Thank you for allowing me to be the Hawai’i Island Chamber of Commerce President this year. I learned a ton and met my goal of not breaking it! Carla and Christina are fantastic and made my job easy. So what did we get accomplished this year?
- We made more inroads into strengthening our ties with our elected officials. This took the form of going to the State Legislature to have face-to-face meetings, inviting State and County Representatives to fireside chats, and hosting pre- and post-legislative session presentations. I feel comfortable that I can pick up the phone or email our representatives, and they will listen. This is what our GAC will continue to work on in the months and years ahead. Carla also travelled to Washington, DC for Hawai’i on the Hill to make connections with our federal representatives.
- We increased educational opportunities for our chamber members by having more open presentations via the Economic Development and Government Affairs Committees – CEDS, Hawai’i County Update focusing on housing, Understanding Homelessness with HOPE Services, State of Maunakea, etc. To keep the momentum going, we have named co-chairs for our EDC (Kapono Pa) and GAC (Joy Dillon). That way we will not have to start from square one every time the new vice president joins the committee.
- We strengthened our ties to our fellow chambers on the island through the Chamber Hui. The mission is to advance the mutual interest of Hawaii Island’s business community through coordinated advocacy efforts. By staying closely connected and speaking with one voice, we can promote a robust local economy and a vibrant, healthy community.
There are many challenges ahead, and the Chamber needs to be a part of the solution – astronomy, housing, homelessness, healthcare, etc. We will continue to work to strengthen our connections and our voice to make the Island of Hawai’i a place where our kids can stay and grow.
Mahalo for your support!
Keith Marrack
Hawai’i Island Chamber of Commerce President, 2024-2025
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