Rooted in Legacy

A fourth generation perspective on trust, responsibility, and what it means to grow up and grow into a legacy spanning 106 years

Growing up in a family business is one thing. Inheriting its future is another. As a fourth generation member of S. Tokunaga Store, a 106 year old institution in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, our speaker knows both sides of that line. In this session, she will reflect on what it meant to be included in the business from a young age, how transparency and trust within her family shaped her sense of belonging and commitment, and what the transition into leadership actually looks like when you are still learning and growing. She will also speak to the weight of generational stewardship and why listening to the next generation early matters more than most families realize. Whether you are a business founder, a successor in the making, or somewhere in between, this is an honest and grounded conversation about what it truly takes to pass the torch and to receive it.

Meet our speaker: Mykala Tokunaga

Mykala Tokunaga is part of the fourth generation of leadership at S. Tokunaga Store, a 106-year-old family business in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Having grown up involved in the store from a young age, she is passionate about preserving her family’s legacy while learning to navigate the responsibilities, challenges, and perspective of the next generation in family business.