HONOLULU, HI – Young professionals from across Hawaii will come together on Thursday, October 15, at Prince Waikiki for the 4th Annual Cost of Living Summit, presented by Tradewind Group, to explore practical solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing Hawaii’s workforce, from housing and wages to childcare and the cost of building a life in the islands.

Organized by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Young Professionals program, the full-day summit will bring together business leaders, policymakers, economists, community leaders and young professionals for candid conversations about the issues shaping their ability to live, work and build a future in Hawaii.

“If we want the next generation of business leaders to stay in Hawaii, we have to give them more than encouragement. We have to give them tools and a platform to make it happen,” says Sherry Menor, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. “This summit connects directly to the 2030 Blueprint for Hawaii, a roadmap for building an economy people can actually afford to put down roots in. And it’s already showing results. Hawaii’s cost-of-living ranking in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business improved from 49^th in 2025 to 47^th this year. It’s not just working here, either: The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives has held this summit up as a model, and chambers across the country keep asking how to build something like it. We’re not just solving a Hawaii problem. We’re showing the rest of the country what it looks like to take your workforce seriously.”

This year’s summit, “Rooted in What Matters,” will connect the challenges young professionals face today with programming focused on three core areas: housing and pathways to homeownership; wages, careers and economic opportunity; and childcare, family formation and the true cost of starting a family.

“As Hawaii continues to face rising costs and economic challenges, strengthening our communities starts with supporting the people and families who call our islands home. By investing in our workforce and creating opportunities for local residents to thrive, we can build a more resilient and vibrant future for Hawaii. We are proud to support the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Annual Cost of Living event and the important conversations that help create a stronger future for Hawaiʻi,” states event sponsor Tradewind Group.

The day will begin with financial literacy workshops designed to provide practical tools for building long-term financial security, including investing, homebuying and entrepreneurship. Speakers include:

• Building Long-Term Wealth with Christopher Chow of WestPac Wealth Advisors
• Investing 101 with Claudia Chen of Northwestern Mutual and Jesse Nishita Wilson of RITE Wealth Management
• Buy a Home with Stefan Kant of American Savings Bank
• Develop Your Own Business with Keanu Wilson of Hawaii FoundHer

The morning program will continue with three short TED Talk-style presentations featuring:

• Aaron Merchen of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
• Cole Phillips of Small Kine Things Media LLC
• Lee Wang of Housing Hawaii’s Future

T

he presentations will be followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Hawaii Public Radio, that features Wang and state Rep. Greggor Ilagan, who will examine how housing, work, and family intersect with Hawaii’s cost of living, as well as a Legislator Connect Lunch that will give attendees the opportunity to engage directly with policymakers shaping cost-of-living policy.

The afternoon portion of the event will feature a State of the Economy presentation from Dr. Carl Bonham, executive director and professor of economics at the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO), followed by the summit’s Staying Rooted workshops. Attendees can choose from sessions focused on civic engagement, nonprofit board leadership, and building relationships with mentors and sponsors.

“Too many young professionals in Hawaiʻi find themselves asking the same question: Can I realistically build my future here?” says Courtney Wagner, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Young Professionals Program. “We created this summit because we believe the people closest to these challenges can help shape the solutions. Young professionals bring talent, innovation, and fresh perspectives, and this summit is an opportunity to channel that energy into ideas and action that can make Hawaiʻi more affordable and sustainable for everyone. We want attendees to leave inspired, connected, and empowered to be part of that change.” 

Registration and a full Cost of Living Summit schedule is available at cochawaii.org/events.