Our Story
This is the “history” page.
Milestones
Our Founding
The Family Business Center of Hawaiʻi was established as an outreach program of the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Founded on the belief that family-owned businesses have unique needs not addressed by conventional business education, the Center brought together a small but committed cohort of Hawaiʻi’s founding family enterprises.
First Annual Family Business Forum
What began as an intimate gathering of a dozen member families quickly grew into a marquee annual event. The inaugural Family Business Forum drew speakers from across the country and gave local business families a rare opportunity to share challenges, strategies, and hard-won wisdom in a confidential, peer-to-peer setting.
10th Anniversary & 100 Member Families
Celebrating a decade of service, the Center marked its 10th anniversary alongside a milestone membership count of 100 family enterprises. Representing industries from agriculture and retail to real estate and hospitality, these families collectively employed thousands of people across the Hawaiian Islands.
Expanded to Neighbor Islands
Responding to growing demand from Oʻahu’s neighboring communities, the Center launched programming on Maui and the Big Island. Regional forums and workshops brought the Center’s nationally recognized experts directly to family businesses across the state, making participation accessible regardless of geography.
20 Years of Family Enterprise
The 20th Anniversary Celebration drew past and present members, faculty, and community leaders for a landmark evening honoring the families who helped shape the organization. A special symposium examined the evolution of family business in Hawaiʻi and the forces — from globalization to generational transitions — that would define the next two decades.
Adapting Through the Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced a sudden shift away from in-person gatherings, the Center pivoted quickly to virtual programming. Online forums, webinars, and peer roundtables kept member families connected and supported during one of the most difficult periods many family businesses had ever faced.
Thirty Years Strong
As the Center marks its 30th anniversary, it remains as relevant as ever. With a growing membership, a robust calendar of events across the Islands, and deep ties to the Shidler College of Business, the Family Business Center of Hawaiʻi continues its mission: helping family enterprises plan for the future, strengthen relationships, and pass on what they’ve built.