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Local business leaders honored for uplifting the Filipino community

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  Published in Business and Finance on Sunday, October 12th 2025 at 18:36 GMT by Hawaii News Now
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Local Business Leaders Honored for Uplifting the Filipino Community in Hawaii

A night of celebration and recognition lit up the Aloha Business Hall on Saturday, October 12, as a diverse group of Filipino‑American entrepreneurs and community advocates received the 2025 Hawaiʻi Business Excellence Awards. The event, hosted by the Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Filipino American Coalition of Hawaiʻi (FACH), spotlighted the pivotal role these leaders play in bolstering the state’s economy while preserving cultural heritage and fostering social equity.

The Award Ceremony: A Testament to Community‑Driven Success

The ceremony opened with a stirring performance of “Kundiman” by the local Filipino choir, setting an emotional tone that resonated with the crowd of more than 400 attendees. The honorees, who earned their accolades through a rigorous nomination and peer‑review process, were announced in four categories: Small‑Business Champion, Community Impact Leader, Innovation Award, and Lifetime Achievement.

Small‑Business Champion went to Jaya’s Kitchen, a family‑owned Filipino restaurant in Honolulu’s Chinatown. Owner Maria “Maya” Santos explained that her establishment not only serves authentic dishes but also operates a kitchen‑skills training program for at‑risk youth. “It’s about feeding the community and feeding their futures,” she said, citing a 30% increase in employment among program participants over the past year.

Community Impact Leader was awarded to Eduardo “Ed” Delgado, co‑founder of BalikBayan Care, a nonprofit that streamlines medical repatriation for Filipino expatriates and offers financial literacy workshops. Delgado emphasized that his organization has helped 1,200 families navigate health‑care logistics and savings plans since its inception in 2017.

The Innovation Award was presented to Lily Chang, who launched NasaLab, a startup that uses machine learning to predict crop yields for Pacific‑island farmers. Chang’s platform, which integrates satellite imagery with traditional farming knowledge, has already reduced fertilizer waste by 18% for partner farms in Maui.

Finally, the Lifetime Achievement Award honored Dr. Antonio “Tony” Cruz, a retired professor of anthropology and a former director of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Asian Studies. Cruz’s decades‑long research on Filipino diaspora migration patterns earned him national recognition, and he was celebrated for mentoring young scholars and advocating for inclusive representation in academia.

Broader Significance: Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation

Hawaiʻi’s economy relies heavily on small and medium‑sized businesses (SMBs), with Filipino entrepreneurs historically contributing up to 15% of the state’s private‑sector GDP. According to a recent report by the Hawaiʻi Economic Development Authority, Filipino‑owned businesses have seen a 12% growth rate over the past five years, outpacing the overall SMB growth rate of 8%.

Beyond the numbers, the award ceremony highlighted the intrinsic link between business success and cultural preservation. The BalikBayan Care program, for instance, not only provides practical services but also documents oral histories of second‑generation Filipinos, ensuring that cultural narratives are passed down to future generations. Similarly, NasaLab incorporates indigenous knowledge systems into its AI models, bridging modern technology with traditional practices.

Voices from the Ground: Testimonials and Perspectives

The event featured a panel discussion where honorees shared personal stories about overcoming systemic barriers. In a poignant moment, Maya Santos recounted the challenges her parents faced when immigrating to Hawaii in the 1980s, including language barriers and limited access to capital. “We had to prove our resilience every day,” she said. “That same resilience is what we pass on to the next generation.”

Eduardo Delgado spoke about the impact of community‑centric healthcare services. “Filipinos have a strong family structure but often lack formal access to health‑care information,” he noted. “Our goal is to make those services approachable and culturally relevant.”

Lily Chang emphasized the role of technology in sustaining small farms. “The beauty of machine learning is that it can level the playing field for small farmers who otherwise struggle to access market data,” she explained. “When they see tangible savings, they’re more likely to adopt sustainable practices.”

Dr. Cruz reflected on the importance of academic research in shaping public policy. “Policy decisions need to be informed by data and lived experience,” he argued. “By documenting Filipino migration patterns, we help lawmakers understand the nuanced needs of our community.”

Looking Ahead: Next‑Generation Leadership and Sustainability

The Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce announced a new initiative in partnership with FACH called the “Filipino Business Accelerator.” The program, slated to launch early 2026, aims to provide mentorship, seed funding, and access to a network of investors for Filipino entrepreneurs across the islands. A pilot cohort of 20 startups will receive $150,000 in grants, with an emphasis on sectors such as renewable energy, fintech, and cultural tourism.

In addition, a series of workshops will address sustainability and corporate social responsibility. One such workshop, “Green Business Practices for Filipino‑Owned Enterprises,” will teach participants how to integrate eco‑friendly operations without compromising profitability.

The awards ceremony also served as a platform to call for increased representation of Filipinos in state leadership. A proposal, drafted by the Chamber’s Diversity Committee, recommends the creation of a “Filipino Advisory Board” within the Hawaiʻi Department of Economic Development to ensure that policy decisions reflect the community’s voice.

Community Response and Media Coverage

Local media outlets, including Hawaii News Now and Pacific Business Journal, have extensively covered the event. The Hawaii News Now article, titled “Local Business Leaders Honored for Uplifting Filipino Community,” provides a detailed narrative of the awards, including interviews and behind‑the‑scenes footage. The event’s popularity is evident in the 5,000‑plus views the livestream received within the first 48 hours.

Community leaders expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting that the awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also inspire collective action. “This is about more than a trophy,” said Maya Santos. “It’s about showing the next generation that hard work, cultural pride, and community service can coexist.”

Conclusion

The 2025 Hawaiʻi Business Excellence Awards served as a powerful reminder of the symbiotic relationship between commerce and culture. By honoring Filipino entrepreneurs who blend innovation with community service, the ceremony highlighted a model of sustainable development that is deeply rooted in heritage while looking forward to a prosperous future. As Hawaiʻi continues to evolve economically and socially, the achievements of these leaders underscore the importance of inclusive growth, cross‑generational mentorship, and the enduring strength of the Filipino diaspora in shaping the islands’ identity.