Our 21st Annual Five Star Aloha Gala

The Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce of Northern California is pleased to announce our 21st Annual Five Star Aloha Gala on Friday, May 26th, starting at 5:30pm 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 Hawaii through Northern California and beyond. All proceeds go to helping fund our scholarship program foundation and organization.

This year, we are pleased to honor Mana Up as our 2023 Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu Award recipient. Mana Up is a statewide initiative that supports entrepreneurs in Hawaiʻi, providing them with resources and tools to scale globally. Many of the makers and artisans who participate in its program have been recognized internationally for their products and find their success in connection to home, through incorporating locally sourced ingredients to Hawai‘i culture into their products. Past awardees have included Chenoa Farnsworth of Blue Startups, Sig Zane Designs, Andy Bumatai, Nainoa Thompson & The Polynesian Voyaging Society, Dave Shoji, Jan Yanehiro, Chef Sam Choy, The Brothers Cazimero, 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 over $100,000 to 46 recipients over the past 18 years, which would not be possible without our incredible sponsors, supporters, and community gathering for our galas.

If you are unable to attend the Gala, but would still like to make a donation, please click the button to the right

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Program & Details

The 21st Annual Five Star Aloha Gala
Friday, May 26th, 2023 | 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 5:30-6:00pm.

5:30 pm
Arrival and Cocktail Reception
Live Hawaiian Music by Faith Ako & Friends

6:00 pm
Welcome by Emcee
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

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: RICK QUAN

Rick Quan is an Emmy award winning journalist with more than 35 years experience as a television broadcaster. He is currently the 5, 6 and 10 pm news anchor for KITV4, the ABC affiliate in Honolulu, Hawaii. Before moving to Honolulu in 2020, Rick worked as a sportscaster for the CBS and ABC affiliates in San Francisco and was the first full time Asian American male anchor in the Bay Area. He has also produced numerous award winning documentaries on Asian American pioneers.

HAWAIIAN MUSIC ARTIST: FAITH AKO

As the San Francisco Bay Area’s premier award winning female artist in Traditional/Contemporary Hawaiian music, Faith Ako has graced her audiences with her charismatic personality and aloha for everyone. Her new album, Ku‘u ‘Āina, Aloha, speaks to her birthplace on the windward side of O‘ahu where Faith and her 14 siblings were raised and where her heart is truly at peace. Her CD, which includes six original compositions, is important to her as it weaves together stories and memories of her home and the beauty of O‘ahu. It also includes a few of her favorite hula standards. (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 Honolulu 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.” (https://naleihulu.org/about/kumu-patrick-makuakane)

SPECIAL SPEAKER INTRODUCING MANA UP: SENATOR DONOVAN DELA CRUZ

Donovan M. Dela Cruz is a Hawaii state senator from District 17, which encompasses Wahiawā, Whitmore, portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, Launani Valley, and Waipi’o Acres. Senator Dela Cruz, born and raised in Wahiawa, is a graduate of Leilehua High School, the University of Oregon where he earned a BA in Journalism and Communication Studies, and Masters in Organization Leadership from Argosy University.

Senator Dela Cruz is the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. He serves on boards and is a member of various organizations nationally and locally such as the National Council of Environmental Legislators, National Association of Latino Elected Officials and Leeward Community College Culinary Institute Board just to name a few. Prior to becoming senator, he also served on the Honolulu City Council for eight years, serving as its Chair for three years, being the youngest chair in the history of the Council, at age 30.

Some of the programs that Senator Dela Cruz has been invited to and participated in are such programs as the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Gettysburg Leadership Experience; Emerging Leaders Program, University of Virginia; American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) Exchange Program to Australia; and the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs Leadership Workshop at the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education.

Senator Dela Cruz was instrumental in initiating the Whitmore Project, a detailed plan to revitalize Central Oahu by re-establishing agricultural dominance in our local ag industry by bringing farmers and the state together to increase local food production, create jobs, engage in partnerships, and to provide workforce housing resulting in creation of jobs and promoting economic development.

Mana Up

Meli James (left) and Brittany Heyd (right)

Mana Up is a statewide initiative that supports entrepreneurs in Hawaiʻi, providing them with resources and tools to scale globally. Many of the makers and artisans who participate in its program have been recognized internationally for their products and find their success in connection to home, through incorporating locally sourced ingredients to Hawaiʻi culture into their products. As these entrepreneurs continue to grow, they also help to sustain the local community through economic diversification, local job creation, givebacks, investment, and a regenerative culture of entrepreneurship.

Mana Up’s vision is to help these businesses through an accelerator program, online and in-store marketplaces, and a venture capital fund.

Its goal is to create Hawaiʻi’s next 100 product companies earning over $10 million in annual revenue, and based here in Hawaiʻi.

In 2017, Mana Up launched its small-business accelerator and has helped 74 companies to date.

In 2021, Mana Up launched its first venture capital fund with $6.3 million to offer much-needed funding for Hawaiʻi product companies to get to the next level.

The House of Mana Up is an online store and operates four brick-and-mortar shops across O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island that feature products from entrepreneurs who participated in the Mana Up accelerator program.

Mana Up is led by its two co-founders, Meli James and Brittany Heyd.

Prior to Mana Up, Meli cofounded her first company, Nirvino, a #1 ranked wine app, an Apple Platform Top 100 App, and Top Ten Lifestyles App in 2007. Meli moved back home and brought her Silicon Valley startup experience to Hawaiʻi accelerators Blue Startups and the University of Hawaiʻi’s Venture Accelerator. Meli has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of five Women to Watch and as one of eight Women Leaders Who Are Disrupting Entrepreneurship. Meli is a graduate of and entrepreneur in residence at Cornell University. She is also the President of the Hawaiʻi Venture Capital Association.

Brittany was co-founder and managing director at 1776 where she grew the organization from idea to global business including a $12.5 million venture fund, five locations, events in 75 cities across the world, and a software platform called Union. In 2020, she was recognized by Hawaiʻi Business Magazine on its 20 for the Next 20 list and in 2021, she was named by Pacific Business News as an honoree of its annual Women Who Mean Business Awards. Heyd holds a Juris Doctor / Masters of Public Policy from Georgetown University and a Bachelors of Arts from the University of San Diego.

Food & Beverage

We will feature multiple award winning restaurants and local San Francisco Bay Area favorites. Past events have included The Slanted Door, La Mar, Perle, Aloha Fresh & Beard Papas Cupertino. 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 are excited to announce Petrified Forest Vineyards as our official Wine Sponsor for the event. 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. Spots are currently available for F&B sponsors. If interested in your restaurant or brand joining us, please reach out to us at gala@hccnc.org.

2023 Food and Beverage Sponsors

Sponsors & Supporters

Southwest Airlines is our official 2023 Five Star Sponsor. We welcome additional sponsors at this time. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please reach out to us at gala@hccnc.org.

2023 Five Star Sponsor

2023 No E Ka Oi Sponsors

2023 Aloha Sponsors & Table Sponsors

2023 Mahalo Sponsors

Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu Award Presentation

We will be presenting our HCCNC Foundation 2023 Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu Scholarship awards per our annual program tradition. We have awarded over $100,000 to 46 recipients over the past 18 years. This scholarship program would not be possible without the support for the gala and from our sponsors, supporters, and community.

Virtual Auction

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 22, 2023 through May 29, 2023.

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!

2023 Supporters

Prizes & Giveaways

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!

Tables & Tickets

Due to the popularity of this event, we are limiting event 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:

Aloha Gala - No Ka Oi Sponsorship $3,000 (includes large table seating in front row)
Aloha Sponsor $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 what option you would prefer. We will follow up with you to secure your option and payment.