During his decades in Hawaii’s food industry Derek has been a tireless advocate for local food. As Executive Vice President at KTA Super Stores he spearheads their Mountain Apple Brand, a unique line of Hawaii made and grown products. He also produces and hosts two shows celebrating the people and culture of Hawaii: People Living in Paradise and Seniors Living in Paradise.

Over the years he has lent his talents to HFIA in many ways. He is one of the association’s longest standing members of the Executive Committee and has led the association twice as Chair. During his second term, Derek initiated the HFIA Legislative Talk Story. By creating spaces for legislators and industry leaders to meet, Derek helped create a positive dialogue that enables cooperation on shared goals. Derek is extremely generous with his time and knowledge. Every year, over the past few decades, Derek has donated his time and energy to light up the stage of Made in Hawaii Festival, as the event’s emcee. People from all over the state come to enjoy his personality and warmth.

Derek’s genuine love for local food and happiness in sharing it with others is evident to everyone who has had the pleasure of meeting him. Through all his many contributions to our industry, Derek shows each day the hard work he is willing to do to promote made in Hawaii products, feed Hawaii families, and make local food more accessible to everyone.

Those who knew Charles Kawakami say he was a consummate businessman who had a deep connection to the Garden Isle. “He definitely was a person of the community,” said Randy Francisco, small business coordinator for Creative Industries and former president of the Chamber of Commerce. “As busy as he was, he was always about giving back because he never forgot where he come (from) or whom he served and stores and the company himself.”

For Glenn Muranaka, it’s all about absorbing knowledge to gain wisdom—wisdom that would turn a company around from a tough period in its history. Muranaka didn’t start out that way; his beginnings were pretty rough. But HFIA’s 2016 Ni‘o Award of Excellence honoree and Hall of Fame inductee had a life-changing spiritual awakening that shaped his life and rise to become President and General Manager of Meadow Gold Dairies—a company that has been a part of the fabric of Hawaii for 119 years. But Muranaka takes no credit. Instead, he lives a life of gratitude for what he has, and for Meadow Gold’s success. The company’s success has allowed Meadow Gold to have serving the community as a top priority—or rather, Muranaka would perhaps say that success comes in part by serving the community.

Being in the spotlight is not Barry Taniguchi’s style. He was a bit embarrassed about the attention he was receiving as the newest inductee to the HFIA Hall of Fame. There is little to nothing that the KTA Super Stores Chair of the Board and CEO will take credit for when it comes to accomplishments, instead pointing to a group effort, or laughing it off when others would consider him a financial whiz… What he does acknowledge are the family values that have shaped him, some of which have become even richer and more meaningful as he discovered things about his family’s history much later in life.

The story of Tamura Enterprises is rooted in four generations of family history. It began with a 600 square foot store – Tamura Shoten – opened by Makitaro Tamura on the Old Government Road, the main street of Waianae. In 1994, Herb and son Glenn decided to start a new father and son business venture independent of Tamura Super. So in January of 1995, they established Tamura Enterprises, Inc., they soon purchased Big Way Super Market in Wahiawa. In 1998, with Glenn as president and Herb as Chairman, they decided to try a niche market venture in Kakaako called Tamura’s Fine Wines & Liquors. After a three and a half year trial with positive growth, they found a permanent home for the new store at 10th and Waialae avenues in Kaimuki. New opportunities kept coming. In 2003, the Tamuras purchased property for a warehouse and outlet store. In 2004, the opportunity to buy Big Way Drive In presented itself. Today is known as Tamura’s Kitchen. At the end of 2003 the father and son team also opened Tamura’s Market in the Hauula Shopping Center. Four years later, a second Tamura’s Fine Wine & Liquors opened in the Aikahi Shopping Center in Kailua. A year later, another opened in Aiea. Then came Tamura’s Market Kalaeloa. In 2013, Tamura Enterprises ventured to Maui with a liquor store in Kahalui. More construction on Maui is underway!

The first of the ABC Stores opened in 1964, but the chain of stores can be seen as a part of a business evolution that traces across three generations to the early part of the 20th century. Sidney and Minnie Kosasa played the pivotal and leading role in this evolution. It started with a grocery store established by Sidney’s parents to a chain of pharmacies to the ABC convenience stores, and now full circle to some gourmet markets.

A very active member of Hawaii Food Industry Association and past President/Chairman of HFIA, Rodger Godfrey had an incredibly impressive career in Hawaii’s food industry. During his tenure as HFIA’s Chairman from 1996-1997 Godfrey was Division President of Fleming Companies, Inc where he was honored with the Chairman’s Award, Fleming’s highest honor.

His career took him from San Jose to managing wholesale grocery operations in Hawaii, and then a move to Foodland Supermarkets as Director of Distribution. After Fleming Mr. Godfrey took an offer from the Teruya family, owners of Times Supermarkets, to help them sell the supermarket chain. He agreed to work as a consultant for John Quinn but realized that significant changes would need to take place so he became president in 2002 and agreed to work with Quinn for five years.