DRAFT 2/15/26

The Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce of Northern California is pleased to announce our 24th Annual Five Star Aloha Gala on Friday, May 22, 2026, starting at 5:30 p.m. at The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square. 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 Hawaiʻi through Northern California and beyond. All proceeds go to helping fund our scholarship program foundation and organization.

This year, we are pleased to honor Kimi Werner, born and raised on Maui, is an internationally recognized spearfisher, chef, and ocean advocate dedicated to sustainable fishing and conservation. Rooted in the spirit of Aloha, she carries forward values of respect, balance, and interconnectedness in her work across Hawaiʻi and beyond. A U.S. National Spearfishing Champion and award-winning environmentalist, she embodies the spirit of Aloha and bridges ocean exploration, food sustainability, and storytelling to educate and inspire. Having dived in all five of the world’s oceans, Kimi brings rare firsthand insight into marine ecosystems. As a filmmaker, motivational speaker, and Patagonia Provisions ambassador, she partners with mission-driven brands to promote stewardship, coexistence, and a deeper respect for the ocean. Past Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu Award awardees have included Mana Up, Andy Bumatai, Nainoa Thompson & The Polynesian Voyaging Society, Dave Shoji, Jan Yanehiro, The Brothers Cazimero, Chefs Sam Choy, Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, and many others.

The gala will feature the presentation of the Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu Award and the HCCNC Foundation scholarship awards, live Hawaiian music, special guest appearances, plus incredible food, drinks, and of course tons of prizes and giveaways. We have awarded 55 scholarships to deserving students, and given $127,500 in cumulative scholarships, which would not be possible without our incredible sponsors, supporters, and community gathering for our galas.

Scroll down to learn more, or if you want to jump to a page click on one of the images below.

The 24th Annual Five Star Aloha Gala
Friday, May 22nd, 2026 | 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
Golden Gate Room, 32nd floor

Attire: Black-tie optional. This is a formal event.
Please make your best effort to arrive between 5:30-5:50pm.

5:30 pm
Arrival and Cocktail Reception
Live Hawaiian Music

6:00 pm
Welcome by Mistress of Ceremonies
Mele Oli
Dinner & Live Hawaiian Music

7:00 pm
President’s Welcome & Message
Announcement of the HCCNC Foundation Scholarship Awards
Presentation of the Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu Award

8:00 pm
Prize Drawings and Giveaways

8:15 pm
Ceremonial Farewell and Singing of Hawaiʻi Aloha

Arrival and Parking:
We strongly recommend using Uber/Lyft or Taxi if possible due to traffic and parking. If you do choose to drive and park, please note we do not have validation for parking. You can park at either The Westin (more info here - valet is additional) or the lower priced Union Square Garage (more info here) directly in front of the Westin.

Some Program Highlights

MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES: JAN YANEHIRO

Jan Yanehiro helped pioneer the magazine format on television as co-host of “Evening Magazine,” a nightly program in San Francisco that ran for 15 years on KPIX-CBS5. Born and raised in Honolulu, Jan is a proud graduate of Farrington High School, Class of ’66! She’s won an Emmy, the Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction Award, the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award and is a past recipient of the Kulia I Ka Nu’u Award (2014). She is the Chair of Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Legacy Board and is on the board of The San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association. She has hosted 8 documentaries on the incarceration and redress of Japanese Americans during World War II. Jan has 3 adult children and is a grandmother of 3—so far.

HAWAIIAN MUSIC ARTIST: FAITH AKO

Award winning Hawaiian musician Faith Ako releases her first jazz genre album titled Ho‘okanikapila, Maui this month with childhood friend and musician, Tarvin Makia of Kīhei, Maui. As the Bay Area’s premier female artist in Traditional/Contemporary Hawaiian music, this is Faith’s fifth album and her first foray into the jazz genre. This new project, “Let’s make Music, Maui,” features Faith’s powerful, sultry voice and blends them with Tarvin’s deep rich baritones. The album features some of Maui’s finest musicians on bass, keyboards, percussion and drums, ukulele and guitar. With past performances across the West Coast, East Coast, Japan, Hawai‘i and Pacific Northwest, Faith’s fans will recognize her charismatic personality shine through in her curated song list including: “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Girl from Ipanema,” and “Don’t Know Why.” To learn more, visit www.faithakomusic.com.

OLI: kumu hulA PATRICK MAKUAKĀNE

Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne is the founder and director of Hālau Nā Lei Hulu i ka Wēkiu of San Francisco, California. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Kumu Patrick studied with several of Hawaiʻi’s most revered hula masters: John Keola Lake, Robert Uluwehi Cazimero and Mae Kamāmalu Klein. In 2003, he received the title of Kumu Hula through a traditional ʻūniki ʻailolo ceremony curated by Mrs Klein. While a passionate preserver of traditional hula, his artistry also crafts a provocative treatment of tradition that leaps forward in surprising and meaningful ways. In the past few years, he has been a recipient of the prestigious Hewlett 50 Arts Commission and the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Legacy Grant. In 2022, Kumu Patrick was given a special Lifetime Achievement Kulia I Ka Nuʻu Award from the Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. He says, “To be recognized by an esteemed organization like HCCNC is humbling and inspiring. He mea waiwai nō.” In 2023, Kumu Patrick was named a MacArthur Fellow, often known as the “genius” award, for blending traditional hula with contemporary music and movements and uplifting Hawaiian culture and history. (https://naleihulu.org/about/kumu-patrick-makuakane)

Kimi Werner

Kimi Werner, born and raised on the island of Maui, is internationally renowned not only for her extraordinary underwater abilities, but also for her unwavering commitment to sustainable fishing practices and ocean conservation. Deeply shaped by her island upbringing, Kimi embodies the spirit of Aloha—a philosophy rooted in respect, balance, and interconnectedness—which she continues to share with communities across Hawaiʻi and around the world.

A United States National Spearfishing Champion, Kimi is also a certified culinary chef and an award-winning environmentalist. This rare combination of skills allows her to seamlessly bridge the worlds of ocean exploration, food sustainability, and storytelling, using each as a platform to educate and inspire. She has dived in all five of the world’s oceans, from the icy waters of the Arctic to the remote depths of the Antarctic, gaining a profound, firsthand understanding of the planet’s diverse marine ecosystems.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Kimi is a powerful and respected voice for the oceans. As a filmmaker, environmental advocate, and motivational speaker, she draws on her lived experiences to highlight the importance of responsible harvesting, conservation, and humanity’s relationship with nature. She serves as a Patagonia Provisions ambassador and has partnered with leading brands such as Patagonia, YETI, Maui Jim Sunglasses, and Riffe International—collaborations grounded in shared values of authenticity, stewardship, and environmental responsibility.

Among her many accomplishments, one of the most transformative moments of Kimi’s life was swimming alongside a great white shark—an experience that deepened her respect for apex predators and reinforced her belief in coexistence over fear.

Today, Kimi’s daily life and work are seamless fusion of purpose and practice. Guided by sustainability and rooted in education and stewardship, she is dedicated to fostering a healthier relationship between people and the ocean while helping to build a more conscious, resilient future for our global community.

We will feature multiple award winning restaurants and local San Francisco Bay Area favorites. We’ll also have the classic Westin St. Francis food stations which will include the savory Whole Roaster Top Round of Beef with Roasted Garlic Aioli, complementing items, and their Executive Pastry Chef’s assorted desserts spread.

We will provide complimentary wine and beer at the event. In addition to the complimentary beverages, there will be a cash bar available for additional drinks and beverages.

Food and Beverage Sponsors

(The sponsor list below reflects our valued partners from last year. The 2026 sponsor list will be published soon.)

Southwest Airlines is our official 2026 Five Star Sponsor. We are grateful to all of our sponsors for their support which ensures we can continue being a bridge between Northern California and Hawai‘i, and building on those relationships.

~~ 2026 Five Star Sponsor ~~

(The sponsor list below reflects our valued partners from last year. The 2026 sponsor list will be published soon.)

~~ Nō E Ka ʻOi Sponsors ~~

~~ Aloha Sponsors ~~

~~ Mahalo Sponsors ~~

We will be presenting our HCCNC Foundation 2026 Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu Scholarship awards per our annual program tradition. Since 2005 we’ve awarded 55 scholarships to deserving students, and given $127,500 in cumulative scholarships. This scholarship program would not be possible without the support for the gala and from our sponsors, supporters, and community.

We will feature a virtual auction at this year’s gala. Items will include tickets to popular sporting events, airline tickets and miles, hotel stays across the world, restaurant gift certificates, and so much more. The auction will be available May 18 through May 25, 2026.

We welcome supporters and sponsors via donations to the virtual auction. If you are interested in supporting our gala, scholarship program and organization with a donation please send us a note at gala@hccnc.org, we’d really appreciate it!

~~ Auction Supporters ~~

(The auction supporters list below reflects our valued partners from last year. The 2026 sponsor list will be published soon.)

Every year at our Aloha Gala we have a set of prizes and giveaways for attendees. These have included candies from world renowned Big Island Candies to assortments of wine to multiple pairs of roundtrip Southwest Airlines domestic and international flights. Each attendee is eligible for the prize drawings which we’ll announce in the coming months.

If interested in donating any giveaways to attendees, prizes during the event, etc, please send us a note at gala@hccnc.org, we’d really appreciate it!

Due to the popularity of this event, we are limiting ticket sales at this time to large and small table sales only. We may offer individual ticket sales at a later date. Here are the table purchase and cash donation options:

• No Ka Oi spnsorship $3,000 (includes large table in front row)

• Aloha spnsor $1,000-$2,500 cash sponsor

• Aloha Gala: large table (10 seats) $2,500

• Aloha Gala: small table (4 seats) $1,000

If you are interested in joining or supporting us through any of the options above, please respond immediately to gala@hccnc.org and let us know which option you would prefer. We will follow up with you to secure your option and payment.