SHCX26 IS PRESENTED BY
Breakout Sessions:
Alice Inoue
Founder, Happiness U
Alice Inoue is the founder of Happiness U, a Honolulu-based company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations thrive from the inside out. An internationally recognized author, speaker, and executive coach, she is the author of 12 books and the creator of Master Your Superpowers, a personality assessment and training system used by government agencies, nonprofits, schools, healthcare organizations, financial institutions, and national brands including Walmart, Gap, and McDonald's global headquarters.
Drawing on a lifetime of diverse personal and professional experiences, Alice brings a unique perspective to leadership, resilience, and human behavior. She personally coaches more than 90 individuals and leaders each month, giving her real-time insight into the challenges people face in life, leadership, relationships, and the workplace. Known for translating complex concepts into practical strategies, Alice empowers leaders and organizations to build stronger cultures, navigate change with confidence, and create lasting, meaningful growth.
Breakout Session:
Antifragility: The "Next Level" of Resilience
In today's environment of constant change, HR must go beyond burnout prevention and build practices and systems that improve under stress. This session introduces the concept of antifragility and demonstrates how to embrace it personally, then embed it into your culture, leadership, and talent practices to create stronger, more adaptable organizations.
You'll walk away with practical strategies to:
Move beyond resilience to antifragility.
Build leaders and teams that grow through change.
Create organizational practices that become stronger under pressure.
Diana Brown is Chief People Officer for Servco Pacific Inc., where she leads enterprise-wide people strategy and advises executive leadership on building people-centered organizations. With executive HR leadership experience in the U.S. and internationally, she brings valuable insight into creating workplaces where employees and businesses thrive.
Patrick Dauphin is Vice President/General Manager of Enterprise Mobility's Hawaii Group, with more than 22 years of leadership experience. He is passionate about developing high-performing teams and creating exceptional employee and customer experiences.
Valerie Wang is General Manager & Executive Director at KP Hawaii Commercial Business, where she oversees New Sales and Account Management. With more than 18 years of experience in entrepreneurship, management, marketing, and business development, she is passionate about building and developing high-performing teams that drive growth and challenge the status quo.
Raquel Hicks is Chief Human Resources Officer at Punahou School, where she leads organizational culture, employee engagement, and leadership development initiatives. She is recognized for creating innovative programs that help employees and organizations thrive.
Na Ali'i Grantham, SHRM-CP | Moderator is Director of Human Resources at Tony Group and serves as SHRM Hawaii's State Director of Membership. He is passionate about building positive workplace cultures and will lead this engaging conversation on elevating the employee experience.
Breakout Session:
Elevating the Employee Experience: Insights from HR & Business Leaders
What does it really take to elevate the employee experience—and why does it matter more than ever? In this dynamic, panel-style breakout, senior HR leaders and business executives come together to share real-world strategies, lessons learned, and forward-thinking perspectives on creating workplaces where people thrive.
Through a candid, facilitated discussion, panelists will explore how leading organizations are rethinking employee experience across the entire lifecycle—from onboarding to development to retention—and aligning these efforts with business outcomes. Attendees will hear firsthand how companies are addressing evolving workforce expectations around flexibility, well-being, purpose, and growth, while leveraging data and leadership alignment to drive measurable impact.
Designed to be highly interactive, this session invites participants into the conversation with live audience engagement and practical insights they can apply immediately.
You'll walk away with practical strategies to:
Clarify what “employee experience” means today and why it is critical to organizational success
Explore real-world strategies used by HR and business leaders to enhance engagement, retention, and performance
Connect employee experience initiatives to business outcomes through data, metrics, and leadership alignment
Identify high-impact moments that matter across the employee lifecycle
Equip attendees with actionable ideas to influence leaders and elevate their organization’s employee experience strategy
Benjamin Ancheta, Jr., President, Inkinen Executive Search brings more than 20 years of executive leadership and management consulting experience spanning strategy, operations, and people leadership. As President of Inkinen Executive Search, he works with organizations across industries to identify and develop the leadership talent needed to meet evolving business needs.
Edwina Minglana Pine, SHRM-SCP, Vice President of Human Resources, FINN Partners brings extensive experience in human resources, employee relations, and organizational development, with a practical, people-centered approach to navigating an evolving workplace. As Vice President of Human Resources at FINN Partners, a global marketing and communications agency that includes Honolulu-based Anthology, she provides HR leadership across its U.S. operations. Her work provides firsthand insight into how changing employee expectations, workforce shifts, and emerging technologies like AI are reshaping roles, leadership, and essential skills. She is passionate about developing people and leaders, strengthening workplaces, and preparing talent for what’s next. Edwina serves as State Council Director for SHRM Hawaiʻi and is a past Chapter President. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Rutgers University, a master's degree in education from Argosy University, and the SHRM-CP and SHRM Volunteer Leader Specialty credentials.
Liuone A. Faagai, MHRM, PHR, Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer, Central Pacific Bank brings more than 25 years of executive and HR leadership experience across banking, utilities, and education. At Central Pacific Bank, he leads organizational design, talent and workforce strategy, succession planning, executive compensation, and organizational effectiveness, and also helps develop future HR leaders as adjunct faculty in the University of Hawai'i’s MHRM program.
Breakout Session:
Building the Future-Ready Workforce: Perspectives on Talent, Technology, and Evolving Role of HR
The future of work is already reshaping how organizations think about talent, leadership, roles, and readiness - and HR professionals are at the center of that transformation.
Join us for an engaging conversation featuring three leaders’ perspectives on building a future-ready workforce. Each will share practical insights from their own organization and experience, exploring how HR can help people, roles, and leaders evolve as business needs change.
Hear real-world perspectives on workforce planning, succession and knowledge transfer, role design, leadership development, AI-enabled work, and the changing expectations of HR and People leaders - and how organizations are developing talent from within while preparing for what’s next.
For HR professionals looking to grow their impact, this session is an opportunity to hear what leaders are seeing across talent, technology, work design, and executive expectations - and consider how HR can continue to expand its influence in shaping the workforce of the future.
In this session, you will learn how to:
Build future-ready skills and capabilities from within your organization
Strengthen succession planning and knowledge transfer
Rethink roles, career pathways, and internal mobility as work evolves
Prepare employees and managers for AI-enabled work while strengthening judgment and critical thinking
Understand what’s changing for strategic HR and People leaders - and how to grow toward those expectations
Min Kirk, Acting District Director, U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Honolulu District Office brings experience from both the private sector and federal service to her leadership with the Wage and Hour Division. Prior to federal service, she served as a Human Resources Director in Saipan and later worked with the Department of the Interior’s Federal Ombudsman Office, supporting investigations involving wage and hour issues in the garment industry.
Herbert Lee, Community Outreach and Regional Planning Specialist, U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Honolulu District Office has served with the U.S. Department of Labor since 2009, beginning as a Wage and Hour Investigator enforcing federal workplace laws including the FLSA, FMLA, Davis-Bacon Act, and Service Contract Act. Today, he works with employers, community organizations, and government agencies throughout Hawai'i to provide education and compliance assistance on federal wage and hour requirements.
Kenneth Nakasone, Partner, Kobayashi Sugita & Goda, LLP represents and advises employers on employment and labor matters, including litigation, investigations, audits, and proceedings before state and federal agencies. He also helps organizations navigate Hawai'i employment laws and strengthen their policies, procedures, and workplace compliance practices.
Breakout Session:
5 Costly Mistakes Hawai’i Employers Make - and How to Stay Compliant
What are the most common wage and hour violations affecting Hawai'i employers?
Join the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division for an informative look at the top 5 violations identified in Hawai'i workplaces and the common mistakes that can lead to costly compliance issues.
The session will cover key requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including wages, overtime, employee classification, and other areas where employers frequently run into challenges. Attendees will gain practical insights into recognizing potential violations, understanding employer responsibilities, and taking proactive steps to strengthen workplace compliance.
Whether you’re new to HR or a seasoned professional, you’ll find timely reminders, practical insights, and useful takeaways to help you stay ahead of changing requirements and keep your organization stay informed and prepared.
In this session, you will learn:
The top 5 wage and hour violations identified in Hawai'i workplaces
Common FLSA mistakes involving wages, overtime, and employee classification
Practical steps for strengthening workplace compliance
Recent updates and important reminders for employers
Verna Wong, President & Principal Consultant, Verna Wong HR Services, LLC helps businesses and nonprofit organizations align strategy, operations, and people, bringing experience in organizational development, HR, leadership development, and change management. Her career includes senior leadership roles with Hawaiian Host, the University of Hawai'i Shidler College of Business, Island Insurance Company, and DFS Group. She is also deeply committed to Hawai'i’s community through nonprofit leadership, mentorship, and volunteer service.
Dr. Kimberly Koide Iwao, Esq., Legal Education Program Director & Associate Professor, Kapi'olani Community College is an attorney, educator, and author with experience spanning law, higher education, and professional development. She manages her own private practice and prepares students for careers in the legal profession at Kapi'olani Community College. An award-winning educator and author of the Always in Style book series, she is passionate about helping others develop the confidence, character, and skills to succeed.
Jamie Hirano, Recruiter, Central Pacific Bank, is a recent Shidler College of Business graduate with a BBA in Human Resource Management, Marketing, and Management and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Human Resource Management. A former President of the Business Executive Society of Tomorrow, Jamie brings experience in talent acquisition, onboarding, employee engagement, and HR operations. As an emerging HR professional and member of Gen Z, she brings a valuable perspective on the next generation of Hawaiʻi’s workforce.
Kristy Chung, HR Specialist, eWorld Enterprise Solutions is a recent University of Hawai'i at Manoa Shidler College of Business graduate with a BBA in Human Resource Management and Finance. As Executive President of the SHRM Aloha Chapter and through her internships, she developed leadership experience and hands-on exposure to talent acquisition, onboarding, payroll and benefits, and HR operations. Now an HR Specialist with eWorld Enterprise Solutions, she is passionate about growing her career while contributing to Hawai'i’s workforce and business community.
Callie Lewis, MBA, SHRM-SCP | Moderator is Director of Human Resources at HEMIC and is a dedicated advocate for developing the next generation of talent, with a focus on helping students, interns, and early-career professionals successfully navigate and grow their careers. At HEMIC, she designed a successful summer internship program and leads Bridge to Leadership, a development program for emerging leaders. As Co-Chair of SHRM Hawaii's Emerging Professionals Committee, she also helps lead a statewide mentorship program.
Breakout Session:
Better Together:
Building a Workplace Across Generations
Every generation brings different experiences, perspectives, and strengths to the workplace. What can we learn when we bring those perspectives together?
This panel brings emerging professionals from Generation Z alongside experienced leaders for a candid conversation about what it takes to enter, lead, and grow in today’s workplace. Newer professionals will share what has helped them feel welcomed, supported, and set up for success, while experienced leaders will share what they’re learning about developing, engaging, and retaining the next generation of talent.
Together, they’ll look at where perspectives differ, where they overlap, and what we can learn from one another to create workplaces where people at every stage of their careers can contribute, grow, and thrive.
In this session, you will:
Explore what different generations can learn from one another and how their experiences and perspectives can strengthen the workplace.
Identify ways to help emerging professionals feel welcomed, supported, and set up for success as they enter and grow in the workplace.
Discover practical approaches to developing, engaging, and retaining the next generation of talent while creating a workplace where employees at every career stage can thrive.
John L. Knorek is a Director at Torkildson Katz and provides counsel and representation to employers in all aspects of employment and wrongful discharge law. His practice includes collective bargaining negotiations, affirmative action compliance, mediation and arbitration, as well as training businesses on employment discrimination and preventative personnel practices. He is a founding co-editor of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce’s Desk Manual for Employers and its Model Employer Handbook.
Darin R. Leong is an employment and labor attorney who has represented clients in workplace matters since 2004. His practice includes employment litigation, discrimination and harassment claims, wage and hour compliance, OSHA/HIOSH matters, collective bargaining, workplace investigations, and employer counseling and training. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year in Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment.
Erin Hisano Kogen is the founder of Hisano Kogen LLLC, where she advises employers on employment law and risk management and conducts independent workplace investigations involving allegations of workplace violence, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Her experience also includes practicing at Marr Jones & Wang and serving as a Senior HR Consultant and Staff Attorney at ProService Hawaii. Erin serves on the Boards of Directors of SHRM Hawaii and the Nu?uanu YMCA and has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star.
Breakout Session:
Mega Legal Session:
Real Cases. Multiple Perspectives. Practical Lessons
The law matters. But so do the people, personalities, and perspectives involved.
Employment disputes can be challenging for reasons that go far beyond the legal issues. Personality, conflict, communication, strategy, and differing perspectives can all influence how a case unfolds, and more importantly, how an employer can effectively manage and address performance issues. AI in the workplace by employees, management and human resource professionals has increased efficiency but also created challenges.
In this session, you will:
Understanding Personality & Conflict - Explore how personality dynamics can shape workplace disputes, negotiations, and litigation—and how conflict can be managed effectively.
Increased Use of AI in the Workplace - Insights from the legal experts on how AI has been utilized to help employers and employees but also hear about potential landmines.
Managing Employee Performance Issues - Learn how to effectively communicate employee underperformance and employer’s expectations.
Two Sides of the Story — Hear directly from attorneys who represent employers and attorneys who represent employees. Gain insight into how each side approaches disputes, evaluates risks, develops strategy, and works toward resolution.
Lessons Learned - Hear what practitioners have learned from challenging cases, including what worked, what didn’t, and what they would do differently.
Best Practices - Take away practical strategies for handling workplace issues, minimizing risk, managing conflict, and navigating employment disputes more effectively.
Stephen Hong, SPHR, Director, Human Resources at Travel & Leisure Co., is an experienced HR leader with more than 20 years in hospitality, retail, and technology. Inspired by his first exposure to AI at a SHRM Hawaii Annual Conference, he has become a strong advocate for helping HR professionals move from curiosity to practical application. He brings a people-centered approach to AI adoption, focusing on how technology can improve HR operations, support employees, and help HR lead organizational innovation. Stephen also serves on SHRM Hawaii's Workforce Development Committee and is the instructor for the SHRM AI+HI Specialty Credential Course.
Breakout Session:
AI Ideas to Tools:
Practical Use Cases to Exploring Possibilities
AI has the potential to do much more than answer questions or generate content. This session moves beyond discussions of AI adoption and risk to show how HR professionals can put AI to work solving everyday workplace challenges.
Join Stephen Hong, SPHR, for a live demonstration using Microsoft Copilot and Replit to build three practical HR tools: an Employee Development Assistant, an HR Data Analytics Tool, and an HR Resource Center.
Discover how clear instructions and familiar HR resources can be transformed into useful solutions that support managers and HR teams. You'll leave with fresh ideas and practical starting points for applying AI in your own organization.
In this session, you'll:
Explore practical AI applications using Microsoft Copilot and Replit.
See three HR tools built live to address real-world needs.
Identify opportunities to create similar solutions for your workplace.