Island Innovator of the Year

This award honors an entrepreneur or company who has developed an impactful innovation to help our island state - truly solving a problem in our own backyard, our mountains, our beach, our aina. This award celebrates an entrepreneur or company that has shown leadership and commitment to tackling a significant problem in our state. Our 2025 Island Innovator of the Year is Joey and Christine Valenti of Bizia. Bizia is an environmental surfboard company based in Wahiawā, specializing in handcrafted boards and wood products made from reclaimed albizia wood. Their mission is to create sustainable watercraft while reducing landfill deposit and promoting regenerative practices.