Wahine Book Club
Have you read through all the books on your shelf? Not to worry. Here are some suggestions from our Wahine Forum speakers and the Hawaii Business Magazine team to keep you inspired and motivated.
Recommended by:
Kelsey Ige, Hawaii Business Magazine
"Honest, funny and relatable. If you love intersectional feminism and feel conflicted about your love of 90s gangsta rap, this one's for you."
Recommended by:
Major General Suzanne Vares-Lum, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
"We encourage men to mentor and this book emphasizes that point that when men strive for equality we all benefit."
Recommended by:
Major General Suzanne Vares-Lum, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
"There is empirical data that shows then when teams are diverse the are more successful. This book offers a practical, evidence-based guide for specific steps men can take to support women in all areas of life."
Recommended by:
Major General Suzanne Vares-Lum, U.S. Indo-Pacific
"Do you evolve in the face of adversity (like a starfish with a missing leg) or do you come to an untimely end (like a spider)? The Starfish personalities are changing the face of business and offer every reader a new way to approach leadership in organizations."
Recommended by: Kelsey Ige, Hawaii Business Magazine
"For Hawaiʻi — the land, sea and people who live here — to flourish, we need to center and amplify indigenous knowledge, traditions and perspectives. Who better to lead all of Hawaiʻi than those who previously thrived on this land prior to colonization? 'From a Native Daughter' is essential reading to change the status quo."
Recommended by:
Cheryl Oncea, Hawaii Business Magazine
"This is Doyle's second book and was a NYT best-seller. It's about the peace women (and everyone) can achieve when we stop striving to meet others' expectations."
Recommended by:
Courtney Kajikawa, First Hawaiian Bank
"It will change the way you think and look at failure, talent, effort and learning."
Recommended by:
Crystal Rose, Bays Lung Rose & Holma and Kolby Moser, ARIA Studios
"RBG was an incredible woman, smart, witty, hardworking, kind, compassionate and a hero to all women today."
"Because she is a QUEEN!!"
Recommended by:
Jenny Pritchett, First Hawaiian Bank
"Simon does an amazing job of illustrating how important it is to understand WHY you do something. 'People don't buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.'"
Recommended by: Kuʻulani Keohokalole, People Strategies Hawaiʻi
"This book came out just after the wake of the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. As a woman of color, I'm finding the book to be so relevant and validating to some of my own experiences, but also as an educational read specifically about the tangible effects of everyday systemic racism Black people face. It challenges all of us to be actively part of dismantling racism and other oppressive -isms that impact our communities."
Recommended by:
Leslie Wilcox, PBS Hawaii
"It's about the sane leadership within our sphere of influence that reminds us of the human spirit and helps invoke people's inherent creativity, generosity and need for community."
Recommended by:
Leslie Wilkins, Maui Economic Development Board
"The author guides us to move beyond merely being an ally to the values of antiracism to taking action as an equity broker in advancing racial equality."
Recommended by:
Ma Ry Kim, G70, I-ON Group & Kalahikiola Group
Recommended by:
Makana McClellan, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Honolulu
"This book has become a go-to source of information for building teams and is helpful for all professionals at any level of their career. The book uses the power of storytelling to illustrate how a team full of extremely talented professionals become ineffective at achieving their collective goals due to their inability to work together as a team."
Recommended by: Major General Suzanne Vares-Lum, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
"This is a timely and relative guide to leadership in the digital age. It's concepts will help the leader create nurturing environments that can help win the battle of the narrative for companies and organizations."
Recommended by:
Naehalani Breeland, Ola Brewing Co.
Recommended by:
Nalani Kaina, Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi
"Hawaiian movement from their perspectives and gives voice with grace and power. I have always loved books which have first hand accounts, especially from indigenous and women of color who are generally unrepresented."
Recommended by:
Nani Medeiros, HomeAid Hawaii
"This book got me through the most painful time in my life, and it changed me for the better."
Recommended by:
Su Shin, Hawaiian Telcom
"Our leadership team read it and attended a workshop by The Table Group and it was transformative for us. The big takeaways are that vulnerability builds trust and heart is just as important as smart — maybe more important."