Presented by the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce,
Maui Filipino Community Council, and UH Maui College Kabatak Club
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
4 pm - 7:30 p.m. UH Maui College Pilina Building Events Center
(Former Student Lounge)
In celebration of Filipino American History Month, this forum brings together community leaders, and changemakers for an evening of meaningful conversation and connection.
We’ll explore pressing issues—from workforce challenges and Lahaina’s ongoing recovery, to stories of resilience, innovation, and hope. The challenges we face here on Maui mirror the struggles and triumphs of Filipinos across Hawai‘i and beyond.
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
PANEL 1
Beyond the Labor Shortage: The Filipino Workforce as frontliners of aloha
From classrooms to hospitals to hotels, Filipinos form the backbone of Hawai‘i’s workforce. This panel explores the challenges and realities facing Filipino workers today—from labor shortages and union negotiations to cultural barriers, housing struggles, and the need for stronger community support systems.
Speakers:
- Rodrigo Domingo, J1 Teacher at Baldwin High School
- Luz Tabajonda, President, Philippine Nurses Association of Hawaii
- Manny Baltazar, ILWU Local 142
- Moderated by Grace Sales
5:40 pm
Keynote Speaker: Kaibigan ng Lahaina: Progress, Purpose, and Hope
Kaibigan ng Lahaina emerged after the devastating 2023 fires to respond to the urgent needs of the Filipino community. This special segment highlights the organization’s ongoing recovery initiatives, success stories, and the collaborative efforts keeping the heart of Lahaina alive.
Speaker:
- Nestor Ugale, Board Chairman, Kaibigan ng Lahaina
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
PANEL 2
Cooking Up Resilience: Filipino Chefs on Innovation and Survival
From expansion dreams to bold pivots, Filipino chefs on Maui are confronting one of the toughest climates the island’s food industry has ever faced. This talk-story panel explores their journeys of adaptation—through expansion, reinvention, and innovation—and how they continue to serve not only food, but hope and determination for the community.
Speakers
- Chef JR Oao, Oao Sushi at Wailea, Oao Sushi Go, Hachi by Oao
- Chef Joey Macadangdang, Joey’s Kitchen and Balai Pata, Dangdang Noodle
- Chef Jojo Vasquez - Food Network’s Chopped Champion, Former Fond Restaurant
- Moderated by: Rochelle Mendoza, Pacific Media Group
7:00 pm Round table discussion
In Conversation: The Filipino Forum Roundtable
To close the evening, attendees and speakers come together in a large-circle dialogue—an open exchange of ideas, questions, and reflections. This interactive session celebrates the spirit of bayanihan and ensures that every voice in the room can contribute to the collective narrative of our community.
7:30 pm END
