Pacific Century Fellows 2026 gala

After a successful ViVE Los Angeles conference that concluded on Wednesday, I hopped on a flight with my family the next morning and attended the Pacific Century Fellows Hoʻopasifika gala at the ʻAlohilani Hotel in Waikiki. 

My PCF classmate, Linda Miki, was one of the nightʻs four honorees. 

It was a fun evening. I connected with folks I hadn't seen in years. I also recruited a dozen of them to the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Advisor network :)

Pacific Century Fellows

As per its site, The mission of the Pacific Century Fellows Program (PCF) is to unite Hawaiʻi’s emerging leaders from diverse professions and backgrounds to find innovative solutions to the state’s main problems and concerns.

PCF was founded by Mufi Hannemann, Former Honolulu Mayor. He based it on the White House Fellows Program, which he attended in the 1980s.

A highly competitive program, PCF accepts about 25 to 30 candidates each year to assemble the year’s class.

Linda Miki

Linda Miki is a 2006 Pacific Century Fellow and serves on the PCF Board of Directors. She is Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair at Group 70 International (dba G70), a 100+ member multidisciplinary firm specializing in architecture, civil engineering, interior design, and planning.

In 2022, Linda became the first female CEO in G70’s nearly 55-year history, a milestone that reflects her leadership and dedication to advancing the firm’s mission.

As an architect, Linda is passionate about adaptive reuse and resort projects and is committed to applying G70’s value of “creating HOPE for future generations” throughout her work in Hawai‘i and beyond.

She has served on the board of Laulima Ministries International since 2005 and also contributes her knowledge as a member of the YMCA of Honolulu’s Board of Directors.

Enjoy the pics!

Selfie with Linda Miki (CEO, Group 70 International) my PCF classmate from PCF 2006

Selfie with Ryan Umemoto, my PCF classmate

I hadn't seen Jayson Harper (PCF 2009) in years. Was great catching up for a moment.

Selfie with my PCF classmate, Rachael Wong (Founder, One Shared Future)

Catching up with Jacy Youn in the middle (PCF 2004) and Darcie Yukimura (PCF 2007)

Sharene Urakami and I quickly caught our classmate, Lincoln Jacobe, for a selfie; he was quite busy that night with event logistics.

We had to move quick to catch a selfie with PCF Founder and former Mayor of Honolulu, Mufi Hannemann. Left to right: Rachael Wong, Lea Hong, Mufi Hannemann, Pauline Saito, and myself.

I was in recruit mode for the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Advisor network. Mahealani Richardson (PCF 2016) thankfully agreed to join. 

Bettina Mehnert and Architects Hawaii were a very early supporter of Pau Spam, my first email security company. She's now CEO of AHL and a PCF 2004 alumna.

Selfie with my PCF classmate Evan Leong and his wife Kari Leong (PCF 2007)

Catching up with Kamani Kualaau (PCF 2010)

It was a sold out event, with more than 500 in attendance

James Duca (PCF 2009) and Yunji de Nies (PCF 2018), both members of the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Advisor network

Here's the program