Power, Character, and the 20 People Shaping Hawaii’s Future
hawaii today saw 20 local leaders named to the HB20 “20 for the Next 20” cohort, honored for leadership and lasting community impact. Hawaii Business Magazine introduced the cohort in its March issue, with profile pieces published alphabetically beginning March 2 (ET). The recognition aims to highlight individuals whose work in business, education, nonprofit and public life will influence hawaii for decades.
Hawaii honorees and profiles
The HB20 list brings together executives, nonprofit leaders, educators and community builders already active across hawaii. The cohort includes Zack Hernandez, CEO of AEP Hawaii; Kapua Chandler, who founded Kaua‘i’s first tuition-free public middle school rooted in ʻāina-based education; and Chelsie Evans, who grew her agency HCA from $1. 5 million to $10 million serving families in the islands. Profiles in the March issue also spotlight Lance Askildson for launching first-to-market doctoral programs and chairing a regional UN training center, and others working in affordable housing, wealth management, legal services and trust and estate stewardship—areas flagged as critical for hawaii’s resilience.
The package of profiles is presented as a forward-looking roster: editors describe the honorees as grounded in purpose, driven by service and focused on building an inclusive future for hawaii. The selection process involved editorial discussion and reporting to identify leaders whose vision and integrity are expected to shape institutions and communities across the state.
Immediate reactions
“They lead with purpose, elevate their industries and invest in community in ways that will matter for decades to come, ” Kent Coules, publisher of Hawaii Business Magazine, said. That appraisal frames the editorial intent behind HB20 and the effort to surface individuals whose daily work produces generational effects for hawaii families and organizations.
Editorial commentary in the issue places emphasis on character in leadership and on stewardship—how power exercised quietly through service can reshape opportunities across the islands. The selection spans sectors so that the cohort collectively represents business innovation, educational leadership, nonprofit scale-up and legal and financial stewardship, all cited as priorities for hawaii’s next chapter.
What’s next
Readers can follow the HB20 profiles published beginning March 2 (ET) through the month for in-depth portraits of each honoree. Kent Coules and Zack Hernandez are scheduled to appear on a broadcast on Sunday, March 7 (ET) to discuss the cohort and its goals. Organizers and editors say the series is intended to start conversations about leadership, service and sustainable growth as hawaii looks ahead to the coming decades, and further community engagement and reporting on these leaders is expected in the weeks ahead.
