Growing, Learning, and Showing Up for Hawaiʻi’s Future

This past month, Team GSD Hawaii was privileged to participate in events that deepened our understanding of Hawaiʻi’s economy, innovation, and the evolving world of digital marketing. These experiences are helping us better serve our clients in commercial sales, commercial leasing, and residential sales by staying informed, connected, and forward-thinking.

Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce’s Hawaiʻi Economic Forum 2026

We were honored to attend the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce’s Hawaiʻi Economic Forum 2026, featuring moderator Kainoa Carlson and a powerful panel of experts: economist Gerard H. Dericks, NHO specialist Derek Sakaguchi, and executive leader Keane Akao.

Their combined expertise and manaʻo offered meaningful insight into the current and future state of Hawaiʻi’s economy, the role of Native Hawaiian organizations, and the importance of intentional, community-minded development. The discussion reinforced how critical it is for businesses like ours to balance opportunity with responsibility, and to ground decision-making in data, lived experience, and aloha for our communities.

Applying Insights to Real Estate

The forum highlighted themes that directly connect to what we do every day in commercial and residential real estate.

• The importance of long-term, sustainable planning when investing in or developing property.

• The role of Native Hawaiian leadership and organizations in shaping a more equitable economic future.

• How local businesses can align their strategies with broader economic trends while still honoring culture and community.

These conversations continue to influence how Team GSD Hawaii approaches client representation, from evaluating opportunities to advising on risk, growth, and community impact.

Workshop with Filmmaker & Content Architect Salmon Pake

We also attended an inspiring workshop with Salmon Pake, an award-winning Native Hawaiian filmmaker and content architect. She shared the importance of digital marketing in today’s modern world and how thoughtful storytelling can elevate brands, connect with the right audiences, and create meaningful engagement rather than just noise.

She also introduced practical AI tools that businesses can use to streamline content creation, improve consistency, and better understand their audiences.

What This Means for Our Clients

All of this learning has one clear purpose: to better serve our clients and community.

• We are sharpening our economic awareness to better advise on buying, selling, and leasing decisions.

• We are embracing modern digital and AI tools to communicate more effectively and keep our clients informed.

• We remain rooted in Native Hawaiian values and perspectives as we navigate Hawaiʻi’s evolving real estate landscape.

  
  

Team GSD Hawaii is a Native- Hawaiian led team committed to continuous growth, grounded in kuleana to our clients and our home. Mahalo to the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, the panelists, and to Salmon Pake for sharing their time, knowledge, and manaʻo.