2021 Five Star “Virtual” Aloha Gala

The Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce of Northern California will have our Annual Five Star Aloha Gala, held virtually, on Friday, September 10th, 2021. This is our organization’s signature event and serves as a venue for honoring individuals and organizations with our Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu (Strive for the Summit) Award for contributions in promoting the Aloha Spirit from Hawaii through Northern California and beyond. All proceeds go to helping fund our scholarship program foundation and organization.

The virtual gala will feature live Hawaiian music from award winning musicians, the presentation of our 2021 HCCNC scholarship awards and their recipients, and the presentation of our 2021 Kūlia I Ka Nu‘u award to Chenoa Farnsworth, Managing Partner at Blue Startups.

About CHENOA

Chenoa Farnsworth is the managing partner of Blue Startups, a top 20 U.S. Accelerator, located in Honolulu, Hawaii. To date, Blue Startups has invested in 82 companies which have gone one to raise $120 million in venture capital. She also manages the Hawaii Angels investment network, which has invested over $60 million in over 100 startup companies. In 2010 she founded Hi Impact, a Hawaii-based impact investment organization which led to the establishment of the Impact HUB Honolulu in 2012, a co-working space dedicated to social entrepreneurs.

In 2006, she co-founded Kolohala Ventures, a Hawai‘i-based venture capital firm that invested $50 million into Hawai‘i-based technology start-ups. Prior to that she provided strategy development and business planning consultation for start-up companies and high-growth businesses through her company Farnsworth Consulting. Farnsworth has served the community as chair of the Women’s Fund of Hawai‘i, director of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association, director of the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawaii, director of the Impact HUB Honolulu, and judge for the University of Hawai‘i business plan competition. Farnsworth earned a BA in political science from the University of California at Santa Cruz and an executive MBA from the University of Hawai‘i.

Introduction by Maya Rogers

Maya Rogers is a cofounder and partner at Blue Startups and the CEO of Blue Planet Software, the sole agent for the Tetris® brand. Since 2007, she has lead the global business initiatives for Tetris, one of the leading and most distinctive video game brands and franchises in the world

purchasing Tickets

Gala ticket sales are now open to the public! We also welcome any person or organization that would like to show their kōkua as a Gala Sponsor. Please contact us at gala@hccnc.org for more information. We also are currently accepting silent auction items on a limited basis, and welcome any in-kind contributions for this and/or cash donations.

Program and Details

Annual Five Star “Virtual” Aloha Gala
Friday, September 10th, 2021
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (Pacific DT)
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm (Hawaii ST)

Master of Ceremonies: Derrick DeMotta aka "Bruddah Derrick"
Derrick DeMotta aka "Bruddah Derrick, The Mouth of the South...Bay".

5:50pm
Hawaiian Music
Please join us early for music by Grammy-nominated winning Hawaiian music artist Faith Ako

6:00pm
Welcome & Event Kickoff
Welcome and kick-off by event Master of Ceremonies, Derrick DeMotta
Message from the President of the HCCNC Board of Directors

6:15pm
Presentation of the HCCNC Foundation Scholarships
Presentation of the 2021 HCCNC Foundation Scholarships
Messages from our 2021 scholarship awardees

6:20pm
Special Guest Message & 1st Prize Drawing
Special guest appearances and messages from Jan Yanehiro & Patrick Landeza
Followed by our 1st prize drawing

6:30pm
Presentation of the 2021 Kūlia I Ka Nu‘u Award
Introduction by Maya Rogers, Partner at Blue Startups & CEO of Blue Planet Software
Presentation of the Kūlia I Ka Nu‘u Award to Chenoa Farnsworth, Managing Partner of Blue Startups

6:40pm
Grand Prize Drawings
Grand prize drawings and live announcement of winners
Prizes include multiple round trip Southwest Airlines tickets, gift cards, and other items from generous donors

6:50pm
Closing Remarks
Closing remarks from our event Master of Ceremonies and the HCCNC Board of Directors

6:55pm
Hawai‘i Aloha
Join us in HCCNC tradition for a group sing-along of Hawai‘i Aloha to end the night

Five Star Sponsor