In Hawaii, the name given to a person or business not only describes who they are and what they do, but express what the community can expect from them.
In Hawaiian culture, the oceangoing canoe symbolizes navigation,
teamwork, speed, way-finding, and physical, spiritual and emotional
fortitude. It is a vessel that can cross oceans, rivers and streams.
It can survive storms and high seas. When crewmembers are in total
synchronization and the steersman reads the waves correctly, the canoe
glides over the water with ease and reaches its destination quickly.
Entrepreneurial individuals who have foresight, courage and wisdom, and
who are willing to collaborate with other leaders to provide a better
way or better solutions, are described as … The First Canoe.
Rich in image and meaning, The First Canoe provides us with an analogy and
stories that help explain who we are, what we do and our place in the
world of business, community and leadership.
Contact Us:
Email: info@firstcanoe.com
Our Team:
Partners (from left to right): Vicki Olson, Kitty Lagareta, Christine Crissy
Gayagas, Eric T. Rick
Olson, Christina Kemmer.
Click here to read our full bios.
Military:First Canoe partners combined have over 100 years of experience in the military at the flag/senior officer and civilian levels. Our partners have served in top-level positions, such as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, high-level command, key staff (joint and multinational), and in leadership roles in community organizations that support the military.
Business:We are local CEOs and high-level officers, board members, successful small-business owners and entrepreneurs with experience in the not-for-profit sector, specializing in the energy, construction, and medical supply and services sectors.
International:Extensive experience working with foreign companies and government organizations with projects in the Asia-Pacific region, the Mideast, and beyond.
Education and Academia:We all have extensive experience in education, including two partners who have served on the boards of two of Hawaii's leading universities (University of Hawaii and Chaminade University) and one who served as Commandant of Cadets at West Point.
Local and Hawaiian Communities:Experience in bridge-building to, communication with, and understanding of the opportunities in the many diverse cultures that make up our unique community.
Business Development
- Doing business with the military
- Establishing connections between small businesses and larger corporations
- Turning needs into solutions
- Special focus on cutting-edge sectors in Hawaii, such as energy, high-tech, medical
Leadership and Leader Development
- Decision making
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Organizational effectiveness
- Innovative programs and leadership tours of local historical sites
Strategic Partnering and Community Building
- Public-to-private partnerships to foster a “community trust bank”
- Connections between domestic and foreign businesses
- Community-based strategies for mutually beneficial civic, cultural, environmental and business outcomes
Public Relations
- Media relations, message development and media training
- Issue advocacy and public affairs campaigns

- Crisis communications planning, training and management
- Marketing communications, social media and advertising
Enculturation
- Training to provide knowledge, skills and tools to succeed in environments and communities where history, culture and values differ
- Local context for client planning, strategy and implementation efforts
- Communication styles and strategies for the multicultural workforce