Working in Hawaii is different from anywhere else in the United States. We have an inherent set of priorities and values that might not translate the same in other places.
When it comes to looking for a new executive member of your team, you’ll want to find someone who shares that same foundational core of beliefs and priorities, someone who will add to the rich office culture you’ve already built and want to share with your employees.
Aloha Spirit
Local candidates will know and embrace the Aloha Spirit, the recognition of the mind-heart connection in each person and the expectation to treat everyone with kindness, pleasantness, modesty in addition to the drive for harmony and to persevere through hardships. There’s an overarching expectation and practice of respect, something you’d want to see in an executive no matter where your company is located, but one that is non-negotiable in Hawaii. It doesn’t matter where your office is or what your title is, everyone in the company will be treated well. If you have a candidate who might not share that view, keep reviewing resumes and conducting interviews.
Work-Life Balance
We have a different approach to life here in Hawaii compared to the mainland. We want to find good, meaningful work, but we also value the ability to live a good life with our families and friends. Work isn’t everything — you’ll want an executive who won’t upset the work-life balance apple cart and demand people put in long hours or be constantly accessible after they’re done for the day.
Hawaii’s Cost of Living
As we all know, Hawaii is an expensive place to live. While we’re physically separated from the rest of the country, we’re also in our own bubble compared to the rest of the world, which makes it more expensive for everything that needs to be imported to land here. That makes everything else more expensive — something a native or long-time Hawaii resident will understand. An executive hired to lead a company will need to have that understanding top-of-mind when it comes to any efforts toward cost-cutting or trying to reduce budgets. Everything, from employees to supplies, is more expensive here.
Employee Appreciation
Employees in Hawaii often feel underappreciated, underpaid, and overlooked. This is another factor of our isolation—it can be hard to find a job in Hawaii, let alone one that allows employees to pay the bills. A good executive will understand that, empathize with it, and come into the interview with ways to care for employees and help them have a better quality of life. This ties back to our shared values and treating everyone with respect.
People are often lured to Hawaii because we’re fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But when it comes to finding and hiring an executive, you’ll want to be keenly aware of the culture shock that might come from someone who isn’t familiar with our culture and priorities. It’s important to consider people who have lived on one of our islands as having inherent benefits and advantages because they would be starting the job with these deeply held beliefs, making for an easier transition and a healthier working environment for everyone.
Find Executive Talent in Hawaii
Bishop & Co. is a Hawaii-based staffing agency specializing in helping Hawaiian companies find great job candidates at all levels, including executive positions. We can help you find the right candidates that share your vision and your priorities, from the C-suite to entry level positions. To learn more about what Bishop & Company can do for you, give us a call today and let’s start the process together.
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