Get Involved with HKCC Projects
ABOUT HKCC PROJECTS
The chamber also produces events to raise interest in the Korean community including a 9-11 Economic Seminar, Entrepreneur-of-the-Year Award, scholarship awards program for Korean-American students, the annual Korean Festival, and various community service projects.
The Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce (HKCC) membership encompasses a broad cross-section of businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Through its membership, HKCC provides vast network opportunities and collective knowledge that will greatly benefit the Korean Festival with resources. HKCC promotes business development, trade, and tourism between Hawaii and Korea through innovative programs, business seminars, and trade missions to Korea. HKCC's Hawaii Visa Waiver Program assists Koreans visiting Hawaii obtain visa waivers. The organization actively participates in the annual State of Hawaii DBEDT-Sponsored Trade Mission to establish, maintain, and renew relationships with companies in Korea and solicit business and tourism.
Korean Festival
For more information about the Korean Festival, please visit the Korean Festival section of our website.
Additionally, HKCC is partnering with the Korean American Foundation, Korean Drama Clubs and Hawaii Tourism Authority, Korea to secure a popular Korean movie and pop stars to perform at the festival. The organization expects the performance to attract a large crowd.
A Korean Festival executive committee from HKCC is working together with a core group of volunteers, composed of more than 30 leaders of various organizations in the Korean community. Collectively, the committee has access to more than 500 volunteers to ensure the festival's success.
The Korean Festival attracts wide participation from the local community, giving people of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities a small taste of Korean culture. The annual Korean Festival is one of the premier cultural events in Hawaii, bringing together a broad array of local businesses, community groups, and individual volunteers from the Korean community in a joint celebration of their unique heritage
Trade Mission
HKCC participates in the annual State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Business Trade Mission to South Korea. The goal of the mission is to broaden and deepen Hawaii's relationship with Korea in the areas of government, business, education, tourism, architectural and tourism development services, technology, and culture and the arts.
Community Service
HKCC holds numerous financial planning seminars each year for the Korean community through the help of its directors and members. HKCC also benefits Korean senior citizens with special seminars, such as the AARP seminar on Medicare.
HKCC is committed to improving the community with the development of programs such as the Pu'uiki Cemetery restoration; the HKCC Business Minute radio broadcast that provides business information and spotlights successful local Korean-owned businesses; an annual donation of computers to a worthy recipient; Korean-language business classes on the fundamentals of personal finance and credit; and a crystal methamphetamine (also known as "ice") public forum that provided an opportunity to meet local and federal law enforcement and prosecutors and discuss prosecution of and treatment for offenders and how the community and law enforcement can cooperate against addiction.
Scholarship - due date June 30, 2024
The Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer its annual scholarship to outstanding students who are enrolled or will be enrolling full-time in an accredited four-year college for undergraduate studies. The scholarship is aimed at civic-minded individuals who have a commitment to serve the needs of the immediate community and society at large.
The scholarship consists of three $2,000 awards. The recipients will receive their awards at the annual Korean Festival. All recipients or a representative of the recipients must be present at the Korean Festival to receive the award.
Qualified applicants must:
Be of Korean ancestry (50% or more)
Reside in Hawaii
Be a college-bound, graduating high school senior or a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited four-year college.
Entrepreneur of the Year
The “Korean Entrepreneur of the Year” is a project of the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce. It honors business owners who demonstrate excellence and achievement in the business community. Presentation of the award recipient will be done during the Korean Festival.
Criteria for Eligibility and Selection:
Nominee must have 3 years minimum in business
Nominee must be at least 50% Korean descent
Pattern of business growth under nominee's direction
Pattern of employee growth under nominee's direction
Nominee's participation in community activities
Past Awardees:
Chef Hyun Kim, O’Kim’s Korean Kitchen • 2023
Jeff Chung, KBFD TV • 2022
Soohyung Chae, Hawaii Kyocharo Corp • 2019
Hyo Kyu Lim, Palama Super Market • 2017
Thomas Kim, Face Shop • 2016
Jonathan Lee, Kukui Food • 2015
Donald Kim, AMKOR A&E Inc • 2013
Thomas Park, Leather Soul • 2012
Donald Kang , Pomare, Ltd • 2011
Christine Camp, Avalon Group • 2010
Anna Lim, Beauty Touch • 2009
Abe Lee, Abe Lee Realty • 2008
Yuni Shiramizu, Young Scale Co • 2007
Young Hae Kim, Go Hyang Dek Jip • 2006
Peter Kim, Yummy Management Co • 2005
Sung Keun Bae, Rainbow Castle • 2004
Patrick Shin, Nan Inc • 2003
Arthur Kim, Kimchee Net • 2002
Sang Hak Kim, Rocky’s Limo Service • 1997