Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

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

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Events unite the business community to enhance the state’s economic climate by fostering success for businesses and business leaders alike. Attend or sponsor a Chamber event to promote your company, build brand awareness, market to your target demographics, expand your network and invest in your local community.

SPEAKERS AND SPECIAL GUESTS

Mayor Derek Kawakami
County of Kauai

Mayor Kawakami's government service began as a council member with Kauai County Council from 2008 to 2011 and also served on the Kauai County Council from 2016 to 2018. During his tenure as a Kauai County Council member, Mayor Kawakami chaired the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and vice chaired the Committee of the Whole.

Mayor Kawakami was a gubernatorial appointee to the Hawaii State Legislature, representing District 14 from 2011 to 2015. As a State Representative, Mayor Kawakami served as the Assistant Majority Leader; chaired the Committee on Economic Development and Business; vice chaired the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection; and vice chaired the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection. Since 2004, Mayor Kawakami volunteered his time, service, and experience to community organizations that includes the Kauai Economic Development Board, Kauai Police Activities League, Lihue Business Association, serving as Second Vice Chair for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Committee Chair for Strategic Planning for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Chair for the Nominating Committee for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Kiwanis Club, and Catholic Charities Advisory Committee. Mayor Kawakami experiences in the private sector ranges from his humble start as a paperboy and fast food employee, and was formerly an operations manager for Menehune Food Mart, Inc. and former president of three corporations.

On November 8, 2022, Mayor Kawakami was re-elected to a second term as mayor of the County of Kauai and Niihau.

Speaker Nadine Nakamura
State House of Representatives
Speaker of the House Nadine K. Nakamura serves House District 15, which includes the Kauai towns of Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kapaa, and Wailua. She previously served the Majority Leader, Chair of the House Committee of Legislative Management (LMG), and a member of the Tourism (TOU) and Economic Development Committees (ECD).

A 32-year resident of Kapaa and former Managing Director for the County of Kauai, Speaker Nakamura has deep roots in her community. Mrs. Nakamura operated a planning consulting business for twenty years before being elected to the Kauai County Council, where she served from 2010-2013.

Speaker Nakamura holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs and Urban Planning from the University of Southern California. She obtained a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

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 two year old daughter, Elizabeth.

Senator Brandon Elefante
Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee Chair
Born in Aiea to a single mother and raised by his Filipino immigrant grandparents, Senator Brandon Elefante learned the values of commitment and responsibility at an early age. His extended family instilled in him respect, a strong work ethic, and the importance of community.

After graduating from Aiea High School, Senator Elefante pursued higher education at Saint Mary's College of California, where he discovered his passion for public service. During his time there, he served as a resident advisor, co-founded the Hawaii Club and later became its president. Senator Elefantes dedication to student affairs and community service earned him several awards and recognition.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration, Senator Elefante returned to Hawaii to teach social justice and world religions at Damien Memorial School. He also became actively involved in his community, serving on the Aiea Neighborhood Board and pursuing further education at Chaminade University, where he earned a Masters in Business Administration in 2011.

From 2011 to 2014, Senator Elefante worked as a legislative aide to Honolulu City Councilmember Breene Harimoto. In this role, he tracked infrastructure and development projects and addressed constituent concerns in the Aiea, Pearl City, and Waipahu communities. This experience solidified Senator Elefantes commitment to public service and to improving the lives of Hawaii's residents.

For the next eight years, from 2014 to 2022, Senator Elefante served on the Honolulu City Council, representing the communities of Aiea, Pearl City, and Waipahu. During his tenure, he chaired several key committees, including Zoning and Planning; Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Public Health, Safety, and Welfare; Transportation; and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. He also served as Vice Chair of the Budget Committee and the Transportation, Sustainability, and Health Committee and was an active member of the Budget, Executive Matters and Legal Affairs, Executive Management, and Public Infrastructure and Technology Committees. Senator Elefantes leadership during this period demonstrated his dedication to balanced growth, public safety, and improving the quality of life for Oahu’s diverse communities.

Then, in 2022, Senator Elefante was elected as the Hawaii State Senator for District 16, representing the neighborhoods of Aiea, Pearl City, and Halawa. During his first term, he served as Vice Chair of the Water and Land (WTL) Committee and the Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PSM) Committee, as well as a member of the Judiciary (JDC) Committee and the Transportation and Culture and the Arts (TCA) Committee. Additionally, he co-chaired the Joint Crime and Justice Caucus and was a member of the Filipino Caucus.

Following his re-election in 2024, Senator Elefante now serves as Chair of the Public Safety and Military Affairs (PSM) Committee and as a member of the Ways and Means (WAM) Committee. He continues to serve as Vice Chair of the Water and Land (WTL) Committee and as a member of the Transportation and Culture and the Arts (TCA) Committee. Senator Elefante remains an active member of the Filipino Caucus and has joined the Kupuna Caucus, furthering his commitment to addressing the diverse needs of his constituents.

Senator Troy Hashimoto
Senate Housing Committee Vice Chair
Senator Troy Hashimoto serves the Hawaii State Senate District 5 which encompasses Wailuku, Waikapu, Waihee, and Kahului on Maui. He currently serves as the Senate Vice Chair of the Housing Committee and as a member of the Education, Higher Education, and Ways and Means Committee.

Senator Hashimoto attended the University of Denver where he earned a bachelors and Master of Business Administration. He worked for nearly 8 years on the Maui County Council and served as a member of the Hawaii State Board of Education from 2004-2005. He was originally appointed to the State House in 2018 and subsequently to the State Senate in 2023.

During his tenure in the House, Senator Hashimoto served as both the chair and vice chair of the Housing Committee and as a member of the Judiciary, Education, Transportation and Finance Committee. He also served as the co-convenor of the Kupuna Caucus, the chair of the Department of Hawaiian Homes Act 279 Working Group and served as the chair of the Policy Board for the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Senator Hashimoto is committed towards finding housing solutions and working for the residents of Maui, as well as the State 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 Transportation, Culture and the Arts Committees (TCA), 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 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 Evslin is an avid canoe paddler, photographer, and hiker.

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

Born and raised here in this community, Darius understands first hand the issues that we are facing, and if elected to represent District 44, he will work tirelessly to create intentional and everlasting change. Darius is committed to fostering, implementing, and creating a sustainable and obtainable Hawaiʻi for his ohana, your ohana and everyone who call this coast home.

One of Seven children, Darius has lived his entire life on the Leeward Coast, but he and his family have never owned a home. Darius understands firsthand the difficulties Hawaii families face seeking home ownership. Growing up on a fixed one parent income, Darius’s hardships and struggles helped mold him into the leader and advocate he is today.

Eager to one day return home to Hawaii to share all that he learned; Darius studied at three different higher education institutes. Lane College in Jackson, TN, Fullerton College in Fullerton, CA and Southern Oregon University in Ashland, OR provided the tools he utilizes today. Darius was able to observe, learn and adopt many different ideas by collaborating with many diverse individuals from across the country.

Darius Kila currently resides in Maili, Oahu and currently serves as the Community Liaison for Representative Stacelynn Eli and is a member of the Nanakuli-Maili Neighborhood Board. Graduating in 2013 from Kapolei High School, Darius went on to pursue a collegiate football career and study broadcast journalism in Tennessee, California, and Oregon.

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.

Councilmember Radiant Cordero
Honolulu City Council Infrastructure, Transportation & Technology Committee Chair
Radiant has dedicated her career to her community through various roles in nonprofits, journalism, and local government. While in school, she worked for Abilities Unlimited – Winners at Work, working with persons with disabilities on job training and retention and ClubCharm, USA, working with keiki on leadership development and even filling the void during Furlough Fridays.

After graduating with her Bachelors degrees, she served as a legislative aide at the Office of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, while still serving at the nonprofits and taking on two additional front desk jobs at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. She also served as assistant editor for the Fil-Am Courier (Hawaii's leading and longest running Filipino publication).
Radiant previously served as chief of staff to Honolulu City Councilmember Joey Manahan of District 7, where she worked on many issues related to homelessness, public safety, critical infrastructure, city budget, transportation, and fighting for county resources at the State Legislature. She is a tireless advocate for the community that she has called home for her entire life and has been shaped into the servant leader she is today by the people and culture within it.

In November 2024, the National League of Cities selected her to receive the Centennial Under 40 Impact Award, and the National Foundation for Women Legislators selected her to receive the Women of Excellence Award.

Councilmember Esther Kiaaina
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.

Jacob Aki
Senior Public Affairs Manager
Alaska Airlines

Jacob Aki serves as the Senior Public Affairs Manager for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, where he leads state and local government affairs strategies across Hawaii and the Pacific region. With nearly a decade of senior-level experience in the Hawaii State Senate, Jacob is a trusted strategist in legislative affairs, political communications, and stakeholder engagement.

He is widely recognized for his leadership within the Native Hawaiian community. Jacob has held prominent roles in respected cultural and civic organizations, including the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and Hale O Na Alii O Hawaii, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. His work is grounded in a lifelong commitment to cultural preservation, community empowerment, and service that uplifts Hawaii’s people.

Beyond Hawaii, Jacob advocates nationally for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. He serves on the Board of the Asian American Action (AAA) Fund and as a member of the Sanctuary Advisory Council for the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa—advancing AANHPI representation in public policy, environmental stewardship, and civic engagement.

Jacob is a proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools. He earned his B.A. in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a master’s degree in Political Management from The George Washington University. In 2024, he was honored as one of Pacific Business News’ “40 Under 40” for his leadership and impact across Hawaii.

He currently lives in Honolulu with his wife and two children.

Seth Colby
Chief State Economist
Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

Seth Colby is the Chief State Economist at Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, where he leads a team producing economic analysis and statistics. He previously served as Tax Research & Planning Officer for the Hawaii Department of Taxation, overseeing research on the state’s revenue system, macroeconomic forecasting, and the fiscal impacts of proposed legislation. Earlier in his career, Seth focused on economic and social development in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, working with the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, and Johns Hopkins University. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish and holds a PhD in Political Economy from Johns Hopkins University.

Sarah Guay

President & CEO

Hawaii Employers Council

Sarah Guay was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2022. In her role, she collaborates with HEC’s board of governors and staff to address the ever-evolving needs of Hawaii’s employers. She is responsible for the organization’s long-term strategy, leadership, and key initiatives.

Sarah has an exceptional track record designing and leading human resources, change management, and workplace culture initiatives. Prior to her appointment as President & CEO at Hawaii Employers Council, she served as Vice President of Human Resources at HEMIC, where she led the digitization of their Human Resources function. Sarah also played an instrumental role in leading the change management efforts behind American Savings Bank’s campus development. She is a director with the Oahu Economic Development Board, serves as an advisor for the Patsy T Mink Center for Business and Leadership, and was honored as a Woman Who Means Business by Pacific Business News in 2024.

Sarah received her master’s degree in organizational communication and a bachelor’s degree in general communication from Washington State University. She and her husband have three kids and enjoy spending time outdoors or at the beach in Kailua, where they live.

Nicole Velasco

Business Development Lead

NORESCO

Nicole serves Hawaii, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest as the business development lead for NORESCO, an energy advisor and asset developer. On behalf of NORESCO, she raises awareness about opportunities for greater energy efficiency and sustainability, supports green collar workforce training, and drives impact through systems optimization for both public and private entities. Nicole’s public speaking engagements often focus on leadership development, generational synergy, and gender equity. Velasco is a graduate of Princeton University.