JASH Movers & Shakers: Talk Story with Ryan Ko

Japan-America Society of Hawaii’s Movers & Shakers Talk Story with Ryan Ko is Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Westman Cafe, 1000 Auahi Street in Ward Village’s Kōʻula Shops. Ko is vice president and COO of Westman Group and chair of the Hawaii Restaurant Association. The night is conversation, food, and introductions through JASH NexGen. Early-bird pricing ended November 5. Listed rates now are $60 for members and $65 for non-members. Register on the PayPal link from the JASH calendar. Same evening, Honolulu Japanese Chamber runs Flora Dec the Halls at Flora-Dec on Halekauwila—member shopping density, not a Japan-U.S. talk story.

Westman Group’s local footprint includes Westman Cafe, Kaimuki Shokudo, and BŪHO Cocina y Cantina. Ko’s restaurant-association seat makes this a hospitality-operator night as much as a JASH membership social. JASH is Honolulu’s long-running Japan-America society; Movers & Shakers is the NexGen professional lane, separate from Japan Day school programs and the Bridge Awards dinner earlier in the fall.

Hospitality operators, Japan-corridor professionals, and early-career people who want a Ward pau hana with a named COO will fit. Bring one question about building restaurant teams or Hawaii hospitality careers. The student MIRAI Leaders session with Ko on November 15 is classroom-facing—different badge.

Free self-parking is listed at the Aeʻo (Whole Foods) garage, levels 4 and up. Keep your PayPal confirmation. Re-check JASH if the start time or room note shifts.