Forty local business leaders, new to the Islands and serving across Hawai‘i’s different business sectors, recently completed the latest round of the Hawai‘i Talent On Boarding Program. This was the program’s ninth cohort — and the largest since its launch in 2022.
Movers and Shakas is a nonprofit that runs place-based, community orientation programs. HITOP is its six-week acculturation program that aims to help new transplants and returning kama‘āina live and work successfully here, and to help local employers retain relocated talent.
“We're incredibly encouraged by the continued growth of the Hawaiʻi Talent Onboarding Program, but not necessarily surprised,” Movers and Shakas Executive Director Nicole Lim told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. “Employers across Hawaiʻi recognize that recruiting talent is only half the challenge. Retaining them is where the real work begins.
“As more organizations see the impact HITOP has on helping new leaders build meaningful connections to Hawaiʻi, understand local culture, history and business practices, and develop a genuine sense of belonging, demand for the program continues to grow,” she continued. “Cohort 9 brought together 40 participants representing a wide range of industries, demonstrating that talent retention is both a challenge and an opportunity shared across Hawaiʻi's business community.”
Movers and Shakas launched in 2020, started by a group of local business and community leaders as a way to help the local economy when travel and tourism came to a standstill during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lim told ASD in 2025 that at that time, the idea was to bring remote workers from the Mainland to help with local nonprofits. It was a controversial idea, but popular — there were some 90,000 applicants for 50 cohort spots.
The nonprofit offered two cohorts of the remote worker program before pivoting to offer a new community orientation program to help employers retain new leaders — an initiative that eventually became HITOP.
But, Lim says, HITOP goes beyond onboarding, something that continues to resonate with employers and participants.
“It helps new leaders understand that being part of Hawaiʻi comes with a sense of kuleana, not only to succeed professionally, but to contribute to the community and leave this place better than they found it,” she told ASD.
Cohort 9 included participants from Bank of Hawai‘i, Blood Bank of Hawai‘i, Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i, Chaminade University, City and County of Honolulu, Dole Food Co. Hawai‘i, First Hawaiian Bank, Foss Maritime, Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network, Hawai‘i Dental Service, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawaiian Telcom, HMSA, ‘Iolani School, Kahala Nui, Mid-Pacific Institute, Rehab Hospital of the Pacific, the state of Hawai‘i, Strategic Dining Services, Teach for America, Tradewind Group, the University of Hawai‘i system and U.S. Army Pacific.
“As someone who recently stepped into a role with deep responsibility to a historic educational institution, HITOP provided important context for understanding the unique cultural and community landscape of Hawai‘i,” Melinda Bihn, head of school at ʻIolani School said in a recent announcement from Movers and Shakas. “The experience reinforced the importance of listening with humility and learning from the many voices that shape our communities. I leave with a greater appreciation for the histories, traditions and values that influence how we support and inspire our students, faculty and staff each day.”
In the same announcement, Damien Matthews, senior executive vice president and senior executive director of The Private Bank at Bank of Hawai‘i, said that for he and his wife Laurie, HITOP was a chance to "reconnect with Hawai‘i through a deeper lens."
“After many years building our careers in New York, returning home to raise our children has been both exciting and humbling," he said. "HITOP helped us rediscover the communities, history, and cultural values that make Hawai‘i so special, which is something we are proud to share with our children. The relationships we developed through the program will continue to shape how we engage, lead and contribute as returning kama‘āina.”
According to the announcement, the program included three community service and stewardship projects with local nonprofit partners Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi, The Pantry by Feeding Hawai‘i Together, Institute for Human Services and Kahauiki Village; leadership development and cultural learning sessions facilitated by organizations that include Leadership Works, Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association and ʻIolani Palace; talk story discussions with various community leaders.
“When talented professionals relocate to Hawaiʻi, they're not just changing jobs. They're building a new life,” Lim told ASD. “Our goal is to help them feel connected to this place, its people and its values as quickly as possible. When that happens, they're far more likely to stay, contribute, and become part of Hawaiʻi's future.
“People can find successful careers almost anywhere, but they stay where they feel a sense of purpose, belonging and relationship,” she continued. “HITOP helps accelerate that process by introducing participants to the people, places, history and values that make Hawaiʻi unique. Through service projects, cultural experiences, networking opportunities and candid conversations with local leaders, participants develop deeper roots that extend far beyond the workplace. They develop a sense of kuleana for their new home.”
Lim says that an important part of that journey is understanding that being welcomed into Hawai‘i comes with a responsibility to care for Hawai‘i; through opportunities for hands-on stewardship and community engagement, participants can learn how they can help leave Hawai‘i "better than they found it, whether through service, leadership, or advocacy within their own organizations."
"For employers, that translates into stronger retention, greater engagement and leaders who are better equipped to contribute meaningfully both within their organizations and throughout the broader community," she explains. "They become more culturally aware, more connected and ultimately more effective leaders. In a state where talent attraction and retention are critical economic priorities, helping people build authentic connections to Hawaiʻi is one of the most impactful investments a business can make."
Since its inception, more than 235 leaders have participated in HITOP across nine cohorts, Movers and Shakas noted.
What’s next for Movers and Shakas — and HITOP?
“Movers and Shakas was founded on a simple idea: people are more likely to stay when they feel connected,” Lim says when asked about the future evolution the organization and the program. “As Hawaiʻi continues to compete for talent in an increasingly global workforce, that mission becomes even more relevant.”
Looking ahead, Lim says the organization plans to “deepen opportunities for participants to engage with local leaders, cultural practitioners and community organizations while continuing to strengthen our alumni network.”
“One of the most exciting developments has been seeing graduates remain actively involved long after their cohort ends, mentoring newer participants, organizing gatherings and creating lasting relationships,” she says. “The future of HITOP is about building a long-term community of professionals who choose to invest their talents in Hawaiʻi while positioning Hawaiʻi as a place where both talent and future leaders can thrive."
Movers and Shakas also has expanded its impact through partnerships with higher education institutions, including recent collaborations with Hawaiʻi Pacific University and New York University, where Lim says Movers and Shakas has led seminars and business courses that introduce students and emerging professionals to Hawaiʻi's "unique cultural, economic and business landscape.”
“These partnerships help cultivate early connections to Hawaiʻi while inspiring the next generation of leaders to explore opportunities to live, work and contribute to our communities.”
Lim says Movers and Shakas is considering new ways to deliver its programming through different formats and audiences, including opportunities on Neighbor Islands and across the Mainland.
“We're also developing customized learning experiences tailored to the needs of specific industries and organizations, allowing us to help more professionals build meaningful connections to place, community and purpose.”
Enrollment is now open for upcoming HITOP cohorts. Interested organizations can learn more at moversandshakas.org/enroll.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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