Advocating for
Businesses in Hawaii
At Pono Public Advocates, we bridge the gap between businesses in Hawaii and local and State government.
Hawaii's economy thrives when businesses have a voice. We work at the intersection of commerce and government — building relationships, crafting strategy, advancing legislation, and resolving agency roadblocks to enable businesses to grow, compete,
and succeed across the islands.
Your interests, represented where it matters most.
Our Expertise
From the corridors of the State and local legislative and executive branches, policy decisions shape the economic landscape every day.
We provide insight into State and local government rooted in decades of hands-on service, spanning the
operational trenches of civil service all the way to the highest leadership role in the City's legislative body. Our experience gives us a rare, ground-level understanding of how local government actually works, how departments interact, how policy is shaped, and how community voices ultimately find their way into law. The relationships we have cultivated across decades of public life with department heads, elected officials, community leaders, and everyday business owners is the foundation of a network built on trust and genuine commitment to our local community.
Legislative Advocacy
We engage directly with Hawaii State Legislature and City and County government officials to advocate for legislation that supports and protects your interests
Community Liaison
Build strong, mutually beneficial relationships between your business and the local community through strategic engagement.
Executive Branch Advocacy
We interact and connect with the Executive Branch, which makes countless decisions that affect businesses - permits, licenses, zoning, approvals, contracts, and enforcement actions.
Union Liaison
Representing your business in association with construction unions, navigating labor relations and union engagement so your operations and interests remaining protected.
Local Policy Analysis
Stay ahead of legal changes. We provide analysis into proposed policies and their potential impact on your business.
Agency Navigation
Guiding your business through state and city and county agencies such as Department of Planning and Permitting and Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources.
ABOUT US
We are a dedicated team of attorneys and government affairs professionals with firsthand experience in Hawaii's legislative and regulatory processes.
Hawaii's political landscape is uniquely relationship-driven. Legislation moves - or stalls - based on trust, history, and personal connection. We've spent our careers building the relationships, knowledge, and credibility within our local and State government.
Our team has been at the table where Hawaii's business and policy decisions are made. We know the legislators, we understand the various agencies, and we've worked within the system - because we came from it. Our background in government and public service gives us an inside perspective that no outsider can replicate. What we see works is knowing the right people, understanding the culture, and having the credibility to be heard.
Our commitment is not just to our clients - it's to Hawaii. We believe that when businesses in Hawaii thrive, our communities thrive. That belief drives everything we do.
Contact Us
Honolulu Office
737 Bishop Street, Suite 1450
Honolulu, HI 96813
Direct Inquiries
808-628-7531