Five people awarded for achievement in workforce development
The Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Hawaiʻi Workforce Development Council have recognized recipients of the 2026 Workforce Development Hero Awards.
Now in its fourth year, the Workforce Development Hero Awards honor individuals whose leadership, service, innovation, and commitment have strengthened Hawaiʻi’s workforce.
This year’s honorees were celebrated for expanding opportunities across the state, developing talent, connecting people to meaningful careers, and helping build a stronger, more resilient workforce for Hawaiʻi’s future.
“Building a strong workforce requires people who lead, collaborate, and invest in the success of others,” said Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Jade T. Butay. “This year’s honorees exemplify that commitment by expanding opportunities for workers, supporting employers and industries, and showing what Hawaiʻi can achieve through collective effort.”
2026 Workforce Development Hero Award Winners:
- Hawaiʻi Island: Matthew Stevens, executive director, Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative
- Oʻahu: Kazunori “Kazu” Hayashida, manager of workforce planning, Hawaiian Electric, and Melvin Dizon, licensed medical social worker, Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
- Maui: Chentelle Rowland, executive director, Maui Workforce Development Board
- Lifetime Achievement Award: David De Luz Jr. and Eric Gill for decades of dedicated leadership in advancing Hawaiʻi’s workforce development.
Gill was recognized for nearly five decades of advocacy on behalf of Hawaiʻi’s working people and for his longtime leadership with Unite Here Local 5. His career has centered on representing workers in Hawaiʻi’s hospitality, healthcare, and food service industries and advancing their voice in the workplace and the broader community.
De Luz was honored for his longstanding contributions and commitment to workforce development and for a career of service that has strengthened opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s workers and communities.
“These awards are ultimately about people who have chosen to use their talents in service to others,” said Workforce Development Council Executive Director Bennette E. Misalucha. “Our 2026 Workforce Heroes come from different professions, industries, and communities, but they share something important: they understand that workforce development is about more than filling jobs. It is about opening doors, creating pathways, believing in people, and helping individuals and families build a future here in Hawaiʻi.”
The Hawaiʻi Workforce Development Council also presented its Legislator of the Year Award to State Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett, chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, in recognition of his leadership and support for initiatives that strengthen the connection between education, workforce development, and economic opportunity.
The awards were presented as part of the Future of Work Conference, which brought together employers, educators, workforce organizations, government, philanthropy, and community partners to explore how Hawaiʻi can prepare its people and industries for a rapidly changing world of work.
The 2026 conference, themed “Rooted in Culture, Ready for the Future,” examined the future of work across seven industry sectors and emphasized the importance of preparing Hawaiʻi’s workforce for change while remaining grounded in the values, relationships, and sense of place that define the islands.
Fourth quarter Hawaiʻi business reports due by the end of the year
The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division reminds businesses to file their annual business reports.
The annual report filing period is linked to the business entity’s registration date and can be completed at any time during the quarter in which the filing is due.
Businesses registered in the fourth quarter (October through December) can now file their annual reports with the Business Registration Division. Reports due in the fourth quarter must be filed by midnight Dec. 31, 2026, to avoid a late filing penalty.
Fees for filing Hawaiʻi annual business reports online are as follows:
- LLCs, profit corporations, and LLPs: $12.50
- Nonprofit corporations: $2.50
- Partnerships: $5
If businesses are delinquent in filing any annual reports, a $10 late fee will be assessed per delinquent year, in addition to submitting the filing.
The filing quarters are as follows: first quarter is January through March; second quarter is April through June; third quarter is July through September; fourth quarter is October through December.
Be cautious of any correspondence that does not come from the Hawaiʻi Business Registration Division, which does not use or endorse the services of any third-party company to collect or file annual business reports.
Visit the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website for more information.
For filing-related questions, call 1-844-808-3222 (select option 2).
Young Brothers promotes chief financial officer
Ashlee Kishimoto has been promoted to chief financial officer for Young Brothers, Hawaiʻi’s interisland freight company.
Kishimoto will lead the company’s financial strategy and oversee its financial planning, forecasting and reporting.
“Ashlee brings strong financial experience, sound judgment and a clear understanding of Young Brothers’ operations and responsibilities to the communities we serve,” said Steen Christensen, president of Young Brothers. “Her leadership will help us make disciplined, informed decisions as we manage the company’s operational needs and plan for the long-term future of interisland freight service in Hawai‘i.”
Kishimoto joined Young Brothers as director of finance in 2023, overseeing the company’s accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, and procurement functions.
In that role, she worked closely with company leadership to evaluate business activities and opportunities, manage financial forecasting and reporting, and identify opportunities to improve business performance and processes.
As chief financial officer, Kishimoto will provide financial insight and analysis to support Young Brothers’ business and operational decisions.
Before joining Young Brothers, Kishimoto served as corporate controller and director of accounting and finance for Sullivan Family of Companies. She also held several leadership positions at Hawaiian Airlines, including managing director of investor relations, managing director of human resources operations, and managing director of corporate audit.
Kishimoto earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, cum laude, from the University of San Francisco.
Visit the Young Brothers website for more information about its international shipping services.
