Hot Shots – 2/4/26

Photo courtesy General Contractors Association of Hawai‘i

Contractors Building A Workforce

General Contractors Association of Hawai‘i recently raised more than $130,000 for the GCA Education Foundation’s workforce development initiatives. Pictured are (front row, from left) Dale Sakamoto Yoneda, board member of GCA Education Foundation; Cheryl Walthall, executive director of GCA; and Thalia Choy, president of GCA Education Foundation; and (back row, from left) Mike Venezia, treasurer of GCA Education Foundation; Michael Young, president of GCA in 2024; Russell Inouye, president of GCA in 2025; and Ken Spence, vice president of GCA Education Foundation.

Photo courtesy The Institute for Human Services

Donation Drive Benefits IHS

7-Eleven Hawai‘i’s recent donation drive raised $22,000 for The Institute for Human Services. Pictured at the check presentation are (from left) Dylan Yamamoto, development coordinator for IHS; Danielle Takahashi, customer experience and community manager for 7-Eleven Hawai‘i; and Steven Tseu, director of philanthropy and community relations for IHS.

Photo courtesy FAMES Hawai‘i

Organization Announces Awards

FAMES Hawai‘i recently held its 21st Scholarship and Fundraising Gala at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Seven students and seven Innovative Entrepreneur Rising Stars with less than two years as business owners received $1,000 each for a total of $14,000 from FAMES Hawai‘i. Pictured (from left) are Margie Jose, president of FAMES Hawai‘i; Joni Redick-Yundt, founder and CEO of FAMES Hawai‘i; and the Innovative Entrepreneur Rising Stars Dusty Slagill; Shamille Pacson; Jhessa Malacas; Jaslyn Loftin; John Visaya and Yoji Eguchi; Uakea Egami; and Sophia Crane. Photo courtesy FAMES Hawai‘i