About

About John

John is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the most widely recognized coaching body, and he received training as a Professional Executive Coach by the Co-Active Training Institute, one of the leading coaching organizations in the world.

As a professional Executive Coach in Honolulu, Hawaii, John coaches leaders across the country and around the world. Using his experience in business, government, and non-profit work, combined with his warm interpersonal skills and his dedication to coaching, John has successfully assisted leaders overcome challenges and reach their goals. Understanding that each client is unique, he has helped clients with objectives that include everything from refining their strategic vision and pushing through the barriers impeding success to creating a life that works while making a lasting positive impact.

For the past 15 years, John has led the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Hawaii Pacific Export Council as Executive Secretary, appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. In that time, John has overseen the complete transformation of the all-volunteer board, while leading a financial turnaround from a dwindling bank balance of $6,000 to over $890,000 in new grant awards. Today, out of 61 District Export Councils nationwide, the Hawaii Pacific Export Council is the most well capitalized nonprofit board in the country.

John also serves as the Director of the Pacific for the U.S. Commercial Service, the frontline trade promotion agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. He previously worked at the Commerce headquarters in Washington D.C. and as a Foreign Service Officer on temporary assignments in Beijing, China; Budapest, Hungary; and Singapore.

In his spare time, John enjoys outdoor adventures, creating new works of art through painting, and practicing Vipassana meditation. He has traveled to all seven continents and has channeled his inner Eagle Scout by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas. John also volunteers with Bristol Hospice Hawaii and is an active member of DBA Toastmasters, a public speaking club.

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“It is always present inside you. You can use it any way you want.”

— Tao te Ching (Stephen Mitchell translation)

What my clients say

Tamara Chang, MD

ENTREPRENEUR, PINK COAT

“John is an incredibly powerful, gifted coach who brings a level of insight that I find truly remarkable. He is highly skilled, professional and personal in all he does. I trust him completely.”

MARK FORD

DIRECTOR, FEEDING AMERICA

“John is an amazing coach and mentor. He has incredible insight and intuition that he uses to help guide me in the journey of discovery. He also was able to challenge me in a caring manner that helped me see things through a different lens. His checks-ins and the materials he provided outside the coaching sessions demonstrated his commitment to my growth as a leader and his true care and support. John is wise beyond his years and his calming and peaceful demeanor always set a great environment and tone for our sessions.

John helped me better understand, embrace, and personalize the Noble Purpose Leadership approach that I have incorporated both in my professional and personal life. I was able to track my growth, learnings and phases of development as a leader. I feel I have a box of great tools that I can utilize in supporting the leader I am and can continue to grow into. It was an amazing journey of discovery and embracing the leadership style that I want to pursue in my golden years of life. I will always be grateful for John's guidance and support.”

Travis Ito

CEO, BLUE LOGIC LABS

“Coaching with John is truly a transformative experience. After each coaching session I felt like I had gained an insight that would help me grow personally and professionally. John also served as an accountability partner, which helped me to set and achieve goals and keep my word to myself and others.

Thank you for coaching me the past six months - we covered a whole lot of ground. I can feel myself breaking through (breakthrough) some of the old cultural conditioning and bad habits that are no longer serving me. It's been awesome!

I would highly recommend working with John if you're looking to take your life to the next level!”

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