Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce

What Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce does

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce (HJCC) is a private nonprofit chamber of commerce founded in 1900 and headquartered at 2454 South Beretania Street in Honolulu, Hawaii. It operates under the guiding principle "Members Supporting Members" and serves the Japanese-American business community in Hawaii, with an explicit mission of promoting business and economic growth through networking, cultural programming, and community engagement. The organization celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2025, indicating over a century of continuous operation as the only Japanese chamber of commerce in the state.

The Chamber's offerings center on three recurring signature events — the annual Chopsticks & Wine culinary fundraiser (22nd edition in April 2026, hosting 1,000+ guests at Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort), the Samurai Classic Golf Tournament (49th edition), and the Shinnen Enkai New Year's Celebration (80th edition in January 2026) — alongside structured programs such as the Leadership & Entrepreneurial Exchange Program (LEEP), a Mentorship Program, and the HJCC Art Exhibition. Membership is segmented across six corporate tiers (Chairman's Circle, President's Circle, Director's Circle, Executive Circle, Corporate Circle, Small Business Circle), with specific dues not publicly disclosed. The Chamber monetizes through annual membership dues, tiered event sponsorships (e.g., SHOGUN at $2,500, DAIMYO at $2,000, SAMURAI team entry at $750), and event registrations, with operations supported by a small staff and volunteer-led Board of Directors.

Distribution and outreach occur through direct membership sales, a GrowthZone-powered website with self-serve registration, and member referral channels. The organization operates a sole office in Hawaii and focuses exclusively on the local market, primarily Oahu, while maintaining a minor international sister-chamber relationship with the Chigasaki Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Japan. An affiliated HJCC Charitable Corporation operates as a 501(c)(3) entity to extend programmatic reach into charitable activity. No proprietary technology, revenue figures, or headcount data are publicly disclosed.

Name

Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://hjcc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce is a 125-year-old nonprofit membership organization in Honolulu, Hawaii, serving Japanese-American businesses through tiered membership, networking events, and cultural programming including Chopsticks & Wine, the Samurai Classic Golf Tournament, and Shinnen Enkai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos (MPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce
• Business networking
• Professional development
• Membership services
• Cultural exchange programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership-based business organization founded in 1900 that promotes business and economic growth in Hawaii under the principle 'Members Supporting Members.' It delivers value through tiered corporate membership programs, signature networking and fundraising events (Chopsticks & Wine, Samurai Classic Golf Tournament, Shinnen Enkai), professional development programs (LEEP and Mentorship), cultural programming (HJCC Art Exhibition, Kabuki performances, taiko drumming), and community service initiatives.

Product overview

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce operates as a membership-based business organization offering programs centered on networking, professional development, cultural exchange, and community engagement. The core offerings include signature events such as the Chopsticks & Wine fundraising event, the Samurai Classic Golf Tournament, and the Shinnen Enkai New Year's Celebration. Additionally, the Chamber provides professional development through the Leadership & Entrepreneurial Exchange Program (LEEP) and Mentorship Program, along with cultural programming including the HJCC Art Exhibition. The organization functions as a platform for business connections under the guiding principle of 'Members Supporting Members.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chopsticks & Wine The HJCC's signature annual fundraising event featuring cuisine from Hawaii's finest chefs paired with wines and spirits from various distributors, including a silent auction, live entertainment, and a VIP experience with premium wine tasting. Targeted at HJCC members and the broader Hawaii culinary and business community.
• Samurai Classic Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament hosting HJCC members and guests for friendly competition, networking, and camaraderie. The event sells out annually and features various sponsorship tiers including Shogun, Daimyo, and Samurai levels.
• Shinnen Enkai (New Year's Celebration) Annual New Year's celebration event featuring traditional Japanese cultural performances including kabuki, taiko drumming, mochi pounding demonstrations, and performances celebrating Japanese heritage and community.
• Leadership & Entrepreneurial Exchange Program (LEEP) Leadership development program designed to foster entrepreneurial skills and business leadership among HJCC members through educational programming and exchange opportunities.
• Mentorship Program Program connecting experienced business professionals with emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for guidance, knowledge sharing, and professional development within the Japanese-American business community.
• HJCC Art Exhibition Annual juried art exhibition showcasing Japanese artists in Hawaii, promoting Japanese culture and supporting member businesses.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce (HJJCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Sister organization focused on young professionals. HJCC and HJJCC regularly collaborate on community service initiatives such as the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, with combined volunteer efforts for community impact.
• National Association of Letter Carriers / Hawaii FoodbankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Annual participation in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, a nationwide initiative supporting local food banks. HJCC volunteers assist with sorting and collecting donated food items.
• Chigasaki Chamber of Commerce & IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024International sister chamber relationship. Chigasaki Chamber Chair and representative visited HJCC office and participated in the Honolulu Festival. Both chambers maintain ongoing collaboration.
• Tenrikyo Mission HawaiiminorOthersCultural partner providing mochi pounding demonstration at Shinnen Enkai New Year's Celebration events. Supports Japanese cultural traditions at Chamber events.
• Izumo Taishakkyo Mission of HawaiiminorOthersMember vendor selling omamori (protective charm) at Shinnen Enkai New Year's Celebration. Cultural and member partnership.
• Hanayagi Dancing AcademyminorOthersCultural institution providing Kabuki makeup and kimono services for Shinnen Enkai performances since 1938. Long-standing tradition partner for Japanese cultural programming.
• Ryugen TaikominorOthersTaiko drumming performance group that provides traditional Japanese drum performances at Chamber signature events.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii: Ethnic business chamber operating in Hawaii, serving Filipino-American business community. Same fundamental chamber-of-commerce model as HJCC — tiered membership, networking events, cultural heritage programming — providing a direct same-market peer for ethnic chamber comparison.
• Chamber of Commerce Hawaii: The general statewide business chamber in Hawaii, operating in the same Honolulu market as HJCC. Comparable in core chamber functions (membership tiers, advocacy, networking events) but broader in scope, not focused on a single ethnic community — useful benchmark for overall Hawaii chamber scale.
• Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California: The largest Japanese-American business chamber on the US West Coast, serving the Bay Area Japanese business community. Directly comparable model: tiered corporate membership, signature networking events, and Japan-US business bridge positioning — same fundamental value proposition as HJCC but in a larger metropolitan market.
• Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii: Ethnic business chamber operating in the same Hawaii market as HJCC. Directly comparable in business model (membership tiers, signature events, cultural programming) but serves the Chinese-American business community, providing a useful benchmark for ethnic chamber dynamics in Hawaii.
• Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California: Long-standing Japanese-American business chamber serving the Los Angeles area, with similar tiered membership, signature annual events, and cultural programming. Comparable in mission and structure to HJCC, operating in a different but similarly Japanese-heritage-rich geographic market.
• Japan Society: New York-based organization promoting Japan-US cultural, business, and policy exchange. Comparable to HJCC in bridging Japanese heritage and American professional community through events, programming, and member benefits — but operates at significantly larger scale in a major metro.

Broad incumbents

• U.S.-Japan Council: National-level bilateral organization connecting US and Japanese business, policy, and community leaders. Larger scope than HJCC but overlapping mission of building Japan-US ties — represents the broader ecosystem in which HJCC operates and could partner or compete with for high-level engagement.

Others

• Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii: Cultural heritage institution in Honolulu focused on preserving and sharing Japanese-American history in Hawaii. Shares the Japanese-Hawaii community mission with HJCC and operates in the same market, but functions primarily as a museum/cultural center rather than business chamber — useful adjacent peer for community ecosystem mapping.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HonoluluJapaneseChamber
• Instagraminstagram.com/hjcc808
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/honolulu-japanese-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce