PBN Hawaii Island Means Business

July 05, 2022
On Friday, June 17, Pacific Business News hosted its Hawaii Island Means Business panel event to touch on some of the successes and setbacks affecting the Big Isle business community.

Hosted in-person — for the first time since 2019 — at the Fairmont Orchid in Waimea, the discussion was moderated by A. Kam Napier, Pacific Business News’ editor-in-chief, and featured five panelists including Ross Birch, executive director of the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau; Peggy Farias, president of W.H. Shipman, Limited; Wendy Laros, president and CEO of Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; Rebecca Morton, Hawaii Island general manager of Coldwell Banker Island Properties; and Doug Simons, director of the Institute for Astronomy and president-elect of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce.

Panelists discussed a wide range of issues related to business on Hawaii Island including shortages in labor and housing, tourism, inflation, and how all of the above were affected by the pandemic.

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A. Kam Napier, left, editor of Pacific Business News, moderates the discussion with panelist Ross Birch, second left, Executive Director, Island Hawai’i Visitors Bureau, Peggy Farias, left center, President, W.H. Shipman, Ltd., Wendy Laros, right center, President & CEO, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Wendy Laros, right center, President & CEO, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Rebecca Morton, right, Hawai’i Island General Manager, Coldwell Banker Island Properties, and Doug Simons, center, President Elect, Hawai’i Island Chamber of Commerce, at the Hawaii Island Means Business Event held at the Fairmont Orchid, Friday, June 17, 2022, in Waimea, Hawaii.

EUGENE TANNER | PBN