Following a month and a half of immersing a group of newly relocated residents into Hawai‘i’s culture, history and community, Movers and Shakas proudly presents the Cohort 5 graduates of its highly-acclaimed Hawai‘i Talent Onboarding Program (HITOP). Twenty-two business executives and leaders representing Hawai‘i’s top companies and organizations acculturated into their new Island home through six weeks of cultural education, community service and leadership training, walking away with a deeper understanding of the true meaning of kuleana and a stronger sense of belonging to Hawai‘i.
“Cohort 5 represents a group of dynamic exceptional leaders in their fields of work, and we congratulate them on going the extra mile to deepening their understanding of their new home as new residents,” said Nicole Lim, Executive Director of Movers and Shakas. “We would like to thank their employers especially those who have been with us since the beginning two years ago as their continued support allows us to continue to fulfill our mission of strengthening Hawaii’s economy and community by helping companies and organizations empower and retain key talent.”
The completion of Cohort 5 also marks two years since HITOP first launched in Spring 2022, acculturating a total of 133 leaders since its inception.
“Since HITOP launched two years ago, Bank of Hawai‘i proudly sponsored 19 of our leaders and some of their spouses because the program provides a valuable experience for our incoming talent to develop as leaders in our business and community,” said Peter Ho, Chairman, President & CEO at Bank of Hawai‘i. “For 125 years, we’ve been a bank with an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right for our customers and our communities, and HITOP’s vision aligns with ours.”
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda provided congratulatory remarks to Cohort 5 at the end of the program during the graduation ceremony.
“Congratulations to the HITOP Cohort 5 graduates on the commitment they have made to first learn, understand, and engage with the community and culture of Hawai‘i as they put down roots and make this place home,” said Rep. Tokuda. “Mahalo to everyone who has made HITOP a success, making it their mission to prepare new residents and leaders to better understand our people, our land, and our culture. I look forward to seeing where this new journey takes them and how they will help shape our community.”
The following executives and leaders are members of HITOP’s Cohort 5:
| COMPANY | GRADUATE | TITLE |
| Atlas Insurance | Natalie Henrikson | Account Manager III, Commercial Lines |
| Bank of Hawai‘i | Curtis Fessler | SVP & Senior Wealth Strategist |
| Emily Kahumoku-Fessler | (Spouse of Curtis Fessler) | |
| Bank of Hawai‘i | Stephanie Anderson | Manager of Trust Tax |
| Bank of Hawai‘i | Jeffry Barno | SVP & Director, Financial Planning & Analysis |
| Erika Marquez | (Spouse of Jeff Barno) | |
| Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i | McKenna Dale | Manager of Workforce Development |
| Hawai‘i Pacific Health | Abby Otto | Obstetrician/Gynecologist |
| HMSA | Jenny Smith | Chief Financial Officer |
| HONBLUE | Darren Straka | Business Development Manager |
| Howard Hughes Corporation | Albert Alix | Development Associate |
| John A. Burns School of Medicine | Jen Hayashi | Resident Doctor |
| Kahala Nui | Audrey Morabito | VP & CFO |
| Koa Restoration & Maintenance | Steve Putnam | COO |
| Marine Corps Base Hawaii | Andrew Yager | Director, S-3 Operations Training |
| Teach for America | Lily Brossus | Teacher, Leihoku Elementary School |
| Teach for America | Troy Ballard | Partner, Troy W. Ballard, Attorney at Law |
| US Army Pacific | Bob Louden | Integrated Prevention Advisory Group (I-PAG) Program Manager |
| US Army Pacific | Carmen Hubbs | Records and Information Manager |
| US Army Pacific | Vince Holman | Civilian Deputy Surgeon |
| US Army Pacific | Christine Santos | Human Resources Specialist |
| Zippy’s Restaurants | Crystal Kelly | VP of HR |
SUPPORT FROM HAWAI‘I’S COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PARTNERS
Cohort 5’s six-week program included three community workdays with participating partners Ka‘ala Farm, Hale Kipa and The Pantry by Feeding Hawai‘i Together, as well as leadership training workshops, networking events and talk-story sessions through partnerships with Leadership Works, ‘Iolani Palace, cultural practitioners, and community leaders such as Senator Glenn Wakai.
HELPING NEW RESIDENTS DEEPEN THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING IN HAWAI‘I
Based on surveys from past cohorts, 100% of participants improved their understanding of the host culture, 89% improved their sense of Hawai‘i as home, and 90% of participants improved their work effectiveness and deepened their sense of belonging in Hawai‘i. Additionally, many of the companies that participated in the inaugural cohort continued enrollment in its subsequent cohorts including Cohort 5.
“Like other native Hawaiians who weren’t born in Hawai‘i or spent many years away from the Islands, I moved home two years ago full time to reconnect with my culture and roots,” said Lily Brossus, Cohort 5 Graduate and Teacher at Leihōkū Elementary School in Wai‘anae. “As an educator, I already have a strong sense of community, however, I wanted to enroll in a program like HITOP to develop as a leader in my community and underscore my commitment and kuleana as a servant to my lāhui.”
Enrollment registration is now open online for HITOP’s Cohort 6 next Fall. For more information, please visit www.moversandshakas.org/enroll.
About Movers and Shakas
Movers and Shakas is a non-profit that runs place-based, community orientation programs designed to empower and retain recently relocated key talent to learn, contribute and connect in their new home, Hawaiʻi. For more information on the Hawaii Talent Onboarding Program and other programs, visit www.moversandshakas.org.