Young Professionals Program
Mentor Hawaii
Mentor Hawaii is the signature mentorship program of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Young Professionals Program. It offers exclusive access to Hawaii’s top business and community leaders across a wide range of industries. Through one-on-one mentoring, participants gain support in career growth, leadership development, and building strong business acumen.
About the Program
Mentor Hawaii combines personalized, one-on-one mentorship with a structured framework designed to help mentees maximize their experience. While mentors provide guidance and expertise, mentees are expected to take the lead by setting goals, scheduling meetings, driving conversations, and following through on next steps.
Since its launch, nearly 300 young professionals have advanced through the program, achieving milestones such as:
- Recognition in Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40 and Hawaii Business Magazine’s 20 for the Next 20
- Selection for prestigious leadership programs like Pacific Century Fellows and Patsy T. Mink Leadership Alliance
To date, over 100 business and community leaders have served as mentors, sharing their expertise and helping shape Hawaii’s next generation of leaders.
Over the six-month program, participants will experience:
- Kick-Off Breakfast to meet mentors and mentees and review program expectations
- Monthly one-on-one meetings, scheduled and led by the mentee, held in person or virtually
- Networking opportunities with the cohort and the broader Young Professionals Program
- Wrap-Up Celebration to recognize the cohort and strengthen connections
Requirements
- Ages 21 – 39
- Must reside in Hawaii
- Five years of professional work experience recommended
- Must be a member of the Young Professionals Program (if selected, and not already a member, the membership fee will be added to the program fee)
Program Fees
- Early Bird Rate: $400
- Standard Rate: $450
Join Mentor Hawaii
Stay informed about the next Mentor Hawaii cohort.
Cohort 11 applications will open on December 22, 2025.
For inquiries, email the Mentor Hawaii Committee or Tricia Fetui.
Join Mentor Hawaii
Applications are now open for Cohort 11. Please submit your information by the final deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.
Early Bird Deadline: Saturday, Jan. 17 at 11:59 p.m. HST
Final Deadline: Saturday, Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m. HST
Can’t access the online form? Download the PDF APPLICATION and email the completed application, your resume, and your headshot to YPMentorHawaii@gmail.com.
Cohort 11 Mentors
Malcolm Inamine
Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer
Hawaiiana Group Incorporated
Jim Kelly
Vice President, Government & Community Relations & Corporate Communications
Hawaiian Electric
Testimonials
“The YP Mentor program has been instrumental in my career development. Through my mentorship with John Ward, I was able to assess my needs and wants for my next career move and connect with different resources that were previously unavailable to me. This came at a perfect time, as I was completing my MBA and needed thoughtful and genuine direction. In an interesting turn of events, I also found my next career opportunity with another mentor in the program whom I met at the Meet and Greet. I can’t recommend this program enough!”
— Scarlett Diaz, Connext Global Solutions, Cohort No. 8 (2023)
“I was fortunate to be paired with Captain Alexander Hutchison, who was at the tail end of a storied career with the Navy. He graciously took me under his wing and showed me around Navy Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Headquarters, sharing insights on NAVFAC, the Navy, and the U.S. military’s role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. He also answered questions I had regarding the NAVFAC chain of command and way of doing things, which helped me in my job as Officer in Charge of Construction, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, as well as some unsolicited but useful advice. We were also able to relate in our shared Korean heritage. I’m glad to have been matched with him and gained a mentor for life.”
– Phil Mok, Mentor Hawaii Cohort No. 8 (2023) & Mentor Hawaii Committee Member (2023-2024)