Lisa Pakele is a dynamic leader who has dedicated her career to empowering communities and preserving cultural heritage in Hawaii. As the Program Director for INPEACE’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Lisa has been instrumental in helping aspiring business owners turn their dreams into reality. Her journey with INPEACE began over 22 years ago, first in early childhood education, where she oversaw programs that supported families and young children. About seven years ago, she transitioned to business development, recognizing the entrepreneurial potential within the families she served.

In addition to her work with INPEACE, Lisa is the owner of Pakele Entertainment LLC, a business she co-founded with her late husband, a celebrated artist in Hawaii. Pakele Entertainment was founded in 2019 with the mission to provide live music entertainment, sound system services, and studio space for the next generation of creative artists. The firm continues to operate as a small, family-run business, currently employing Lisa and her son, who is also a recording artist under their label.

Pakele Entertainment serves a diverse audience, including local communities, event organizers, and emerging artists. The business is deeply rooted in Hawaii’s cultural landscape, offering not just services but a continuation of a family legacy in the performing arts. Through her dual roles, Lisa has been able to support and uplift the community while navigating the challenges of running a business herself, embodying the spirit of resilience and cultural pride.

Before becoming an MBDA client, Lisa faced several challenges in managing and growing Pakele Entertainment. Although she had extensive experience in the entertainment industry, having been involved for 30 years alongside her late husband, Lisa struggled with the complexities of running a business, particularly in areas like business planning, financial management, and identifying the right niche in the industry.

One of the significant challenges Lisa encountered was the lack of a structured business plan. Despite her passion and experience, she found it difficult to create a systematic approach to business operations, which hindered her ability to scale and sustain growth. Additionally, as a small, family-run business, Pakele Entertainment lacked the resources and connections necessary to expand its services and reach a broader audience.

Through her dual role as Program Director for INPEACE’s Center for Entrepreneurship and a business owner, Lisa was also deeply involved in supporting other small businesses in her community. However, this responsibility left her with little time to focus on her own business's strategic growth.
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Lisa journey with MBDA has been marked by personalized support and valuable resources that addressed specific challenges in her business. One of the most significant areas where MBDA made an impact was in providing structured business plan support. Lisa had identified a gap in her ability to develop and maintain a comprehensive business plan, which will be crucial for guiding her business’s growth. Through MBDA, she connected with Senior Manager Valerie Kubota, who offered programs, workshops, and coaching specifically focused on building and strengthening business plans.

The Foundations program is providing Lisa with essential tools, such as organizing business documents, creating checklists, and setting up a system to track her progress. This structure helped her not only clarify her business goals but also gave her a replicable system that she can use to support other businesses she works with at INPEACE’s Center for Entrepreneurship.

Beyond business planning, MBDA also served as a sounding board for Lisa, offering her access to a network of experts and resources. Val’s willingness to engage with Lisa and help her navigate the complexities of both her nonprofit role and her business endeavors was instrumental in Lisa’s success. The ability to bounce ideas off someone knowledgeable and receive practical advice tailored to her needs gave Lisa the confidence to move forward with her plans.