News briefs for Sept. 23: Zonta award, Young Brothers appointments, Vulcans men’s basketball, August unemployment and more
2027 Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award applications available
Applications for the 2027 Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award are available from Zonta Club of Hilo online. Deadline to submit applications is Nov. 1.
The ward celebrates excellence and recognizes outstanding achievements by women between the ages of 18 and 35 years old who are driving innovation and creating an impact in the business world. It honors exceptional leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, ethical conduct and significant contributions while addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate justice.
The top winner of the local award will advance to compete for additional awards at the district and international levels of Zonta.
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Hawaiʻi Community Foundation names Gushiken as senior vice president, chief financial officer
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation appointed Reid Gushiken as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Gushiken now oversees financial and administrative operations and helps guide the foundation’s long-term stewardship of resources in service to Hawai‘i’s communities.
He brings more than two decades of financial leadership experience throughout the education, banking and accounting sectors. Gushiken served as chief financial officer at ‘Iolani School, where he led the institution’s finance and business office functions and oversaw major campus planning and operational initiatives for more than a decade. Prior to that, he spent nearly 10 years at Central Pacific Bank, culminating in in his role as senior vice president and controller, where he helped guide the organization through a period of significant economic challenge.
Gushiken succeeds Wally Chin, whose nearly two decades of leadership helped build the foundation’s strong financial base. Chin will continue supporting the organization as senior leadership advisor, helping ensure continuity and a seamless leadership handoff.
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Young Brothers strengthens executive leadership team with 2 key appointments
Shipping firm Young Brothers appointed Daniel Holt as vice president of external and government affairs and Christine Hirasa as vice president of marketing and communications. Holt will lead the company’s government and public policy engagement, while Hirasa will lead marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement.
Holt brings nearly two decades of experience in public policy, government affairs and legislative leadership. He most recently served as special assistant to the chairperson at Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, where he supported statewide policy development, strategic planning, legislative coordination and cross-agency initiatives.
Hirasa brings more than 25 years of experience leading enterprise communications, brand strategy, reputation management, media relations and stakeholder engagement throughout health care, government, education, media and insurance. Most recently, she served as vice president of strategic communications and marketing at Hawaii Medical Service Association, where she helped shape the organization’s voice, build trust with key audiences and advance its communications strategies.
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2026-27 Newcomers: Vulcans men’s basketball
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo men’s basketball welcomes 9 newcomers for the upcoming 2026-27 slate in Vulcans head coach Kaniela Aiona’s seventh season.
The Vulcans replace 7 departures from a year ago — 4 to graduation or exhausted eligibility — and will look to make a return trip to the Pacific West Conference Championships postseason tournament next March.
Of the team’s 7 returnees, 5 will enter their senior season of competition.
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Zoll selected as new Forestry and Wildlife administrator
Marigold Zoll was tabbed to lead Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Zoll will oversee ongoing efforts to care for more than 1 million acres of state lands, including 57 forest reserves, 23 natural area reserves, 46 wildlife sanctuaries, precious forested watersheds as well as 855 miles of public access trails to hunting and recreation areas statewide.
Her duties include managing wildfire response throughout 60% of the island chain, along with programs that restore natural and cultural resources from mauka to makai. She will also oversee programs doing critical work to preserve Hawaiʻi’s unique native plant and animal species, particularly 487 critically endangered or threatened species that represent 30% of the nation’s imperiled biodiversity.
Zoll is the former manager of the division’s O‘ahu branch. She previously worked with federal agencies and nonprofits in natural resource management, regulatory work and conservation.
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$1M award will establish new chemical reaction dynamics facility at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will receive $999,997 from U.S. Department of Energy to build a tunable photoionization chemical dynamics facility — a powerful scientific facility that lets researchers closely examine chemical reactions, helping them understand what chemicals are produced and what happens during chemical reactions as well as exactly how and why the reactions happen.
University researchers will be able to uncover the hidden processes behind chemical reactions — knowledge that could help advance cleaner energy technologies and lead to future scientific discoveries. The new facility also will bring together key chemical technologies under one roof.
The facility’s first major research project will tackle a fundamental question with implications for cleaner energy technologies: How does hydrogen help break strong carbon-sulfur bonds in sulfur-containing compounds widely found in petroleum-derived fuels? Breaking strong carbon-sulfur bonds could help improve cleaner fuel production, but scientists still do not fully understand how hydrogen helps break them.
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Hirono presses FBI director on abuse of power, leadership failures
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawai‘i and a senior member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, recently pressed Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel about his repeated failure to uphold the ideals of the agency he leads.
During a full committee hearing, Hirono questioned Patel about his “VIP snorkel tour” and partying in Milan, following his failure to respond to her previous requests that he disclose his personal travel and its costs to American taxpayers.
Hirono traced a pattern of Patel’s mismanagement of the FBI and raised concerns about his ability to lead an agency tasked with enforcing the law and investigating public corruption. Click here to see the full video.
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Hawai‘i Senate Judiciary Committee hears from Recktenwald about rule of law, judicial independence
Hawaiʻi Senate Committee on Judiciary recently hear from retired Hawai‘i Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald about the rule of law, judicial independence and role of courts in maintaining the constitutional balance of government.
Recktenwald presented “Defending the Rule of Law” and discussed the importance of an independent judiciary and principles that underpin the rule of law. Following his presentation, members of the committee engaged in a question-and-answer session with the retired chief justice.
The discussion provided an opportunity for legislators to examine these issues and consider the importance of maintaining public confidence in the institutions responsible for upholding the law. Watch meeting online.
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Hawai‘i August unemployment at 2.7%; jobs increased by 1,300 from 2025
Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism announces that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August was 2.7%, the same as in July. There were a total of 673,950 people employed and 18,800 unemployed during the month, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 692,750 statewide.
The not-seasonally adjusted rate for the state was 2.9% in August compared with the revised rate of 2.8 percent in July.
Total nonagricultural jobs increased by 100 from July. Job gains were experienced in Professional & Business Services (+700), Financial Activities (+200) and Other Services (+100). Employment remained unchanged in Manufacturing; and Information. Job losses occurred in Construction (-100); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-100); Private Education and Health Services (-500); and Leisure and Hospitality (-700). Government employment went up by 500 jobs. Nonfarm jobs increased by 1,300, or 0.2%, compared with August 2025.
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Kahilu Theatre offers partnership dance, ballet dance classes
Kahilu Theatre in Waimea offers the chance to discover the elegance and romance of Latin rhumba and build strength, flexibility and confidence through ballet via two dance classes this fall.
Intro to Partnership Dance is for adults 18 years old and older. Beyond learning the steps, this course emphasizes the art of partnership. Through the fundamentals of lead and follow, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how rhumba works, accelerating their learning and building confidence. No partner or prior dance experience required — just come ready to move, connect and have fun.
Rise and shine with a beginner-friendly adult ballet class — the perfect way to start the day, begin a dance journey or return to ballet after time away. Learn the basics of ballet vocabulary and placement through barre and center floor exercises while improving posture, balance and body awareness. No experience required — all bodies and levels welcome. Register for adult ballet online.
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Schatz, Young introduce legislation to help stop child labor
U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced legislation to help stop illegal child labor. The bipartisan Stop Child Labor Act would increase maximum fines for violations, establish new criminal penalties, allow victims harmed by violations to file private lawsuits and encourage collaboration between employers and government to stop child labor violations before they occur.
Federal child labor violations are at or near record levels, according to the most recent enforcement data from U.S. Department of Labor. In fiscal year 2025, the department’s Wage and Hour Division closed 976 cases involving child labor violations, more than in any year since the Great Recession, including 773 employed in violation of hazardous occupation standards. That represents a 72% increase in affected children since fiscal year 2019. Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act imposes weak fines for violations, making it financially easier for companies to skirt child labor laws.
In 2023, it was revealed migrant child labor is being used for hazardous jobs in factories making products for well-known brands such as Cheetos, Fruit of the Loom and Lucky Charms. That same year, it was found that Packers Sanitation Services Inc., a sanitation contractor to major meat producers including JBS Foods, employed at least 102 children, ages 13 to 17 years old, in hazardous occupations on overnight shifts at 13 meat processing facilities across eight states. At least three minors were injured, but only the statutory maximum of $15,138 per count could be assessed.
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Keiki take the stage in two classes at Kahilu Theatre
Keiki ages 8 to 18 years old can build confidence, creativity and performance skills on stage and beyond during the Center Stage class, while keiki and their ‘ohana can make music, move, imaging and play — together — during the Keiki & ‘Ohana Performing Arts class at Kahilu Theatre.
Center Stage is designed for aspiring actors ages 8 to 18 years old of all experience levels, combining professional technique with playful creativity. Students explore acting exercises, scene work and improv while developing skills in voice, movement, character and storytelling. No prior acting experience required.
Keiki & ‘Ohana Performing Arts is a joyful, interactive class for keiki 2 to 4 years old and their families to explore music, movement, storytelling and creative play together. Through songs, imaginative games, simple acting activities and dance, keiki build confidence, creativity, coordination and social skills in a fun and supportive environment. It’s a chance for families to learn, laugh, create and make memories together.
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Congress approves National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act
U.S. Reps. Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and James Moylan (R-Guam) announce the U.S. House recently voted 371-33 to approve their National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, which would significantly expand federal efforts to combat invasive species, responsible for severely impacting environments throughout the country.
“Hawai‘i in particular faces unique challenges from invasive species,” said Case. “Our isolation has led to the evolution of many endemic species that are found nowhere else on Earth.” said Case. “Our measure is especially timely as we reckon with the wide-ranging ripple effect of the recent storms that have struck the state, including accelerated spread of destructive invasive species especially in vulnerable places such as our national wildlife refuges.”
Case said formally establishing the Invasive Species Strike Teams program will create a stable and legally supported framework to ensure consistent funding and enhance management efforts. The act also signifies a transformative shift, moving from a reactive, species-by-species approach to a more strategic, ecosystem-wide framework for managing emerging invasive species.
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Taco Bell Hawai‘i helps secure more than $230K for youth nonprofits
Two Hawai‘i youth nonprofits will receive a combined $234,750 in grant funding from Taco Bell Foundation to expand programs that help young people build skills, prepare for college and careers as well as pursue their goals.
Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i will receive $175,000 and Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i was granted $59,750. The grants are part of the Taco Bell Foundation’s record $32 million investment supporting 700 nonprofit organizations nationwide in 2026.
Taco Bell franchisees help identify and nominate nonprofit organizations doing meaningful work in the communities they serve, helping direct foundation resources to organizations that understand local needs. Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i and Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i provide programs that help Hawaiʻi youth develop valuable life and career skills, connect with mentors and prepare for their futures.
