The phrase "head honchos from the Hawaiian" carries a weight of both corporate and cultural significance, often referring to the powerful individuals—or KAHUNAS—who steer the islands’ most critical enterprises and movements. As of late 2025, the spotlight is intensely focused on a select group of leaders navigating unprecedented challenges, from major corporate mergers and devastating natural disaster fallout to the enduring, passionate call for self-determination.

This article dives deep into the profiles and current, most pressing activities of the key figures from the Hawaiian business and political landscape. These are the individuals whose decisions today are shaping the future of the Aloha State, commanding global attention and driving the narrative for the years to come.

The Corporate KAHUNAS: Executive Profiles and Latest Headlines (2025)

The corporate world in Hawai‘i is currently defined by two major narratives: a massive airline merger and the ongoing, sensitive fallout from the 2023 Maui wildfires. The executives at the helm of these entities are arguably the most scrutinized "head honchos" in the state.

1. Diana Birkett Rakow: The New CEO Steering Hawaiian Airlines Through a Mega-Merger

The leadership at Hawaiian Airlines (HA) is undergoing a historic shift, directly tied to the pending acquisition by Alaska Air Group. This transition places a new, powerful figure at the controls during a period of intense regulatory and operational change.

• Full Name: Diana Birkett Rakow
• Current Position: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hawaiian Airlines
• Appointment Date: Officially took the helm on October 29, 2025.
• Preceding Role: Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Alaska Airlines.
• Significance: She is the first woman to be named CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.
• Key 2025 Update: Her appointment is a critical step in the integration process following the Alaska Air Group merger announcement, succeeding the retiring Joe Sprague. She is tasked with maintaining Hawaiian’s distinct brand and culture while integrating it into the larger Alaska Air Group network.

The Merger Milestone: Birkett Rakow’s immediate challenge is overseeing the operational and cultural integration of the two carriers. As of late 2025, the deal is clearing major milestones, with Hawaiian flights soon expected to carry the Alaska Air Group (AS) code. The merger promises to expand the network for both airlines, but the new CEO must manage the delicate balance of corporate synergy and preserving the unique Hawaiian identity that is central to the brand. This move is a significant development in the global aviation industry.

2. Scott Seu and Shelee Kimura: The Executives at the Center of the Wildfire Crisis

The leadership of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) and its subsidiary Hawaiian Electric (HE) remains under a harsh public and legal spotlight due to the 2023 Lahaina disaster. The decisions and compensation of the top executives are a major source of controversy in late 2025.

Scott Seu, President and CEO of HEI

• Full Name: Scott W. H. Seu
• Current Position: President and Chief Executive Officer, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI).
• Key 2025 Update: Seu is leading HEI through a complex landscape of legal battles and regulatory scrutiny stemming from the Maui wildfires. Despite the company's precarious position, Seu received a notable $1.7 million pay raise in 2024, a decision that has sparked significant public outrage and drawn criticism regarding executive compensation during a humanitarian crisis.

Shelee M. T. Kimura, President and CEO of Hawaiian Electric

• Full Name: Shelee M. T. Kimura
• Current Position: President and Chief Executive Officer, Hawaiian Electric (HE).
• Key 2025 Update: Kimura is the face of the utility's direct response and future planning. She is heavily involved in the company's 2025-2027 Wildfire Safety Strategy, which outlines extensive plans for grid modernization, vegetation management, and infrastructure hardening across Maui and other islands. Her public statements consistently reaffirm the company's commitment to the Lahaina community and the long-term goal of preventing future disasters.

The two HE executives are navigating the most sensitive and high-stakes corporate environment in recent Hawaiian history, balancing the need for financial stability with massive infrastructure investments and the immense pressure of public accountability following the devastation in Lahaina, Maui. Their actions on wildfire safety and executive pay are crucial entities of the current news cycle.

The Cultural KAHUNAS: Leaders of the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement

Beyond the corporate boardrooms, the most profound "head honchos" are the cultural and political leaders advocating for the restoration of an independent Hawaiian nation. This grassroots political campaign, known as the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement (ke ea Hawaiʻi), is a powerful, enduring force for self-determination and the rights of the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian people).

3. Pu'uhonua Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele: The Voice of the Nation of Hawai'i

Pu'uhonua Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele is one of the most visible and unwavering figures in the struggle for Hawaiian independence. His advocacy centers on the direct restoration of a sovereign nation-state.

• Full Name: Pu'uhonua Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele
• Current Position: President of the Nation of Hawai'i.
• Significance: He is a prominent figure advocating for the restoration of an independent nation-state for Hawai‘i.
• Key 2025 Update: Kanahele continues to be active in late 2025, publishing editorials on his vision for Hawai‘i's future and overseeing the operations of Pu'uhonua O Waimanalo, the independent community he established on the island of O‘ahu. His work focuses on practical self-governance and cultural preservation, making him a central entity in the political landscape.

The Pu'uhonua O Waimanalo: This self-governing community serves as a tangible example of the sovereignty movement's goals, operating outside of the state government's jurisdiction. Kanahele's leadership here demonstrates the commitment to cultural and political independence, emphasizing the deep historical contexts that continue to shape the movement.

The Enduring Legacy: The Role of the Hawaiian Kahunas

The original meaning of KAHUNA in Hawaiian culture is a master, expert, or priest—a person who holds specialized knowledge or spiritual authority. This traditional role is a powerful metaphor for the modern "head honchos" of the islands.

• Traditional Kahuna: Historically, a Kahuna was an expert in a specific trade, from healing (kahuna lapaʻau) to canoe carving (kahuna kālai waʻa), or a spiritual leader. They were essential to the social and political structure of the Hawaiian kingdom.
• Modern Interpretation: Today’s corporate and political leaders, whether they are steering a multi-billion-dollar airline through a merger or a utility through a massive public crisis, are the modern equivalents. They are the experts—the masters—whose decisions have profound consequences for the populace and the economy.

The leaders of Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Airlines, and the Sovereignty Movement are all Kahunas in their own right, wielding significant power over the economic stability, infrastructure, and cultural identity of Hawai‘i. Their recent activities in 2025—from the appointment of Diana Birkett Rakow to the ongoing efforts of Scott Seu, Shelee Kimura, and Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele—underscore a period of intense transformation and scrutiny for the islands. The stories of these individuals are not just business or political news; they are the core narrative of modern Hawai‘i.