Chris Benjamin, a member of the inaugural PCF class of 1997, is the retired CEO of Alexander & Baldwin. Over 22 years at A&B, he held a range of leadership roles, including CFO, general manager of the HC&S sugar plantation, president of A&B Properties, COO, and CEO. A Michigan native, Chris moved to Hawai‘i in 1992 with his wife, Melissa, who was born and raised in Honolulu. Before joining A&B in 2001, he worked at General Motors, Sony, Booz-Allen and The Queen’s Health Systems.

Chris has served on more than a dozen nonprofit boards and chaired several, including The Nature Conservancy Hawai‘i Program, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i’s Board of Advisors, and the Hale Kipa Capital Campaign. Since retiring in 2023, he has focused on climate-related initiatives, founding and chairing Climate Hawai‘i and leading the Governor’s Climate Advisory Team.

Chris and Melissa have two married daughters living on the West Coast and recently welcomed their first grandchild, Violet.

Linda Miki, AIA, is a 2006 Pacific Century Fellow and serves on the PCF Board of Directors. She is Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair at Group 70 International (dba G70), a 100+ member multidisciplinary firm specializing in architecture, civil engineering, interior design, and planning. In 2022, Linda became the first female CEO in G70’s nearly 55-year history, a milestone that reflects her leadership and dedication to advancing the firm’s mission.

As an architect, Linda is passionate about adaptive reuse and resort projects and is committed to applying G70’s value of “creating HOPE for future generations” throughout her work in Hawai‘i and beyond. A strategist at heart, she is energized by simplifying complex challenges and thrives on problem solving.

She has served on the board of Laulima Ministries International since 2005 and also contributes her knowledge as a member of the YMCA of Honolulu’s Board of Directors.

Hawaii State Senator – District 17 

Donovan M. Dela Cruz, is a state senator from District 17, which encompasses Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipi‘o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village. Senator Dela Cruz is Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. 

Prior to becoming senator, he also served on the Honolulu City Council for eight years, serving as its Chair for three years, being the youngest chair in the history of the Council, at age 30. Senator Dela Cruz is a graduate of the University of Oregon where he earned a BA in Journalism and Communication Studies; Masters in Organization Leadership from Argosy University. 

Dr. Laurie Tom, Pacific Century Fellows alumna (Class of 1998), has practiced endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism for over 32 years. Early in her career, she joined the American Diabetes Association’s Hawaii Board, igniting her passion for volunteer leadership. She went on to serve as president for both Hawaii and Pacific Northwest regions and on the ADA’s national board. For 18 years, she co-chaired Honolulu’s Taking Control of Your Diabetes Conference and Health Fair.

Dr. Tom dedicated nine years to Chaminade University’s Board of Regents during a period of growth and has spent more than 27 years serving the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific (REHAB) Foundation and Hospital boards, where she co-founded the annual Joy of Food and Wine fundraiser. She currently serves on the UHA Health Insurance Physician Advisory Committee and is a founding member of the Women’s Prison Project. Throughout, she has championed the belief that better health strengthens communities.