By Kelly Simek

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is preparing for a historic milestone with its 175th Anniversary Gala, themed An Evening of Legacy. The event will bring together more than 700 business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders for an evening of recognition and networking. Chamber President & CEO Sherry Menor joined us on Living808 to share what’s in store.

Guests will enjoy dinner, live entertainment, a fundraising auction, and dancing with a live DJ. The evening will also feature the Chamber’s 2025 Awards, honoring the Young Professional of the Year, Educator of the Year, Chamber Board Member of the Year, and a new honor for 2025 — the Legacy Award. In addition, the gala will spotlight the Chamber’s statewide leadership and its vision for the future through its 2030 Blueprint.

Founded in 1850 as the Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu, the organization has played a key role in shaping Hawaii’s economic and civic landscape. Beyond advocating for business interests, the Chamber helped launch organizations such as Aloha United Way, the Blood Bank of Hawaii, and Crime Stoppers Honolulu, while also supporting historic initiatives like bringing the USS Missouri to Hawaii. Today, the Chamber represents more than 2,000 businesses and 200,000 employees across the state, continuing its mission to strengthen Hawaii’s economy and communities.

The 175th Anniversary Gala will take place on Thursday, October 9, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Tickets are $199 for members and $219 for the general public, with sponsorship opportunities available starting at $2,500 for a table of five. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://cochawaii.org.

Watch the interview here.