S2E18, Peter Ho, Bank of Hawaiʻi

Peter Ho, the Chairman, President and CEO of Bank of Hawaiʻi, provides valuable insights into his family legacy, career path, and the bank's commitment to its employees and the community. Ho grew up in a family of successful business leaders – his grandfather and father were self-made multi-millionaires – and he credits them for instilling in him a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. Ho values surrounding himself with smart people, especially women, and highlights the importance of teamwork, perseverance and leadership skills, which he believes can be developed through sports. He shares his experience working in the banking industry in New York City during the late 1980s and early 1990s and reflects on the impact of major events like the savings and loan crisis and the Gulf War. Ho discusses the value proposition of a regional bank in Hawaiʻi, where a combination of local talent, deep understanding of the communities being served and technical expertise from the mainland are all needed. BOH is helping to build a more resilient and diverse economy through partnerships, such as its "all-in" involvement with Hawai‘i based accelerator Mana Up. Ho also talks about the bank's philanthropic efforts, including its dedicated trust division that administers foundations and charitable trusts. He shares the bank's commitment to helping legacy families and new businesses give back to the community.