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 Mark Hashem
House Water & Land Committee Chair
 
Elected in 2010, Representative Mark J. Hashem represents House District 19. He serves as the Chair of the House Committee on Corrections, Military, and Veterans (CMV). He is a member of the House Committee on Water and Land (WAL) and the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce (CPC). Representative Hashem also serves on the Special Committee on Red Hill.

Mark is a graduate of McKinley High School, where he is a volunteer wrestling coach. After graduating from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, he entered the Master's Program at Hokkaido University. During his stay in Japan, Representative Hashem, who is fluent in Japanese, operated an elementary English school and a billiard supply network in Sapporo.

Representative Hashem is married and is the proud father of four children.

 
Representative Greggor Ilagan
House Economic Development & Technology Committee Chair

With a strong background in public service, Vice Speaker Greggor Ilagan has dedicated his career to serving the people of Hawaii. His journey began with a six-year enlistment in the Air National Guard, which laid the foundation for his commitment to public service. In 2012 and 2014, the people of Hawaii County’s 4th District elected him as their Councilmember. During his tenure, he actively chaired the Planning and Housing committees and contributed as a member of the Finance and Public Works committees.
 
In 2020 and again in 2022, the people of Hawaii State House District 4 chose Vice Speaker Ilagan to represent them in the House of Representatives. His leadership roles have included serving as Vice Chair for the Committee on Transportation and as a Committee Member on Housing and Finance. Recognizing his dedication and service, he was appointed Vice Speaker of the Hawaii State House of Representatives in 2022.
 
House District 4, Vice Speaker Ilagan represents, is a vibrant and diverse part of Hawaii. It includes the communities of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Makuu Hawaiian Home Land, Hawaiian Beaches, and Nanawale Estates, and extends to the historic town of Pahoa. The District also encompasses Leilani Estates, Kapoho, Opihikao, and Kalapana, areas shaped by volcanic activity. These special places embody Puna Makai, reflecting the District’s unique character and the diverse community Vice Speaker Ilagan proudly represents.


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 Esther Kiaaina
Floor Leader / Honolulu City Council Zoning & Planning Committee Chair

Esther Kiaaina proudly represents District III, the Windward side of Oahu, where she resides in Kailua. She credits her family, her cosmopolitan upbringing and over 30 years of work experience in Washington, D.C., Hawai’i, and the Pacific Islands region, as providing her with a strong background to help diverse communities and fight for issues, while navigating government.

Esther served under President Barack Obama as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she coordinated overall federal policy for the U.S. territories and financial assistance for the Freely Associated States of Micronesia. She previously served as the First Deputy for Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, Chief Advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Land Asset Manager for the Kamehameha Schools.

She also had an extensive career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., starting as a volunteer intern for Senator Daniel Inouye after college and later serving as Legislative Assistant for Senator Daniel Akaka, Chief of Staff/Legislative Director for Guam Congressman Robert Underwood, and Chief of Staff for Congressman Ed Case.

Esther is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, University of Southern California, and George Washington University Law School. She also attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.


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 | White House Fellow 
 

Patrick Pihana Branco is a former state legislator and U.S. diplomat from Kailua. He recently completed his year as a White House Fellow, advising the Secretary of the Navy and the White House Office of Management and Budget. He recently joined Onebrief, a defense tech startup, and serves as a U.S. Navy Reserve intelligence officer.

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

Dr. Carl Bonham is Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) and a Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A founding member of UHERO since 1997, his research focuses on Hawaii’s economy, applied econometrics and forecasting, macroeconomics and financial markets, and tourism economics.

Dr. Bonham has served on the State of Hawaii Council on Revenues since 1996, the House Select Committee on Covid-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness from 2020 to 2021, and Governor Green’s Build Beyond Barriers Working Group from 2023 to 2024.  Carl also serves on the board of Child and Family Services.

He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. in Economics from Tulane University.

Claudia Chen
Financial Advisor
Northwestern Mutual

Claudia Chen is a Hawaii-based financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual who focuses on helping professionals build strong financial foundations and make informed decisions about their money and long-term goals. Her areas of expertise include financial planning, budgeting, insurance, retirement planning, and investment-related strategies. Chen is particularly engaged in financial education for Hawaii’s young professionals and has developed workshops focused on practical financial foundations, including navigating Hawaii’s high cost of living, student debt, saving, and long-term financial planning. She holds FINRA Series 6 and Series 63 licenses and an Accident, Health & Life insurance producer license in Hawaii.


Christopher Chow
Wealth Management Advisor
WestPac Wealth Advisors 

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.

Chris specializes in working with business owners, healthcare professionals, real estate professionals, and service members. He works in partnership with the American College of Physicians, Hawaii Academy of Family Physicians, Hawaii Medical Association, John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii to serve the unique industries that focuses on helping and serving others.

Chris is very much involved in the community. He is a proud member of FINSECA, National Association of Insurance and Finance Advisers, the Million Dollar Round Table, a board member of the Punahou Alumni Association, and an ordained leader of the Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 


​​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.


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 Merchen works on 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.

Earlier in his career, Merchen was a senior policy associate at RESULTS Educational Fund where he collaborated with a diverse group of organizations to promote an integrated, comprehensive global agenda for children within the U.S. government and researched innovative funding mechanisms for early interventions in low-income nations.

Merchen holds degrees from South Dakota State University and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.


Jesse Nishita Wilson
CFP, Financial Advisor
RITE Wealth Management 

Jesse Nishita Wilson, CFP, is a financial advisor with RITE Wealth Management who works with individuals and families on financial planning and wealth management. A Honolulu native, Wilson is actively involved in Hawaii’s community and serves with the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Civic Engagement Committee. He is also involved with Family Promise Hawaii, Kakaako Kupuna, and other community and service initiatives. 


Lee Wang
Executive Director
Housing Hawaii’s Future 

Coming from 14 years of residential and commercial real estate experience, Lee has an in-depth knowledge of Affordable Housing programs. After getting his MBA from Shidler College of Business, he serves as an advisor for their School of Entrepreneurship. He, his wife, and two pups feel fortunate to call Makiki home.


Keanu Wilson
Program Manager
Hawaii FoundHer 

Keanu Wilson is a Program Manager at Hawaii FoundHer, where he leads the Kapalili cohort program supporting entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, community, and business development. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and has experience in program management, branding, graphic design, and creative development. Wilson has been recognized for his work creating an organized and supportive experience for Hawaiʻi entrepreneurs and is part of Hawaii FoundHer’s team supporting women entrepreneurs across the state.