Pacific Edge Magazine

Alexis Akiona Headshot WIB 2026

2026 Women in Business

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a woman in business? The greatest lesson I’ve learned as a woman in business is simple but powerful: Take care of yourself first. For years, I believed success required constant sacrifice—long hours, late nights, and putting everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. I thought exhaustion was proof of dedication....

Bianca Alsip-Freeny Headshot

Bianca Alsip-Freeny

2026 Women in Business

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a woman in business? Over the years, one of the biggest lessons I learned is that you can be talented in your craft but to be talented in business you have to be impeccable with your craft, determined to succeed (at all costs) and committed to All of the...

Pam Cabrera Headshot

2026 Women in Business

What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? One of my proudest professional achievements so far has been becoming the first female General Manager at OUTRIGGER, a milestone that carries both personal significance and broader meaning within an industry long dominated by male leadership. Granted, this was over a decade ago, and times have (thankfully) changed,...

Lan Chung 2026

2026 Women in Business

What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? My proudest achievement has been watching Fighting Eel grow into something far bigger than I ever imagined. We started with women’s clothing, and now we’ve expanded into men and boys, home, and even travel. It is becoming a full lifestyle brand that touches every part of our...

AMY DAMON Headshot

2026 Women in Business

How do you define success for yourself? Success, for me, is reflected in the growth of our team—both personally and professionally. When people feel valued, empowered, and fulfilled, they bring out their best selves. That energy elevates the member experience and drives operational excellence. What motivates you on the tough days? Remembering that tough times don’t last, but...

Francine Dudoit Headshot

Francine Dudoit-Tagupa

2026 Women in Business

What inspired you to start your career in this field? Watching my grandmother balance family, work, and community. She had 18 children of her own and raised 10 grandchildren while her husband was in the service. Who was your biggest role model or mentor growing up? My grandmother. She was a product of the Hawaiian overthrow of 1893...

Ahu H Headshot

2026 Women in Business

What inspired you to start your career in this field? I entered this field out of necessity. I couldn’t return to my homeland, and I was caught between papers and worlds, without money or a sense of belonging. Cooking with my mother became the only place where I felt anchored, close to home, close to myself. The...

Paddy Kauhane

2026 Women in Business

What inspired you to start your career in this field? I was raised in a family that believed in helping others. Whether it was through time, sweat, financial, or other support, I learned that lifting up others provides the biggest return in life, bigger and more satisfying than anything else. My family did not have a...

Paulette Fukumoto Headshot

Paulette Kitchell Fukumoto

2026 Women in Business

What inspired you to start your career in this field? I was inspired by Henk Rogers, the designer of Tetris. What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? Raising three sons. Who was your biggest role model or mentor growing up? Kumu Hula Iwalani Tseu What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? Fail to plan, plan to...

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Rachel Akaka Mamiya

2026 Women in Business

Who was your biggest role model or mentor while growing up? My parents. I was lucky to have my mom at home full-time when my dad was in the Air Force. She taught me to read in pre-school and always made learning fun. I have fond memories of us playing often, her showing up to every...

Rachel Pacarro Headshot

2026 Women in Business

Who was your greatest role model or mentor growing up? I was lucky to grow up with many. My dad showed me what hard work and grit looked like, all while demonstrating the importance of showing up. No matter how busy he was in his career, he made it to every game and every moment that...

Amanda | Child & Family Service

2026 Women in Business

What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? My proudest professional achievement is the opportunity to serve others and positively impact families in our community. At Child and Family Service, we hold ourselves to a high standard, and I am inspired every day by how creativity, compassion, and innovation can change lives. One example is our...

KashmiraReid

2026 Women in Business

What motivates you on the tough days? For me, there are two types of tough days. The first is when something unexpected occurs or goes wrong. Typically, that requires so much extra time and energy to navigate through for things that are out of my control to get back on track. Because my job and volunteer...

Tamara Shaffer 2026 Headshot

2026 Women in Business

What inspired you to start your career in this field? I had always dreamed of creating a new kind of wellness and lifestyle med spa—one that unites science, beauty, and health under one roof. I saw that the future of wellness and beauty are deeply connected, yet that niche wasn’t being filled here in the islands...

Kay Sides Headshot

2026 Women in Business

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a woman in business? Never feel guilty about being clear with your boundaries. That has been one of the hardest and most important lessons I’ve learned. It’s so easy—especially for women—to fall into the habit of overextending ourselves, saying yes to everything, or feeling responsible for everyone else’s comfort....

Trista Speer 1

2026 Women in Business

What has been your proudest professional achievement so far? I’m proud of everything I’ve been able to do on behalf of the people I serve, from my time as a Deputy District Attorney in Oregon to a law professor at the University of Hawai‘i to my current role as Deputy Director at the Hawai‘i Department of...

Ashley Thomas Headshot 2026

2026 Women in Business

What inspired you to start your career in this field? It started with a personal crisis. After more than a decade in HR helping Hawai‘i employers support their teams, everything shifted when I became a mom during the pandemic. One morning, my caregiver canceled at the last minute, and I realized there was no safety net...

Christine Valenti Headshot 2026

Christine Valenti

2026 Women in Business

What inspired you to start your career in this field? I’ve always had a deep appreciation for Hawai‘i’s natural environment and a curiosity about how we could make better use of the resources already around us. When we started Bizia, we wanted to show that materials often seen as problems, like invasive Albizia, could actually become...

Evoto

2026 Women in Business

What inspired you to start your career in this field? When we first founded Hub Coworking Hawai‘i, coworking was still a relatively new concept on the islands. I saw an opportunity to create more than just office space—I wanted to design a community where entrepreneurs, non-profits, creatives, and changemakers could come together and collaborate.Hawai‘i has such...

Aly Wee Headshot

2026 Women in Business

What’s your “elevator pitch” and very briefly share what your company or organization does? I’m the founder of Aly Wee Consulting, a hotel revenue and asset management firm specializing in independent and boutique hotels. We partner with hotel owners and operators to maximize topline revenue, improve profitability, and enhance long-term asset value. Our hands-on approach bridges...

2026 Q1 Women in Business Issue

Alexis Akiona

Founder

Lexbreezy Hawai‘i
Bianca Alsip-Freeny

Chef / Owner

Lilikoi Kitchen - Tailor Made Custom Catering
Pam Cabrera

Corporate Director of Military Affairs

OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels
Lan Chung

Founder / Creative Director

Fighting Eel
Amy Damon

General Manager / COO

The Pacific Club
Francine Dudoit-Tagupa

Director, Native Hawaiian Healing

Pu‘uhonua Prison Program - Waikiki Health
Ahu Hettema

CEO/Executive Chef/Creative Director

Istanbul Hawai‘i
Paddy Kauhane

President & CEO

Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii
Paulette Kitchell Fukumoto

Guest Loyalty Manager

‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach
Rachel Akaka Mamiya

Chief Operating Officer

J. Uno & Associates, Inc.
Rachel Pacarro

Hi Now Daily Host

Hawaii News Now
Amanda Pump

President and CEO

Child & Family Service
Kashmira Reid

Senior Public Relations Manager

AlohaCare
Tamara Shaffer

Founder & Managing Director

DRIP HAWAII
Kay Sides

Founder

HATCH Inc. and R0AM
Trista Speer

Deputy Director

State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services
Ashley Thomas

CEO / Founder

Hānai Nanny Agency
Christine Valenti

Co-Founder / Owner

Bizia
Meeta Vu

Cofounder

Hub Coworking Hawai‘i
Aly Wee

Owner & Principal Consultant

Aly Wee Consulting
Nili Yildirim

Executive Chef / Co-Owner

Istanbul Hawai‘i
Natasha Haukeaokalani Ho

Hawaiian Practicioner - Parent Board President

Sacred Hearts Academy
Kamuela Potter

President & Owner

Inspired Closets Hawai‘i

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