President’s Message

I am honored and humbled to serve as President of such a dynamic organization rooted in culture and traditions but also mindful of the need to adapt to changing conditions.  With the support of our Board of Directors, NHCC will continue to work diligently on behalf of our members and the entire Native Hawaiian business community.

To that end, we made a big investment in an Executive Director, and as a result, have been able to expand and improve our programs and resources.  Be on the lookout for more informative and interactive events to help accelerate and create long-term success.

As we celebrate our 50^th Anniversary, we stand on the shoulders of our founders, living their core principals rooted in Native Hawaiian culture and values.  Our founders' mission;  "to mālama Native Hawaiians in business and commerce through leadership, relationships and connections to economic resources and opportunities” is one we take seriously.  It is our lens that allows us to focus on your growth.

You have my, our, commitment as a Chamber to evolve alongside you so we can be a vital asset.  As our community navigates through new opportunities and challenges to achieve our economic potential, your Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce will be standing as partners with you to help you and your business thrive.

Over the past year, we have been working diligently.  A few of our efforts include:

• Establishing an open relationship with leaders of the Hawaii State Legislature's Native Hawaiian Caucus.
• Partnering with organizations such as OHA, Kamehameha Schools, the Mayor's Office of Economic Revitalization, and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Shidler College of Business, to name just a few.
• Solidifying our collaboration with the Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i and Maui Native Hawaiian Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
• Creating and implementing Ho'omana, a cohort to help Native Hawaiian micro and small businesses create lasting and sustainable growth.
• Spotlighting our members and their businesses to the broader community with features in Ka Wai Ola, NHCC’s website and social media pages as well as our email newsletters.

If you are not a member of our Chamber, we strongly encourage you to consider joining.  Our membership is up considerably over the past year thanks to our new programs, events and resources.  The best is still to come.  Your membership affords us the ability to be a strong resource for Native Hawaiian businesses.

To current and prospective members, Mahalo Nui Loa for your support.  Please feel free to reach out to me or our Executive Director, Andrew Rosen, any time. We welcome all questions, comments and suggestions that you may have which will allow our Chamber to better serve you.

Here is to a healthy, vibrant and successful 2024.