The Hawaii Employers Council's 80th Annual Meeting was held on November 15, 2024, at the Halekulani Hotel. The meeting was officially called to order at 6:00 PM by Peter Dooher, Chair of the Board of Governors, who welcomed attendees and thanked them for their support of the Council.

Board of Governors

Dooher announced the results of the Board of Governors election, which saw five re-elected and two new incoming members. The newly elected and re-elected Board members are:

Oahu:

• Sunny Donenfeld, Vice President and Treasurer, Punahou School
• Brandt Farias, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Central Pacific Bank
• Brandon Kurisu, President & COO, aio Family of Companies
• Carol Ono, Senior Vice President & Workforce Services Division Manager, First Hawaiian Bank
• Vivian Yasunaga, Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, Kamehameha Schools
• Jenny Walker, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, HMSA
• Cheryl Walthall, Executive Director, General Contractors Association of Hawaii

All seven board members will serve three-year terms beginning on January 1, 2025.

Milestone Members

The Council expressed appreciation for all members and recognized milestone members for their long-standing 50, and 25 years of membership.

50 Years of Membership:

• Big Island Federal Credit Union
• Blood Bank of Hawaii
• Gather Federal Credit Union
• Hawaii State Federal Credit Union
• Hickam Federal Credit Union
• Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii, Ltd. 
• Polynesian Cultural Center
• Suisan Company, Limited 
• Up to Date Cleaners Kauai, Inc.

25 Years of Membership:

• Greenwell Farms, Inc.
• Hawaii Cattle Producers Cooperative Association
• Hilo Fish Company, Inc.
• Institute for Native Pacific Education & Culture
• Oral Surgery Hawaii
• PSH Insurance, Inc.
• Tamura Enterprises, Inc.
• Tradewind Group, Inc.
• Ueshima Coffee Corp.
• Young Brothers, LLC

Innovation in Human Resources Award

The meeting then focused on innovation in HR. The Council presented the 2024 Innovation in Human Resources Award to a member company recognized for their innovative HR practices that are fostering a people-first culture.

Congratulations Hawaii Food Service Alliance (HFA)!

Hawaii Foodservice Alliance’s (HFA) commitment to its people is embodied in its three key programs: its First Generation Leaders, which provides leadership training to team members who are often the first in their families to step into leadership roles; its Restorative Transitions Initiative which creates work opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals; and its Peer-Driven Servant Leadership Team program which provides multi-tiered training to foster HFA’s values of respect, authenticity, and continuous improvement. These programs support economic and personal advancement while building a legacy of hope and resilience for Hawaii’s future generations.  HFA’s commitment to its team represents innovation at its best.

President’s Report

Sarah Guay, President & CEO, outlined the future strategy direction. Looking ahead, the Council's strategy focuses on data and innovation, equipping employers by expanding our core HR services and evolving the membership model to meet diverse needs. This forward-looking approach aims to elevate decision-making and workplace innovation in Hawaii, driven by a commitment to building healthy, effective workplaces and a resilient workforce.

Keynote: Katherine von Jan

Katherine von Jan (KVJ) delivered a keynote titled “Riding the AI Wave,” which explored the rapid pace of technological innovation and its implications for the workplace. Drawing from her three decades in tech, KVJ emphasized the need for organizations to approach AI and change with intentionality—either by resisting, waiting, or actively leading. She highlighted generational shifts in workplace expectations, the spectrum of innovation styles, and the transformative potential of AI as a tool to enhance resilience and productivity.