has fostered lifelong friendships from their hometown in Hilo to the four corners of the globe.
What impressed me the most about their success is their passion to share it with others. All three are have structured their businesses to truly benefit their employees who are the backbone of their success. Also, support for their community. They all agreed that without them they would not exist as a business. The importance of "giving back" to support the needs of the community is their mission and in their hearts as a truly "local style" business.
As the owner of MyPearlCity.com and the Pearl City Shopping Center, Mr. Kurisu recognized last night how the two entities work together to benefit the community and link together the many generations of residents and businesses that call Pearl City home. He explained how important it is to build "trust" in how you serve the community and the manner in which you give back.
I have to say that I was truly inspired by the three gentlemen. They reminded me of a time when I lived in Hilo as a kid when everybody shared what they had. No matter how big or small. We never worried about going without. If my mom sent me up the road to drop off papaya's to Aunty Pearl, I would always come back with something for the family.
We call that Omiyagi – the gift you keep giving. A Japanese tradition of giving that plays an integral role in our culture here in Hawaii.
In a true Hilo style gesture of appreciation, Omiyagi gift bags were passed out to all attendees on Wednesday that contained Punaluu Sweetbread (aio), Mountain Apple Brand Fruit Bar (KTA Super Stores), and a &10.00 Gift card (Big Island Candies).
(The Mountain Apple Brand Fruit Bar didn't even make it out of the parking lot on the way home. Okay, a small piece of Punaluu Sweet Bread went as well.)
Mahalo to the University of Hawaii's Shidler College of Business and PACE, Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship for presenting the "Talk Story" Kipapa i ke Ala Lecture with the three very special Hilo born entrepreneurs.
To learn more about the University of Hawaii's Shidler College of Business and PACE, Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship log on to:
WWW. SHIDLER.HAWAII.EDU/PACE WWW. [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Ikawa, Kurisu and Taniguchi pictured on stage with PACE Executive Director, Susan Yamada.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Duane Kurisu pictured having a great time during the Q&A portion of the evening on Wednesday at the Ala Moana Hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom.