9th Island Chamber launches in Las Vegas on May Day

By AI, Created 9:49 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The first Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Chamber and Foundation in Las Vegas debuted April 30, 2026, alongside May Day celebrations honoring NHPI culture. The organization aims to expand business ownership, workforce access, housing pathways and leadership opportunities across Southern Nevada and beyond.

Why it matters: - The 9th Island Chamber of Commerce and Foundation is designed to build economic opportunity for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Southern Nevada. - The launch targets long-standing gaps in business ownership, access to capital and institutional leadership for NHPI residents. - The organization ties cultural preservation to practical paths for wealth-building, homeownership and career advancement.

What happened: - The 9th Island Chamber of Commerce and Foundation officially launched in Las Vegas on April 30, 2026. - The debut aligned with May Day, also known as Lei Day, a celebration of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander culture and heritage. - Chuck Obina, founder, CEO and president, called the chamber “the gateway to Hawai‘i.” - Las Vegas is widely known as the “9th Island” and has one of the largest NHPI populations outside Hawai‘i.

The details: - The organization says it is building one of the most integrated chamber models in the United States. - Its structure combines business development, workforce pathways, housing access, youth engagement, women’s leadership and cultural preservation. - The Small Business Center will offer business formation and launch support, branding and growth strategies, educational programming, mentorship and access to capital resources. - The Small Business Center will also help businesses whose entities have been suspended, revoked or dissolved by the Nevada Secretary of State Business Division, including nonprofit and for-profit organizations. - The Women’s Council of Las Vegas focuses on mental health, healthcare access and leadership advancement. - The Women’s Council is intended to create pathways for women into management, executive and board-level roles. - The Women’s Council of Las Vegas is in the process of being trademarked. - The Chamber is developing youth programs that connect disconnected young people in Southern Nevada to workforce opportunities, trade careers and vocational education. - The Native Hawaiian Realtors Council is meant to expand homeownership access in the NHPI community. - The Realtors Council focuses on credit education, financial readiness, funding access and guidance through the homebuying process. - The Realtors Council is also being trademarked. - The Welcome and Resource Center will serve visitors, newcomers and local residents across Nevada. - The center will connect people to business opportunities, workforce resources and community services while preserving cultural identity. - The Chamber identified possible expansion markets including Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. - The organization’s website is the company’s website.

Between the lines: - The launch frames economic development as a community strategy, not just a business networking effort. - By pairing chambers, councils and resource centers under one umbrella, the organization is trying to create a pipeline from participation to ownership. - The emphasis on women, youth and homeownership signals a broad approach to generational wealth, not a single-program initiative. - The May Day timing adds cultural symbolism and helps position the launch as both economic and identity-driven.

What’s next: - The chamber will continue building out its Small Business Center, Women’s Council, youth pathways and Realtors Council. - Trademark work is underway for the Women’s Council of Las Vegas and the Native Hawaiian Realtors Council. - The Welcome and Resource Center is expected to become a central hub for services and community support. - The organization is laying groundwork for expansion into additional U.S. and Canadian cities.

The bottom line: - The 9th Island Chamber and Foundation is trying to turn cultural connection into a long-term economic infrastructure for NHPI communities in Las Vegas and beyond.