Meet Your Local Chamber

About Us

About the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce

The Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce (HICC) brings businesses and professionals together to make Hawai‘i Island a better place to live and do business.  Founded in 1898, HICC has served as the voice of business of East Hawai`i and beyond for over 120 years.  HICC represents both large and small businesses. Based in Hilo, HICC’s members are nearly 300 businesses, professional organizations and individuals statewide with more than 700 employees who we consider member representatives.

Because we are the voice of business of East Hawai‘i and beyond, we:


Promote the economic well-being of our island, its products and services.

Advocate for policy change that will improve our economy and bring opportunity to our island residents.

Voice our Island’s concerns to state, national and other local Chambers.

Identify issues facing the business community and collaboratively work toward solutions.

Sponsor seminars and programs to help members improve their skills and knowledge.

Keep members informed with data on trends, legislation and economic developments.

Support and cultivate opportunities for the next generation of business leaders.

Offer a one-stop shop for information on how to do business in Hawai‘i and provide relocation information to those moving to the Island of Hawai‘i.

Promote tourism to the Island of Hawai‘i by providing visitor information to travelers and publicizing the services of member businesses.

History

History

The Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023.

“At last Hilo has got what she has been looking for,”

reported The Hawaii Herald on September 8, 1898, “a genuine Chamber of Commerce, built on a foundation that will withstand any petty jealousies or factional differences that may arise in the community.” At the time, Hilo had about 12,000 residents. The Hilo area businesses included 24 sugar companies and two lumber companies.

The Chamber started from an idea of Dr. Philip Rice’s that there be a businessmen’s club in Hilo. The idea of a club was abandoned in favor of a Chamber of Commerce. Rice served as Chairman.

Perhaps the Chamber languished for a couple years, because the Hawaii Herald again reported on March 19, 1904 “Hilo is to have a Chamber of Commerce composed of representative businessmen and through them the needs of Hilo may be presented to the Federal and Territorial governments (Hawai‘i was a U.S. Territory until l959).

A new name was selected for the organization, the newspaper reported a few days later—the Board of Trade, with Dr. John Holland as the prime mover.

The organization took strong positions, such as for the breakwater in 1904, and applauded the establishment of County governments in 1905.

Still as the Board of Trade, in 1912, the Chamber called for incorporation of Hilo, and in 1913, supported creation of a national park around Kilauea Volcano. In 1916, it supported a Federal Building for Hilo, which was completed the next year.

In the early 1930s, when Hilo had about 13,000 residents and Hawai‘i Island’s population was about 77,000, the organization had 170 members.

In 1948, the name was changed again, this time to what it remains today, the Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce.

Purpose

Purpose

The purpose of the Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce is to assist businesses and promote the Island of Hawai`i. We provide leadership via services and advocacy for the business community while promoting the economic well-being of our island as a whole.

We accomplish this by

Initiating and maintaining

programs of research, education and community.

Identifying the issues

facing the business community and acting to achieve satisfactory solutions.

Working with and coordinating

activities with other organizations to promote a stable and healthy economy.

Maintaining communication

and rapport between the business community and our governmental decision makers.

Providing networking

and social opportunities for our members.

Organization

Organization

The Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors governs the Chamber and the President of the Board serves as Chief Executive Officer of the organization. The Chamber office is administered by a paid Executive Officer who reports to the President. Member services are supported by a Membership Administrator and Marketing position.

The Chamber accomplishes most of its work through its standing and special committees. The committees are open to all members and member business employees. It is on committees that anyone who is interested in the affairs of the business community has the most input.

 F990 Package 2022

F8453-TE 2022

 F990–2019

F990sc–2019

F990sd–2019

F990sg–2019

F990so–2019

Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce

Voice of Business” for the economic success of our Hawaii Island

Officers & Directors

Officers & Directors

Officers / Executive Committee

Randy-Kurohara

President

Keith Marrack,

Edward Jones

 

Kurohara-Randall

President Elect

David Kurohara,

Hawaiian Electric

 

Doug-Simons

Vice President

Dennis Lin,

County of Hawai’i

Treasurer

Joshua Vierra,

First Hawaiian Bank

Doug-Simons

Immediate Past-President

Randy Kurohara,

Aloha Grown, Community First Hawai’i, Creative Arts Hawai’i

2-Year Directors

Daniel Kea – General Growth Properties, Prince Kuhio Plaza

Jase Takeya – Eclipse Effects Events

Jim Staub – HFS Federal Credict Union 

Mark Chun – UH Insitute for Astronomy 

Nimr Tamimi – Hawai’i Island Gourmet / Atebara Chips

Rebecca Choi – CU Hawai’i Federal Credict Union 

Tracie Yoshimoto – The Most Irresistible Shop In Hilo

Tyson Klask – Hawai’i Community Federal Credit Union 

1-Year Directors

Bonnie Irwin – University Of Hawai’i at Hilo 

Chesley Chow – Paradise Goat Dairy

Dean Fuke – HMSA

Geoli Ng – Waiakea Water 

Irene Yamanaka – Business Insurance Services

Jeremy Chong – KTA Super Stores

Kapaelani Comstock – Kamehameha Schools

Kehau Amorin – HPM Building Supply

Larisa Hamamoto – Bank of Hawai’i 

Lisa Shiroma- Hilo Benioff Medical Center 

Mary Begier – Mary Begier Realty

Vanessa Carlson – University of Hawai’i at Hilo

HICC Staff & Volunteers

Carla Kuo, Executive Officer

Christina Robledo, Membership & Marketing Administrator

 

 

Administrative

 

 

Special Investors

Special Investor Benefits

Special Investors Benefits
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