Event Speakers
Quick Links: Neal Arakaki, Chris Bailey, Megan Brady, Jimmy Chan, Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Kit Z. Furukawa, T. Karen Hanada, Brittany Heyd, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, Meli James, Representative Kristin Kahaloa, Max Mukai, Danielle Scherman, Aline Steiner, James Kunane Tokioka, Pamela Tumpap, Dane Wicker, Denise Yamaguchi, Tina Yamaki, Hailey Zhou, Lauren Zirbel
Neal Arakaki
Neal Arakaki is President of Jaxie Corporation, Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Food Manufacturers Association, and Retired President of Hawaiian Candies & Nuts, Ltd. He has been successfully exporting Hawaiʻi manufactured foods and agricultural products to Japan and the Far East for over 40 years. He is currently assisting Hawaiʻi food manufacturers with exporting their products to Japan. He is also active in organizing Hawaiʻi companies to participate in major Japan trade shows with DBEDT and the HDOA.
Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey is the Manager of Leeward Community College’s Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center in central Oʻahu. Prior to joining the WVAPDC in 2022, Chris spent the last 11 years in Portland, Oregon working in product development with Oregon State University’s Food Innovation Center, and in community economic development with the city of Portland offering culturally specific technical assistance to historically-under served entrepreneurs get their products to market. Chris leverages this experience to support Hawaiʻi’s entrepreneurs in launching and growing value-added food businesses through coaching in product development, scaling and commercialization and market access.
Megan Brady
Megan Brady is the Founder and CEO of Uproot Origin L.L.C. a wellness company based in Hilo, Hawaiʻi specializing in concentrated turmeric elixirs and honey pastes. She launched the business in 2022 after developing a health-focused recipe for herself and her close community. Since then, Uproot Origin L.L.C. has evolved into a mission-driven brand that prioritizes community impact, sources sustainable organic ingredients, organic Hawaiʻi-grown produce and honey.
In 2025, Megan became the Manager of the Hilo Food Hub operated by Hoʻōla Farms—a commercial kitchen and incubator space that supports small food businesses across Hawaiʻi Island. In her role with Hoʻōla Farms, she draws on her entrepreneurial experience to guide and empower other local producers. With firsthand knowledge of the licensing and permitting process, Megan is committed to helping others navigate these hurdles and build successful, compliant food businesses that contribute to a stronger, more resilient local food system.
Jimmy Chan
Jimmy Chan started the Hawaiian Chip Company in the year 2000 by making sweet potato chips on a little table top fryer to sell at the open markets. By the second year Hawaiian Chip Co. was struggling and on the brink of bankruptcy. With guidance from other leaders in Hawaiʻi’s business community, the company survived. The company is now profitable, with the chips sold statewide. He has served as a board member of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiʻi Export Council, and the Hawaiʻi Food Manufacturers Association.
Senator Donovan Dela Cruz
Donovan M. Dela Cruz, is a state senator from District 17, which encompasses portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawa, and Whitmore Village. Senator Dela Cruz is Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. He also serves on boards or is a member of various organizations nationally and locally such as the National Council of Environmental Legislators and the Leeward Community College Culinary Institute Board just to name a few. Prior to becoming senator, he also served on the Honolulu City Council for eight years, serving as its Chair for three years, being the youngest chair in the history of the Council, at age 30. Senator Dela Cruz is a graduate of Leilehua High School and the University of Oregon where he earned a BA in Journalism and Communication Studies; Masters in Organization Leadership from Argosy University.
Kit Z. Furukawa
When Kit realized she had the ability to make a positive difference, she always thought the skills and talents she possessed are always meant to be shared.
Kit created and still operates Mystery Maui Escape Room, sells a premium product called Maui Chili Chili Oil and runs a marketing consultancy firm Kit Zulueta Productions LLC. She became a full-time entrepreneur in 2019 after many years in leadership roles with the Office of the Mayor, Maui County Council and UH Maui College. She continues to volunteer and serve on various nonprofit boards such as the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Cultural Society of Maui, University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Hawaiʻi, and Hawaii Philippines Business and Economic Council. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for YWCA’s Maui Women Business Center. She is a 2012 alum of the Filipino Young Leaders Program and a 2015 Fellow for Ka Ipu Kukui.
Her efforts in business and in community building, especially with advancing the interests of the Filipino community have been recognized by the SBA with the Advocate for Minorities Award in 2018, Young Filipino Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2021 and as Pacific Business News’ “40 under 40” Awardee in 2023. She has advocated for Filipino representation in many spaces, ensuring our cultural values are passed on to future leaders.
Kit continues to carve a path in her narrative, hoping to spread joy and kindness, and inspire courage in others to become the best version of themselves.
T. Karen Hanada
Karen serves as Director of Extended Learning and Workforce Development at UH Maui College. She oversees the Maui Food Innovation Center and is Co-Principal Investigator for the MBDA PaʻOihana entrepreneurship grant. She has worked at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center, Kapiolani CC’s Office of Continuing Education, and in a variety of staff and administrative positions at UH Maui College. As part of her graduate studies, she has written on globalization, innovation in higher ed, and multicultural perspectives.
Brittany Heyd
Brittany is the co-founder of Mana Up, a Hawaiʻi-based economic development initiative focused on scaling the next generation of local consumer brands to global markets. Mana Up’s mission is to expand economic opportunity and create high-potential jobs in Hawaiʻi through products that reflect the community and island culture. The organization runs a six-month accelerator program, operates an online store, manages retail locations across the Hawaiian Islands, and hosts pop-up experiences in cities like Tokyo, New York, and Los Angeles. Mana Up also manages a $6.3 million venture fund that invests in Hawaiʻi-based companies.
Before Mana Up, Brittany was on the founding team at 1776, where she helped scale the startup incubator into a global brand and led major initiatives including operations and a 75-city pitch competition. She also worked on business initiatives at the White House and held roles in law, government, and finance. Brittany holds a JD/MPP from Georgetown University and a BA in Accountancy from the University of San Diego.
Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke
Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke is the 16th lieutenant governor of Hawaiʻi, the third woman in the role, and the highest-ranking Korean American official in the U.S. A former state representative and longtime Finance Chair, she was born in Seoul and raised in Honolulu. She holds degrees from UH Mānoa and USF School of Law. She leads Ready Keiki and Connect Kākou. She is a mom, dog mom, and former attorney.
Meli James
Meli James is the co-founder of Mana Up, a Hawaiʻi-based business accelerator program, venture fund and retail initiative designed to diversify the local economy and build the state’s next generation of consumer brands. She is also the president of the Hawaiʻi Venture Capital Association. Born and raised in Honolulu, Meli lived in Silicon Valley for more than 10 years where she co-founded numerous startups. Meli has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of five Women to Watch and as one of eight Women Leaders Who Are Disrupting Entrepreneurship. She serves on the board of UHA Health Insurance, board of regents for Chaminade University and is a 2020 Omidyar Fellow. Meli is a graduate of Cornell University Nolan School of Hotel Administration.
Representative Kirstin Kahaloa
Representative Kirstin Kahaloa is a second-term member of the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives, representing the district of Kona on Hawaiʻi Island. Rep. Kahaloa is Chair of the Agriculture and Food Systems Committee, and sits on the committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, and Energy and Environmental Protection.
Rep. Kahaloa’s passion centers around transformation to improve Hawaiʻi’s local food system, education, small business climate, and community well-being. She has worked locally in sustainability, local food production, entrepreneurship, and the research and education to support it.
Max Mukai
Max Mukai is Director of Business Development at CNHA. Raised in East Honolulu, he is a Kamehameha Schools 2010 graduate and holds degrees from Pepperdine University. Max leads the KūHana Accelerator and The Mākeke, supporting local businesses through capacity building, online sales, and retail spaces. His work centers on the intersection of Hawaiian culture and economic development.
Danielle Scherman
Danielle Scherman is the founder of Aloha Home Market, a Made in Hawaiʻi pop-up market in Kailua supporting local small businesses. A passionate entrepreneur and real estate broker, she draws inspiration from markets she’s visited in NYC and California. Danielle created Aloha Home Market to fill a gap she saw in the local market, and it has since grown into a community-driven space where local makers thrive.
Aline Steiner
Aline Steiner, a seasoned chef and holistic nutritionist trained in France and Japan, founded Koko Kai Yogurt in 2020. Born from her passion for quality, simplicity, and health, Koko Kai offers clean-label, coconut-based yogurts that support gut health, are low in sugar, and never compromise on taste—reflecting Aline’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
James Kunane Tokioka
James Kunane Tokioka was named Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) on May 5, 2023. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Director for the Department of Transportation’s Airports Division.
Tokioka began his political career as a member of the Kauaʻi County Council in 1996, where he served for 10 years. He then went on to serve for 16 years as a member of the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives.
Prior to his public service, Tokioka worked his way through the hospitality industry, both in Hawaiʻi and across the United States, doing everything from bussing tables to managing hotels and owning restaurants. Tokioka has also worked for Oceanic Time Warner Cable/Spectrum, where he oversaw new business management programs and assisted with securing the largest single contract in the company’s history.
Tokioka studied at Holiday University in Mississippi, where he completed the accelerated certification program in Hotel, Food and Beverage, Guest Services and Security Management.
Pamela Tumpap
Pamela Tumpap has been the President of the Maui Chamber of Commerce over the past 18 years. Before joining the Chamber, she was President & CEO of Maui United Way, Director of Marketing for Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Vice President of the Maui Economic Development Board. Pamela is a strong advocate for business, working to overcome obstacles detrimental to the business climate and community growth and advancing winning, sustainable solutions.
Dane Wicker
Dane K. Wicker, born in Honolulu, is a committed public servant dedicated to advancing Hawaiʻi’s economy and community welfare. A graduate of Kahuku High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at West Oʻahu, he began his career in public service at Honolulu Hale, and then to Washington, D.C., as a Legislative Aide. Returning to Hawaiʻi in 2011, he supported State Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and played a key role in shaping Hawaiʻi’s fiscal policies.
As Deputy Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT), Wicker now leads strategic initiatives to diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, strengthen local industries, and foster sustainable development. His entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in ventures across retail, consulting, and agriculture, contributing to local economic resilience. Wicker’s diverse background underscores his commitment to enhancing Hawaiʻi’s economy and community through innovative, impactful service.
Denise Yamaguchi
Denise Hayashi Yamaguchi is CEO and Founder of Hawaiʻi Ag & Culinary Alliance (dba Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival®) and Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation, and leads efforts to promote Hawaiʻi’s culinary and ag industries through educational programs, community outreach and events that support Hawaiʻi’s economy. With 25+ years of experience, she has held leadership roles in nonprofits, tourism, and government, and continues to serve on several community and industry boards.
Tina Yamaki
Tina Yamaki has over 30 years of experience working in a large statewide non-profit trade organization and is currently as the President & CEO of the Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi (“RMH”). She is the lead advocate and the voice of the retail industry in government and the community. Since she began this position in September 2016, Tina has led a successful transformation of this organization; helping retail navigate and pivot to survive during the pandemic; reformatted meetings and networking events and increasing communication to have a more transparent and successful organization.
Previously Tina was the Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Lodging and Tourism Association where she represented the lodging industry in government affairs and community relations. Tina was also responsible for developing and improving the brand and image of Roberts Hawaiʻi as the Director of Sales for the Luxury Line and the Marketing Manager. And she was the Director of Business Support at PBS Hawaiʻi where she cultivated new business sponsorships for their programming.
Tina is a proud graduate of Leilehua High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has served on a variety of boards, advisory committees, and task forces that includes CrimeStoppers Honolulu, Honolulu Police Community Foundation, National Governors Association Policy Academy on Preventing Targeted Violence, and the Oʻahu Visitors Bureau to name a few. When Tina is not working, she loves to read; bake; support her retail members by shopping; and spend time with friends and family.
Hailey Zhou
Hailey Zhou is a food scientist and nutritionist who leads product development at the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center. She works closely with Hawaiʻi food brands to develop and commercialize value-added products—supporting formulation, shelf life stability, packaging, and process optimization to bring local innovations to market.
Lauren Zirbel
As President of the Hawaiʻi Food Industry Association, Lauren Zirbel champions food resilience, sustainability, and economic growth across the islands. Under her leadership, the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival raised nearly $60,000 for Maui wildfire relief in 2023 and set records in 2024 with 70,000 attendees and $10 million in sales. Through HFIA’s strategic advocacy, disaster preparedness efforts, and partnerships with state and federal agencies, Lauren is building a stronger, more sustainable food system and empowering future leaders in Hawaiʻi.
