Lee succeeds Francis as chamber chairman

Gabriel Lee, American Savings Bank executive vice president, took over as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii on Thursday at the 165th annual membership luncheon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Coral Ballroom.

Dennis Francis, president and publisher of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, concluded two years as chairman of the state’s top business organization and welcomed Lee in his new role.

June Jones, the winningest football coach in the University of Hawaii’s history, and sports agent Leigh Steinberg were among the guest speakers at the event titled “The X’s and O’s in Business and Sports.”

“It is important more than ever that the leaders in the business community come together to help your chamber serve the community during these challenging times for our state,” Lee said.

Francis said the isle chamber — which has about 1,000 member organizations representing more than 200,000 employees — made progress in the last two years in promoting a business agenda at the state Legislature.

“We’re laying a better foundation than ever for business in Hawaii, by becoming part of the fabric of statewide decision-making, engaging at the center of where governmental decisions are made and becoming partners in the legislative process,” Francis said.

Francis singled out the chamber’s work in support of the military.

“The military makes up about 20 percent of Hawaii’s GDP and is vital to Hawaii’s economy and the security of our country,” Francis said. “The chamber reorganized its Military Affairs Council to more proactively promote, preserve and protect military missions and installations in Hawaii.”

Other business leaders joining the chamber’s board of directors Thursday included Bryan Andaya, CEO of L&L Drive-Inn, Scott Barber, CEO of Hawaiian Telcom, Stafford Kiguchi, Bank of Hawaii executive vice president, Saedene Ota, owner of Sae Designs, and Ku‘uhaku Park, Matson vice president.