Yao takes helm As she rose up the corporate ladder, Lily Yao blazed a number of new trails for isle female executives.
at Hawaii chamber
Chairwoman hopes
to step up the group's
legislative effortsStar-Bulletin staff
She was one the first women to head a local financial institution when she became president and chief executive officer of Pioneer Federal Savings Bank in 1984.
She later became the first female vice chair in the 143-year history of First Hawaiian Bank after the bank acquired Pioneer in 1993.
Yesterday, Yao assumed the chairmanship of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, making her the first Asian American female to head the 151-year-old business organization and its third female chair.
During a news conference yesterday, Yao said she hopes her career could serve as an example for many women who want to achieve their goals in business. She replaced the chamber's outgoing chairman, Scott May of Cardinal Mailing Service.
"I hope my leadership here at the chamber will encourage a lot more women in business," Yao said yesterday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, where the chamber held its annual membership luncheon. "Women shouldn't feel intimidated ... because there really is no glass ceiling."
As the chamber's new chairwoman, one of Yao's key goals will be to step up the chamber's legislative efforts.
She said the chamber's top executives, including president Stanley Hong and the chamber's board members, will increase their presence in the state Capitol to push the business community's agenda, which includes corporate tax relief.
The chamber hopes to leverage its message by coordinating its lobbying and promotional efforts with other local business organizations, she said.
On the education front, Yao noted the appointments of David McClain, dean of the University of Hawaii business school and Kamehameha Schools Chief Executive Hamilton McCubbin as chairman and vice chair of the council's education committee.
Military affairs will retain its high priority during her tenure, Yao said.
She noted that annual defense spending in Hawaii approaches about $4 billion, contributes about $640 million a year in taxes and accounts for thousands of jobs in Hawaii, she said.
"We will strive to provide the needed leadership for business organizations so we can build a brighter future for all the businesses and people of Hawaii," she said.