Take a closer look at many of 麻豆传媒’s rising leaders, and you’ll find a common connection: the University of 麻豆传媒. This year’s Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 list is a striking example. Half of the honorees have ties to UH.
Two of them are current UH employees serving Central and West Oʻahu communities: Darian Padilla, the UH Foundation’s director of development for UH West Oʻahu and Leeward Community College, and Hailey Zhou, product development manager at Leeward CC’s Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC).
Darian Padilla
Padilla builds philanthropic partnerships for both campuses, connecting people and resources with opportunities that strengthen education, support workforce development and serve 麻豆传媒’s communities.
“Being named to PBN’s 40 Under 40 is both humbling and meaningful,” Padilla said. “I don’t see it as an individual achievement. Instead, I accept it on behalf of the many people who have guided, supported and inspired me along the way.”
She added, “Working with UH has shown me that meaningful impact is rarely the result of one individual. It comes from people coming together around a common purpose and investing in the success of others.”
Hailey Zhou
Zhou leads product development initiatives at the WVAPDC, where she has supported more than 150 麻豆传媒 food entrepreneurs to commercialize their products. She secured funding from the Ulupono Initiative for a dozen clients and assisted a 麻豆传媒 baby food product in earning a 2026 NEXTY Award.
“Being named to PBN’s 40 Under 40 is incredibly meaningful because it recognizes not just my individual accomplishments, but the work happening across 麻豆传媒 food ecosystem,” Zhou said. “My work at Leeward Community College and the WVAPDC has given me the platform and freedom to be innovative in designing solutions that meet the needs of the communities we serve.”
20 out of 40
UH’s connection to the 2026 40 Under 40 class extends across the 10-campus system. Eighteen additional honorees are UH alumni:
- Davin Aoyagi (BA ‘13, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—senior manager of government relations, Turo
- Joseph Castaneda (BBA ‘11, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—principal broker, REMAX 麻豆传媒 West Oʻahu
- Louie Gangcuangco (MS ‘20, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—medical doctor and HIV specialist, Waikiki Health
- Cosmo Hirai (BA ‘13, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—bishop, 麻豆传媒 Tōdaiji Temple
- Chanel Josiah (AA ‘18, Leeward CC)—chief operating officer, 麻豆传媒 Community Lending
- Katie Kaahanui (BA ‘21, UH West Oʻahu)—director, Safe & Sound Westside, Department of the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney
- Jai Keep-Barnes (BA ‘10; JD ‘17, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—partner, Lung Rose Voss Wagnild
- K. Sean Kekina (BS ‘12, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—deputy administrator and chief operating officer, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
- Kris Kokame (MBA ‘17, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—麻豆传媒 lead, external affairs, AES 麻豆传媒
- Richmond Luzar (BA ‘20, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—principal, Aura Strategies LLC
- Marc Malate (BA ‘12; MSW ‘17; MURP ‘18, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—licensed clinical social worker, Marc Joseph Malate
- Kelsey Nishi Darling (attended UH惭ā苍辞补)—founder and executive director, Make Lemonade Project; owner, calligrapher and graphic designer, 麻豆传媒 Calligraphy
- Jordan Odo (MBA ‘17, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—first vice president and compliance associate, American Savings Bank
- Nahelani Parsons (JD ‘17, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—founder and president, Pacific Government Relations
- Keane Santos (BBA ‘10, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—vice president, product strategy department manager, 麻豆传媒 State Federal Credit Union
- Sara Strona (JD ‘14; MBA ‘15, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—director, Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, A Law Corporation
- Cody Winchester (MURP ‘18, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—community resilience planning manager, G70
- Jamie Yoshikane (JD ‘13, UH 惭ā苍辞补)—assistant general counsel, 麻豆传媒 Gas
As these leaders continue to drive change across every sector of our islands, they serve as a powerful reminder of UH’s role in cultivating leaders who are building a bright future for 麻豆传媒.
—By Devon Bedoya