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Member Spotlight: Christine Mai‘i Sakuda of Transform Hawaii Government

Our ongoing series of Member Spotlights highlights the great work that our members are doing across their fields in Hawaii. Christine Sakuda of Transform Hawaii Government (THG) is a local organization that seeks to improve and modernize the Hawaii state government.

You can learn more about the organization here:

THG has hosted multiple events here at Impact Hub HNL, and we look forward to hosting more of these interesting and progressive events about how to improve our government from the ground up! Follow our Facebook events page to keep up to date.

I chatted with Christine over email and asked her to tell me more about the work that THG is doing, and why it’s so important.

transform hawaii government

Andrea B (AB): Can you tell me a little bit more about Transform Hawaii Government?

Christine Sakuda (CS): Transform Hawaii Government (THG) advocates for modernization of state government services so that such services can be provided to the public, Hawaii businesses, and even government officials and employees themselves in an efficient, transparent, and meaningful way. Modernization also helps increase availability and access to electronic data, promoting data-based decision-making in shaping Hawaii’s future.

AB: Tell me a little bit more about you – how did this become your role/passion/career?

CS: I’ve been working in the technology transformation space since 1997, starting off in healthcare and recently transitioning to state government with THG. For 15 years, I’ve worked for non-profit organizations, being the first executive director for the most recent organizations: the Hawaii Health Information Exchange and THG. I do not have a formal education in technology but learned on the job, and believe that technology can be a powerful tool to help solve problems and deliver services.

AB: What are some of the biggest issues you see with our state government?

CS: State departments and agencies have traditionally focused on their own department goals in a decentralized manner. These departments matured during a time when technology was nascent, heavily customized, and not user-friendly. Since then, there have been huge advancements in technology that allows for more enterprise (statewide) planning and systems integration to occur; many of these advancements have brought data to the fingertips of mobile device users, but not yet to our government agencies. Citizens expect the state government to keep pace with these advancements and make best efforts to leverage new technologies to deliver services in more efficient and convenient ways.

AB: What can Hawaii citizens do to get more involved in government and transparency?

CS: THG encourages interested individuals to join the THG coalition through our website to stay informed on the state’s progress towards IT modernization as well as learn how to become more active, such as testifying in support of key legislation that advances these efforts.

AB: Can you tell me more about your events that you’ve hosted here?

CS: THG hosted a series of talk story sessions at Impact Hub Honolulu focused on key themes of state modernization: a state IT strategic plan, modernizing infrastructure, open data, cyber-security and more. Impact Hub HNL is an ideal, central venue to bring together subject matter experts and state leadership to discuss these topics to raise awareness of challenges and discuss opportunities for improvement potentially through public policy.

AB: What upcoming events can we look forward to in 2019?

CS: THG’s speaker series will be returning to Impact Hub HNL in the New Year. We are in the process of developing our 2019 calendar of events and will announce upcoming speaker series topics on our website and through our newsletter. We plan to raise our speaker series to the next level in 2019 by hosting more panel discussions that move these discussions forward. For more information on these events, including Facebook Live video of past presentations, visit our site and select “Events.”

Thanks, Christine, for taking the time to chat with us!

Community Event: East Meets West 2019

East Meets West is THE event for startups and businesses in Hawaii!

East Meets West, created in partnership with Blue Startups and other great local organizations like Hawaii Strategic Development Development Corporation, Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, and Ulupono, is focused on innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship, and brings together experts from Asia, Hawaii, and North America.

This event will showcase global startup trends including cutting edge innovation, influencer marketing, travel, tech, and sustainability.

This is the fifth EMW event, and will be held January 31 and Feb 1. This year features another great list of expert speakers, and features two days of activity. January 31 is a day for ‘Urban Interactive’ activities with sessions in and around downtown Honolulu; the second day offers more formal sessions at the Sheraton Waikiki. See the current schedule and speaker list here.

Tickets are discounted currently – but prices are rising soon. Grab your tickets today at EastMeetsWest.co

Indie Lens Pop-up Series: Join us for Free Films in January, March & April

On January 16 we are hosting our second film in the Indie Lens Pop-up series, which we’re hosting in partnership with Hawai’i Women in Filmmaking, Hawai’i People’s Fund and PBS Hawai’i.

The Indie Lens Pop-Up Series is an opportunity to share riveting, untold stories from around the US, from Maryland to New Mexico to Alabama. This is the seventh year HWF has been a partner for Indie Lens pop-up, and a first for us as a host space.

According to HWF, the Indie Lens Pop-Up series is, “a neighborhood screening series that brings people together for community-driven conversations around documentaries from the award-winning PBS series, Independent Lens on PBS Hawaiʻi. Over the past decade, nearly 6,500 Indie Lens Pop-Up events have brought an estimated 370,000 participants together to discuss issues that impact local communities.”

All films in the series are free and open to the public, and all screenings will be held at Impact Hub HNL from 5pm to 7pm on dates listed below.

Indie Lens Pop-Up 2018-2019 Films and Schedule

The Providers | By Laura Green and Anna Moot-Levin
Date & Time: Wednesday March 13, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm


Set against the backdrop of the physician shortage and opioid epidemic in rural America, The Providers follows three “country doctors” in New Mexico at clinics offering care to all, regardless of ability to pay. As their personal struggles at times reflect those of their patients, the providers work to reach rural Americans who would otherwise be left without healthcare.

Charm City | By Marilyn Ness
Date & Time: Wednesday April 10, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm


Filmed during three years of unparalleled violence in Baltimore, Charm City delivers a powerfully candid portrait of those on the frontlines. With grit, fury, and compassion, a group of police, citizens, community leaders, and government officials grapple with the consequences of violence and try to reclaim their city’s future.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? 
Date & Time: Wednesday April 17, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

For over thirty years, Fred Rogers, an unassuming minister, puppeteer, writer and producer was beamed daily into homes across America. In his beloved television program, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Fred and his cast of puppets and friends spoke directly to young children about some of life’s weightiest issues, in a simple, direct fashion. Though he may be best known today as a soft-spoken, cardigan-wearing children’s television host, in reality, Fred Rogers’ career represents a sustained attempt to present a coherent, beneficent view about how we should best speak to children about important matters and how television could be used as a positive force in our society.

In Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (Twenty Feet from Stardom) looks back on the legacy of Fred Rogers, focusing on his radically kind ideas. While the nation changed around him, Fred Rogers stood firm in his beliefs about the importance of protecting childhood.

Wrestle | By Suzannah Herbert and Lauren Belfer
Date & Time: Wednesday May 8, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

Wrestle is an intimate, inspiring coming of age portrait of the wrestling team at a struggling high school in Huntsville, Alabama. As they fight towards the State Championship, wrestlers Jailen, Jamario, Teague, and Jaquan face injustices and challenges on and off the mat, grappling with obstacles that jeopardize their success, while their coach wades into the complexities of class and race in the South.

Previous films: 

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World | By Catherine Bainbridge and Alfonso Maiorana
Date & Time: Wednesday January 16, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

Rumble brings to light a profound and missing chapter in the history of American music: the Indigenous influence. Featuring music icons Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Jesse Ed Davis, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Robbie Robertson, Randy Castillo, and Taboo, Rumble shows how these pioneering Native musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives.

Meet the Hawaii Freelancer’s Group!

Each month Impact Hub HNL hosts a meeting of the Hawaii Freelancer Network, a group of entrepreneurs and freelancers gathering to share best practices for working as a freelancer – however you define it.

hawaii freelance network

The group was started by two Impact Hub HNL members that had been working in freelance careers for many years, one as a graphic designer and one as a technical writer. It started as a casual lunchtime meetup, and quickly grew into a larger meeting of the minds.

But what is it all about? The Hawaii Freelancer Network is meant to be a free space for connection and collaboration between those working full or part-time freelance, or working as some type of solo working, like ‘digital nomads,’ remote workers, or entrepreneurs just getting started.

At the December event we hosted Member and spreadsheet expert Dean of Dean’s Solutions to discuss spreadsheet tricks and hacks. At the coming January Hawaii Freelancer’s event we will feature Milton Drageset, a tax expert who will discuss how the 2019 tax laws affect entrepreneurs and freelancers.

Some of the meetings feature a speaker or expert in their respective field, but other groups are more or an open discussion between the members. In the various meetings, we’ve brainstormed multiple topics for future group discussions, including the following:

  • Getting Started as a small business or sole proprietor
  • Self branding
  • Collective bargaining
  • How to break up with Bad Clients and Communication with tough clients.
  • How to Charge for ‘Creative- Thinking’ Time
  • When contract relationships feel like employee relationships
  • Freelance vs Full Time: which work works best.
  • Breaking into new markets: B2B marketing vs. B2C marketing.
  • How to build a business plan
  • How to connect business + creatively: creative entrepreneurs & how to monetize creativity
  • Creative brainstorming session: ideation.
  • Productivity hacks.
  • Managing time zones
  • Documentation: invoices, proposals, contracts, etc.
  • How to decrease admin costs?
  • Hiring and firing
  • Learning to say no/tough love
  • How to have hard conversations.
  • Managing workstream with customer: what DONE looks like.

If you work remotely or are just looking to connect with other members, please join our Facebook group or check out our Events calendar to stay tuned to all upcoming events.

Waikiki Brewing Company on Tap at Impact Hub HNL

Cheers to the newest addition to our kitchen: two taps from our friends at Waikiki Brewing Company! We are so excited to offer this beer. Not only is it DELICIOUS, but Waikiki Brewing is our neighbor on Queen Street in our awesome Kakaako neighborhood.

This local brewing company started with a seven barrel facility in Waikiki in 2015. They quickly outgrew that space and just recently opened their second location in Kakaako to expand production. Their newest location is home to 20 barrels and has allowed them to quadruple their production.

WBC takes pride in being a ‘hub’ in their community: not only does their business host dozens of local jobs, and they host community and business events at their locations. The company is also really cognizant about source reduction. They purchase their beer cans from a local facility, donate spent grains to a local farmer, and even upcycle the grain bags after use.

Brewmaster and Partner Joe Lorenzen says, “Our brewery not only has helped to drive our local economy, but has provided a wonderful community gathering place at our pub.” If you wish to learn more about WBC, you can always drop in and chat with the brewers and bartenders to learn more about the beer processes (they don’t currently offer scheduled tours).

They currently have nine beers available on tap at their breweries, and we are lucky to have two available to us. Currently we’re pouring the Ala Moana Amber Ale and the Skinny Jeans IPA. These will rotate so you’ll hopefully get to try their many regulars and specials. Members are welcome to help themselves to beer (at whatever time you consider to be happy hour) and, of course, we ask that you drink responsibly.

Cheers to you and your business!

Impact Hub Global Passport

You have access to a global network of like-minded professionals with the Impact Hub network!

If you’re currently a member of Impact Hub HNL you have access to the global Impact Hub network, which includes about 100 Impact Hubs around the world, from London to Jakarta to Hong Kong to Mexico City.

Your membership at the Honolulu Impact Hub allows you to work at other Impact Hubs for up to three days per year (sometimes more, depending on the local Hub). This means that wherever your work or travels take you, you can connect with a vibrant entrepreneurial community and work done while on the go – wherever you go!

To take advantage of your global passport, check out the Impact Hub Passport site for a list of all the different Hubs around the world.

Please fill out the short form to connect with the local hosts to inquire about a reservation or just walk into the Impact Hub of your choice and let them know you are an Impact Hub Honolulu member. Safe travels!

impact hub global passport