Lei of the Land Protecting Hawai‘i’s Floral Industry

Eric Tanouye

Eric S. Tanouye is President of Green Point Nurseries, which is entering its 3rd generation of Agribusiness. Green Point Nurseries is located in Hilo and is a Grower / Exporter of Hawaii’s Tropical Flowers and Foliages, both domestically and internationally.Eric’s industry involvement includes serving as current President of Hawai’i Floriculture and Nursery Association (HFNA) and President of the Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council (SHAC).

President, Green Point Nurseries and President, Hawai‘i Floriculture and Nursery Association

David Fuertes is the Executive Director of Kahua Paʻa Mua, Inc., (KPM) a nonprofit 501(c)(3) based in North Kohala on Hawai’i Island. A retired educator with over 30 years of experience in and with the Hawaii State Department of Education, Future Farmers of America (state and national levels), career and technical education, Korean natural farming, animal husbandry, floriculture, horticulture, agroforest, natural sciences, and resource management, saddle making, and community development. He is also the former Deputy Managing Director of Hawaii County responsible for West Hawaii County services. An Army veteran, David, and his wife Carol, who handles all of the “back of the house” operations, team to make KPM an experienced and valued community partner, collaborating in and with Hawaii Island and Kohala communities, Kamehameha Schools, Native Hawaiian Education Program, and the Administration for Native Americans. They have inspired at least three generations of community work beginning with their own children and grandchildren.In August 2024, the Lei Poinaʻole Project (LPP) selected KPM as its first propagator site on Hawaiʻi Island; and in September 2024, KPM dedicated Aunty Nancy Lei Aloha Garden in memory of his beloved sister Nancy Fuertes Ueno. LPP’s island based propagator site(s) models, are designed to support community propagation and island community growing and growers of lei flowers and plants. KPM is the current propagator site engaging a cohort of seven local Kohala growers in propagating and growing more lei plants—flowers, ferns and ti.

Executive Director, Kahua Pa‘a Mua, Inc.

David Fuertes

Nick Lee was born and raised on O‘ahu. He earned his B.S. in Managerial Economics from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Before returning to the family business, Nick’s career spanned the medical device, pharmaceutical, and tech SaaS industries, along with part-time teaching in Hawai‘i public schools. He has spent the majority of his professional life at Cindy’s Lei Shoppe in Honolulu’s Chinatown, where he now continues his family’s legacy. Though his career at Cindy’s Lei Shoppe spans a combined ten years, Nick’s connection to the business runs much deeper—having grown up in his popo’s (tūtū’s) lei shop surrounded by family, dedicated employees, vendors, growers, and a loyal multi-generational customer base. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, spending time in nature, and exploring specialty coffee, particularly pourovers.

Controller & Operations Lead, Cindy’s Lei Shoppe

Nicholas Lee

Born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, Monty graduated with Honors from the University of Hawaii-Manoa College of Business with a degree in accounting. After passing the CPA exam and working in public accounting, Monty left public Accounting for Watanabe Floral to be their Accountant. After a few years, Monty migrated away from Accounting and became Sales and Marketing Director and later General Manager. Monty has now been at Watanabe Floral for almost 29 years!In 2009, Pacific Business News recognized Monty as one of Hawaii’s 40 Under 40 and in July 2023, he was honored as one of Hawaii’s Community Givers by Pacific Edge Magazine. In 2024, Monty was recognized as a Top 20 Most Influential Business and Community Leaders by FAMES. He is proud of the team at Watanabe Floral, voted Hawaii’s Best Florist by the Honolulu Star Advertiser 2003-2025, Best of Hawaii by KITV, 2020-2025 and a Retail Merchant of the Year honoree as well. Monty is an advocate for businesses’ role in working for and with the Community.Away from Watanabe Floral, Monty is the Chairman of the Leeward YMCA Board of Managers, serves on the board for Hawaii Floraculture and Nursery Association (HFNA), Bloomnation Advisory Board, Vivia Advisory Board, Hawaii State Business Revitalization Task Force and served as the past President of the Alaka’i Networking Roundtable, a Business Networking group. Monty also coached Soccer for nearly 15 years at all levels and relished the opportunity to mold young ladies and instill belief and confidence to strive for excellence in all they do. Monty is married to Lori Pereira and has two daughters, Tiana and Crystal.

General Manager, Watanabe Floral

Monty Perreira

Carver Wilson is the President and co-founder of Maui Floral. Established in 1974 — along with with his wife, Maureen — Maui Floral began by growing protea flowers in Kula, Maui, and is now celebrating 50 years in business. The company continues to cultivate protea in Kula while expanding into flower distribution and lei making. From its early days, Maui Floral has played an important role in the development of protea becoming a mainstream floral product. Carver continues to lead the company with a commitment to quality, innovation, and Hawai‘i’s floral heritage.

President, Maui Floral, Inc.

Carver Wilson

Chef Casey Kusaka is a Kaneohe-born local boy and one of the founders and Executive Chef of Lovers & Fighters. A dedicated culinary and hospitality professional, Casey began his formal training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park before honing his craft in New York City and San Francisco at Michelin-starred restaurants including Momofuku, Lincoln Ristorante, Californios, and Nisei.

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His experiences in world-class kitchens shaped a broad, global perspective on food and hospitality, which he blends with the warmth and humility of his local roots. Chef Casey’s mission is simple — to bring people together through the shared experience of food, beverage, and genuine hospitality.

Founder and Executive Chef, Lovers & Fighters

Chef Casey Kusaka

Ben Rosicky was born and raised on the East Coast, from New York to North Carolina. He moved to Hawai‘i in 2021 with his wife after what was meant to be a summer job turned into an incredible career opportunity. Beginning as a line cook at Koko Head Cafe just after the height of COVID, Ben has had the honor and pleasure of growing with the business over the past four years. He now serves as Executive Chef, overseeing both brunch and the restaurant’s new dinner service. Passionate about fostering community, Ben is dedicated to engaging with local farmers, building a strong and positive work environment, and sharing his love of food with every guest.

Executive Chef
Koko Head Cafe

Chef Ben Rosicky

Chef Ahu Hettema, the visionary behind Istanbul Hawai‘i, found her culinary path during a time when she couldn’t return home to Mersin, Turkey. While studying in San Francisco, she faced immigration challenges that kept her from visiting family for nearly a decade—years marked by homesickness and struggle.

In 2013, she moved to O‘ahu, and soon after, her mother Nili—a chef of 30 years specializing in Turkish cuisine—joined her. Bringing spices and ingredients from home, Nili helped Ahu reconnect with her heritage through cooking. Together, they healed, cooked, and rediscovered the power of food to comfort and restore.

By 2015, the mother-daughter duo began selling Turkish dishes at O‘ahu’s farmers markets, blending the flavors of their homeland with Hawai‘i’s fresh ingredients. In 2020, just months into the pandemic, Ahu and her husband opened Istanbul Hawai‘i, building it nearly entirely by hand. Drawing on her design background, Ahu created a warm, modern space that reflects the family’s love for sharing authentic Turkish cuisine.

Today, Istanbul Hawai‘i is one of the state’s only Turkish and Mediterranean restaurants, rooted in Nili and Ahu’s shared journey of resilience, healing, and heritage. Their partnership has earned top honors, including Star-Advertiser’s Best New Restaurant (2021), SBA Women-Owned Business of the Year (2022), Hawai‘i Business Magazine’s Best Small Business (2023), and Honolulu Magazine’s Best Mediterranean Restaurant for three consecutive years.

Owner and Executive Chef, Istanbul Hawaii

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