Speakers & Special Guests: 4th Annual YP Cost of Living Summit presented by Tradewind Group

SPEAKERS AND SPECIAL GUESTS

Senator Stanley Chang
Senate Housing Committee Chair
 

Stanley Chang represents East Honolulu, Diamond Head to Hawaii Kai, in the Hawaii State Senate. A lifelong resident of Waialae-Kahala, Stanley attended Wai-Kahala Preschool, Kahala Elementary School, and Iolani School before attending college and law school at Harvard University. He practiced real estate law at Cades Schutte in Honolulu.

Stanley served four years on the Honolulu City Council from 2011 to 2015. In 2016, he was elected to the State Senate as its youngest member, defeating the only Republican member and making the Hawaii Senate the first legislative chamber in the United States without a minority party since 1983. As chair of the Committee on Housing since 2018, Stanley has pursued an innovative public sector housing program modeled on the successful Singapore and Vienna, Austria models to solve Hawaii’s decades-long affordable housing shortage.

Stanley is married to Annie and has a four year old daughter, Elizabeth, and one year old daughter, Mary.  


​Senator Lynn DeCoite
Energy, Economic Development and Tourism Chair

Senator Lynn Pualani DeCoite is a dedicated public servant who has proudly represented the people of Hawaii in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. As a third-generation homestead farmer, Senator DeCoite has learned the value of hard work and sustainability from a young age, instilled with the ethos of living off the land.

Born In Honolulu and raised on Molokai, Senator DeCoite attended Molokai High School before continuing her education at Molokai Community College. Her upbringing on the family farm laid the foundation for her commitment to agriculture and environmental stewardship, values that would shape her career in public service.

Before serving in elected office, Senator DeCoite served on the Hawaii State Board of Agriculture and as Chairperson of the Farm Service Agency, where she advocated for the interests of farmers and rural communities. She was deeply involved in various community organizations, volunteering her time on boards such as Lokahi Pacific, Hikiola Cooperative, and the Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance, where she served as president.

Senator DeCoite’s journey in politics began in the State of Hawaii House of Representatives from February 2015 to June 2021, where she served with distinction representing House District 13. Since June 2021, she has proudly served in the Senate. She represents Senate District 7, encompassing Hana, East & Upcountry Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokini. She is Assistant Majority Floor Leader and is Chair of the Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism Committee, as well as serving on committees on Agriculture and Environment and Ways and Means.

Senator DeCoite and her husband Russell, with whom she owns and operates L&R Farm Enterprises, INC, known for the cultivation of the famous Molokai purple sweet potato, have been married for 32 years and are the proud parents of three children and grandparents to two grandchildren.

Senator DeCoite’s tireless commitment to her constituents and exemplary leadership have earned her recognition as a “Woman of Excellence” in 2019. She continues to be active in organizations such as the National Foundation of Women Legislators (NFWL), advocating for women’s empowerment and representation in government.

Senator Lynn DeCoite remains steadfast in her commitment to listening to the needs of constituents and working with stakeholders from all backgrounds, she strives to create a better future for all residents of Hawaii.


Senator Jarrett Keohokalole
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee Chair
 
Senator Jarrett Keohokalole is a proud seventh-generation resident of the 24th Senate District, including Kaneohe and Kailua.

He serves on the Senate Leadership team as an Assistant Majority Whip. He is the Chair of the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee (CPN), which is responsible for business regulation, including insurance, banking, telecommunications, public utilities, licensing, and consumer protection.

He also serves as a member of the Hawaiian Affairs (HWN) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committees, and is the Co-Chair of the Native Hawaiian Caucus.

Sen. Keohokalole received a B.A. from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii. He is married to his wife Kuulani and, together, they have three children.


Representative Linda Ichiyama
Vice Speaker

Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama represents the 31st House District, including Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Makalapa and Pearl Harbor, where she was born and raised. Elected to office in 2010, she currently serves on the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, Committee on Legislative Management, Committee on Public Safety, and the Committee on Water and Land. She is also one of four co-conveners of the bipartisan Women’s Legislative Caucus.

Representative Ichiyama is a graduate of Moanalua High School, Georgetown University, and the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has been active in the community through a number of organizations, including the Hawaii Jaycees, the Moanalua Lions Club, the Japanese American Citizens League and the Honolulu Community Action Program.


Representative Luke Evslin
House Housing Committee Chair 

Representative Luke A. Evslin was born and raised on Kauai and has lived most of his life within District 16. He grew up in Wailua with his three siblings, and he currently lives in Lihue with his wife, Sokchea, and their two children. In 2023, he was appointed by Governor Josh Green to represent District 16.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Representative Evslin served four years on the Kauai County Council, he co-founded a Kailua based outrigger canoe manufacturing company, he taught high school civics, American government, and Hawaiian history, and he worked as a columnist where he focused on land use and energy.

He is a graduate of Kauai High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa and he has a Masters degree in Public Administration with a certificate in public policy from the University of Southern California.

 
Representative Greggor Ilagan
House Economic Development & Technology Committee Chair

Representative Greggor Ilagan served in the Air National Guard for six years before he was elected in 2012 and 2014 to serve as a Councilmember for the County of Hawai'i 4th District. During his four years on the council, Ilagan chaired the Planning and Housing committees and sat as a member on the committee of Finance and Public Works. 
 
In 2020, Representative Ilagan was elected to serve as the State Representative for District 4 — Puna Makai. In 2023, he was appointed to serve as Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives by Speaker Scott Saiki. 


Representative Darius Kila
House Transportation Committee Chair

Representative Darius K. Kila serves House District 44, representing Maili, Lualualei, Nanakuli, Honokai Hale, and Ko Olina. A lifelong resident of the Waianae Coast, he carries forward the values of hard work, responsibility, and community care that define his home. After graduating from Kapolei High School, Representative Kila pursued higher education at Lane College, Fullerton College, and Southern Oregon University, focusing his studies on Communities and Media Studies. He ultimately returned home to dedicate himself to public service on the Waianae Coast.

Prior to his election, Representative Kila served as Community Liaison for Representative Stacelynn Eli and held leadership roles on the Nanakuli-Maili Neighborhood Board. In these roles, he strengthened community engagement, built lasting partnerships, and advanced family-focused initiatives that enhanced public safety and long-term community resilience.


Representative Adrian Tam
Tourism Chair

Representative Adrian Tam was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a proud graduate of Kalani High School and received his bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University. After graduating, he returned to Hawaii and became a licensed real estate agent. In 2016, he worked as session hire at the Hawaii State House of Representatives before moving to the Hawaii State Senate to work for Senator Stanley Chang from 2017- 2020. In 2020, he was elected to serve as Representative for District 22, Ala Moana – Waikiki and during his first two years he served as Vice-Chair for the Committee on Health, Human Services, and Homelessness, and as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Culture and the Arts. He was also a member of the Committee on Finance.

In 2022 and 2024 Representative Tam was re-elected to serve as the Representative of the newly redistricted District 24 – Waikiki.

Representative Tam currently serves Chair for the House Committee on Tourism and as a member on the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, and the House Committee Economic Development and Technology. He is also the founding House Chair of the Legislative Equality Caucus dedicated to addressing the needs of the LGBTQ+/ MVPFAFF+ community.


Representative Chris Todd
House Finance Committee Chair 

Representative Chris Toshiro Todd is currently in his fourth term representing House District 3, which covers a portion of Hilo, Keaukaha, Orchidlands Estate, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, portions of Kurtistown and Keaau in the Hawaii State Legislature.

Born and raised in Hilo, Representative Todd is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Hilo with a bachelors degree in economics and political science. He previously held several positions at Suisan Fish Market and Hawaii Paper Products in 2016 before being appointed by Governor David Ige on January 5, 2017 to fill the vacancy caused by the passing of the late Representative Clift Tsuji.

In his own words, Representative Todd is "incredibly grateful for this opportunity to serve my community." He remains deeply committed to advocating for working families at the Capitol. As a husband and a father, Representative Todd is also passionate about creating pathways for local youth, both in Hilo and across the state, to reach their professional and personal dreams.


Council Chair Tommy Waters
Council Chair

Thomas “Tommy” Waters is currently the Chair of the Honolulu City Council. He is also the Councilmember for District 4 which spans from Hawaii Kai, to Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Aina Haina, Wailupe, Waialae Iki, Kalani Valley, Kahala, Wilhelmina Rise, Kaimuki, Kapahulu, Diamond Head, and Waikiki.

As a lifelong resident of Hawaii, he has dedicated over 30 years to public service, encompassing roles as a public defender, state legislator, and community advocate.

Tommy graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1983, earned a B.A. in Political Science and Speech from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1989, and a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1993. He began his legal career as a public defender, focusing on representing underserved communities.

From 2002 to 2008, Tommy had the privilege of serving in the Hawaii State House of Representatives, representing District 51. During his tenure, Tommy chaired the Judiciary and Higher Education Committees and served as Majority Whip. In 2019, he was elected to the Honolulu City Council and became Council Chair in 2020. Tommy was then re-elected in 2022, with his current term extending through 2027.

As Council Chair, Tommy has prioritized public safety, affordable housing, infrastructure, and fiscal responsibility. He has introduced legislation to enhance police accountability and transparency, including empowering the Police Commission to hold police chiefs accountable for misconduct and mismanagement. To address housing affordability, Tommy has fiercely advocated for comprehensive policy reforms and increased investment in affordable housing initiatives.

Outside of the chambers, Tommy is actively involved in community service, having served on the Neighborhood Board and volunteered with organizations such as the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and the Ka Wai Nui Marsh Task Force. Some days, you may find him out in the water in a canoe or hanging out with my two not-so-little kids, Emma and Kai.


Councilmember Andria Tupola
Council Vice Chair / Housing, Homelessness, and Parks Chair

Councilmember Andria Tupola represents Honolulu City Council District 1, spanning from Ewa to Kaena Point. First sworn into office in January 2021, she is currently serving her second and final term on the City Council.

Prior to joining the Council, she served four years in the Hawaii State House of Representatives, representing communities from Kalaeloa to Maili. She is committed to raising the standard of public service through collaboration, accountability, and results, working closely with residents, businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to advance the future of West Oahu.


Councilmember Val Okimoto
Budget Chair

Councilmember Val Aquino Okimoto represents Honolulu City Council District 8, encompassing Mililani, Pearl City, Aiea, and Waipahu. She currently serves as Budget Chair and Vice Chair of Infrastructure, Transportation & Technology, while also serving on several other Council committees.

A Kauai native and daughter of public service workers, Councilmember Okimoto began her career as a certified special education teacher with the Hawaii Department of Education, serving students for 10 years. In 2018, she was elected to the Hawaii State House of Representatives for District 36 and was later selected by her peers to serve as House Minority Leader.

In 2022, she was elected to the Honolulu City Council. A mother of two daughters, Councilmember Okimoto is committed to strengthening economic development, public safety, infrastructure, community building, and government transparency and accountability.

​​Jennifer Ablan
Editor-in-Chief
Hawaii Business Magazine 

Jennifer Ablan is the Editor-in-Chief of Hawaii Business Magazine, bringing nearly 30 years of business and financial journalism experience. She was previously Editor-in-Chief of Pensions & Investments and U.S. Assistant Managing Editor at the Financial Times. Earlier, she spent a decade at Reuters as U.S. Investments Editor, following reporting roles at Barron’s and Dow Jones Newswires. Known for breaking major Wall Street stories and interviewing and covering top investors like Warren Buffett and Carl Icahn, Ablan is a University of Hawaii at Manoa alum.

​Patrick Branco
Operations Manager
OneBrief

Patrick Pihana Branco was born and raised in Kailua and is a proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools. His path in public service began through education, mentorship, and a belief that young people from Hawaii belong in every room where decisions are made.

Patrick became the first person from Hawaii selected for the Congressman Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship, which led him to serve as a U.S. diplomat with assignments in Colombia, Pakistan, Venezuela, Afghanistan-Pakistan policy, and the Secretary of State's Operations Center. He later returned home and was elected to the Hawaii State House of Representatives in 2020, representing Kailua and Kaneohe Bay.

Patrick has also served as a White House Fellow supporting the Secretary of the Navy and the White House Office of Management and Budget, and he currently serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve. In August 2025, he joined OneBrief, where he serves as Operations Manager for the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Across his career, Patrick has focused on service, leadership, and making sure Hawaii's voices and values are represented at the local, national, and global levels. He is passionate about encouraging young people to get involved in their communities, step into leadership, and believe that their backgrounds, stories, and commitment to Hawaii are strengths.


Dr. Carl Bonham
Executive Director
Professor of Economics, UHERO ​

Dr. Carl Bonham is the Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) and a Professor of Economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A founding member of UHERO in 1997, Dr. Bonham has guided the organization's growth into Hawaii's foremost economic and policy research institution—a trusted source of analysis on Hawaii's unique economic challenges and opportunities.

A recognized authority on economic forecasting and policy, Dr. Bonham has been a key advisor during Hawaii's most challenging times. His analyses have provided critical guidance after the September 11 attacks, during the Great Recession, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, helping policymakers navigate the complexities of Hawaii's tourism-dependent economy. Under his leadership, UHERO has consistently delivered timely, data-driven insights to inform decision-making for businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and the public.

Dr. Bonham's dedication to public service is evident in his decades-long contributions to state and community initiatives. Since 1996, he has served on the State of Hawaii Council on Revenues, advising on key revenue projections essential to the state's financial planning. He also served on the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness (2020–2021) and Governor Green's Build Beyond Barriers Working Group (2023–2024). Beyond his policy work, he serves on the board of Child and Family Services and has held past board positions with the Montessori Community School and the Hawaii Economic Association.
 

Emma Caires
News Producer
Hawaii Public Radio 

Emma Caires is a General Assignment News Producer with Hawaii Public Radio. She graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the Spring of 2025, with her degree in journalism and communicology. She began her time at HPR as the Legislative Intern and was then offered the fulltime producer position where she has focused on issues ranging from education, healthcare, human/child trafficking, to homelessness.

Although born in the Bay Area, her family has deep generational roots on Oahu, and she feels deeply grateful to be able to serve her second home through her role.


Claudia Chen
Financial Advisor
Northwestern Mutual

Claudia Chen is a financial advisor dedicated to helping Hawaii professionals navigate the unique challenges of a high cost-of-living environment. She specializes in creating personalized financial plans that empower clients to make intentional decisions with their money, maximize their resources, and work toward long-term financial security. Her goal is to provide practical strategies that foster confidence and peace of mind, enabling individuals to feel more at ease about their financial future. 


Christopher Chow
Wealth Management Advisor
WestPac Wealth Advisors 

Christopher Chow dedicates his career to helping people get to their optimal financial position – to find financial balance in their lives. He does this by discovering where his clients are emotionally and financially, removing the guesswork out of planning, and helping clients focus on the things within their control.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Chris graduated from Punahou School in 2005 and obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2009. He pursued his medical doctorate at Loma Linda University in Southern California before making a professional transition to financial services in 2014.


​​Jennifer Cornish Creed
VP of Nonprofit Resources
Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations 

Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She is a trained facilitator who has been with the organization since 2000, when it was the Hawaiʻi Community Services Council. Jennifer has an extensive background in curriculum development and the design of related training materials. She designs, coordinates, delivers and evaluates best practice training, consulting services, and technical assistance to nonprofits of all sizes and in all stages of development. She manages and delivers these same services to government and corporate partners.

Her areas of training and consulting expertise include board governance, nonprofit management, outcomes, proposal writing and planning facilitation. She currently heads the HANO Fellows executive director training program. Jennifer has training in Collaborative Leadership, Facilitating Strategic Thinking and Planning and Appreciative Inquiry and is a certified MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) practitioner.


Rowena Kamo
Program Manager
Early Childhood Educator Excellence and Equity Project (ECE3), University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education

Rowena Kamo has over 15 years of experience in the early care and education (ECE) field in California and Hawaii building partnerships, managing quality improvement programs, and engaging in state and local research and policy. In 2022 she was selected as an Early Childhood Policy Fellow with Bank Street College and in 2025, participated in Hawaii’s first cohort of Leading for Change, an entrepreneurial leadership program with the Early Education Leaders Institute at UMass Boston. Rowena is currently a Program Manager with the Early Childhood Educator Excellence and Equity Project (ECE3) at the University of Hawaii, Manoa College of Education where she supports various statewide initiatives to advance the ECE profession. In her spare time, Rowena enjoys beach days with her family and planning sewing projects with friends.


Stefan Kant
Vice President & Executive Residential Loan Office
American Savings Bank

Stefan joins American Savings Bank with more than 5 years of mortgage financing experience, most recently with Hawaii's largest locally-owned mortgage banker. A native of New York, Stefan considers one of his biggest life accomplishments to be when he relocated to Hawaii to pursue his dream of opening a dance studio, leaving behind a successful career on Wall Street. Now with successful dual careers in both residential loans and dance, Stefan's clients clearly benefit from his dedication, hard work and fearlessness in tackling challenges head-on.

Aaron Merchen
Executive Director, Programs, Early Childhood Education
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation 

Aaron leads the Chamber Foundation's early childhood education portfolio leading efforts to educate policy makers, state and local chambers and early education advocates on business’ role in early education to promote investments in the workforce of today and tomorrow. 

Before joining the Chamber Foundation, Merchen worked at the National Association for the Education of Young Children as assistant director of federal policy. There he led the association’s engagement with Congress and efforts to elevate the voices and needs of the early childhood workforce. 

Aaron lives in North Carolina with his wife and two child-care-aged sons. 


Jesse Nishita Wilson, CFP
Financial Advisor
RITE Wealth Management 

Jesse Nishita Wilson, CFP, is a Financial Advisor with RITE Wealth Management, a franchise practice under Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, in Honolulu. He has more than 15 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate financial decisions and develop personalized financial strategies. Jesse is passionate about financial education and helping Hawaii residents better understand investing, saving, and long-term planning in a high cost-of-living environment. 


Cole Phillips
Owner
Small Kine Things Media LLC

Cole Phillips is a Hawaii-based content creator who helps local businesses modernize their social media presence. As a creator, his mission is to preserve and uplift Hawaii culture by blending authentic storytelling with strategic digital growth. To bridge the gap between Hawaii businesses and modern digital marketing strategies, he helps legacy brands evolve, connect with local audiences, and stay relevant in a rapidly changing social landscape.


Lee Wang
Executive Director
Housing Hawaii’s Future 

Lee Wang serves as the Executive Director of Housing Hawaii's Future, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the workforce housing shortage in Hawaii by empowering local youth. With over 15 years of experience in real estate, Lee is recognized as the state's leading expert in affordable housing programs having worked and consulted with multiple affordable housing projects.

Having grown up on Oahu, Lee earned both his bachelor's degree in Speech and his Executive Master of Business Administration at UH Manoa. Prior to taking the helm of Housing Hawaii's Future, Lee led Landed Hawaii, a fintech startup providing down payment assistance for educators.

In addition to his role at Housing Hawaii's Future, Lee is a dedicated educator. He has written and teaches the affordable housing curriculum for the Honolulu Board of Realtors since 2017. Committed to giving back to his alma mater, he serves as an advisor for the Shidler College of Business's School of Entrepreneurship where he shares his startup and small business experience.

Lee currently lives in Makiki with his wife Jill and two dogs, Maeve and Margot. In his free time, you'll find him on the basketball court or travelling around the world.

Fun fact: Lee also studied as an ice cream chef and owned a boutique ice cream shop, Lucy's Lab Creamery!


President
Executive Director
Holomua Collective 

Josh Wisch has spent his career fighting for the underdog. As Executive Director of Holomua, he leads efforts to raise the standard of living for working families across Hawaii — a mission that hits close to home.

After graduating from Georgetown Law in 2002, Wisch and his wife Malia, a third-generation local, moved home to Hawaii. He built a career spanning private law, government, politics, and the nonprofit sector — experience he now draws on to bridge relationships across industries in service of new solutions for the islands.

Drawn to Hawaii's small-town spirit of community and accountability, Wisch believes the time to act is now, before the state's growing outmigration becomes an exodus. His mission: to pay forward the opportunities he was given, so more families can afford to stay and thrive in the place they call home.


Keanu Wilson
Program Manager
Hawaii FoundHer 

Keanu Wilson is a program manager at Hawaii FoundHer, a business accelerator dedicated to supporting NHPIAA wahine entrepreneurs across Hawaii. With over three years in the role, Keanu brings a unique blend of program management, community development, creative design, and entrepreneurship to his work. He has partnered with nearly 30 companies to help founders build strong business foundations, develop essential skills, and grow their revenue. Beyond his work at Hawaii FoundHer, Keanu has a background in marketing and brings his own experience as an entrepreneur to everything he does.