Melody Calisay, Ph.D. | President:

Aloha,

It is a great honor and privilege to be the President of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii on its 70th anniversary. This milestone is a testament to Filipinos’ hard work, enduring commitment, collective resilience and unity for the Filipino community in Hawaii.

I would like to honor the past presidents who laid the foundation for an organization that has since grown, evolved and flourished. Their endurance, resiliency and commitment led to the success of this Chamber.

As the 70th president of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, I will lead the same as how I lead my business for more than 25 years. My first item in the agenda is to empower the members. Provide them with the tools they need to succeed in their businesses. I believe that the members are the key to the success of the organization.

The onset of the global pandemic due to COVID-19 resulted to several challenges that affected many businesses. One of them is the workforce problem - in the medical field, service industry, hotels and restaurants. A Workforce Development Committee was developed to act as a conduit to the needs of Filipino businesses in Hawaii in collaboration with other Filipino organizations.

“Youth is the hope of our motherland” as we remember the words of Dr. Jose Rizal. I strongly support the Fellows program and the Filipino Jaycees in developing a leadership pipeline through mentoring and guidance to continue becoming leaders in business and government.

These are some of my visions for this coming administration. The Board of Directors and I are committed and dedicated to work hand-in-hand to achieve our common goals. We will write the next chapter of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, one that is marked by innovation, growth and lasting impact.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all the members for all their support, especially the Installation Committee led by our Chair Rosemarie Mendoza, the co-chairs and all its members.

Lastly, I would like to thank my husband for all his support and understanding.

Mahalo and Mabuhay,

Melody G. Calisay, Ph.D.

FCCH President, 2024-2025