This week on the One O‘ahu Podcast, Danielle Wills, founder of the Hawai‘i Black Chamber of Commerce, joins host Brandi Higa, to discuss Mayor Blangiardi’s proclamation ceremony celebrating Black History Month, the stories and historical figures who have influenced Black History in Hawai‘i, and how you can support black-owned businesses during the month of February and beyond.
Black History Month in the City and County of Honolulu
On Feb. 2, 2026, Mayor Blangiardi marked February as Black History Month in the City and County of Honolulu with a special proclamation ceremony held at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, recognizing the lasting contributions, perseverance, and leadership of Black Americans in Hawaiʻi and across the nation. The ceremony was held at Andrews Outdoor Theatre, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech on the topic “Progress Toward Desegregation” in 1964.
“The fact that we were able to be in that same space and continuing the positivity, (and) the message of bringing people together, was really, really important and really impactful,” said Danielle Wills.
The event brought together community leaders, educators, and residents to reflect on the Black experience in Hawaiʻi. Speakers highlighted themes of justice, unity, shared humanity, and the importance of honoring history not only during Black History Month, but throughout the year.
Black History in our islands
Black history in Hawaiʻi stretches back more than two centuries and includes trailblazers who arrived as early settlers, served as royal advisors, and led their communities.
“One of the most important figures to me, and it’s because I run the Hawai‘i Black Chamber of Commerce is Anthony D. Allen,” added Wills. “He arrived in 1810 and he was a very respected business owner on island a community leader in Honolulu.”
She goes on to explain on this week’s episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast that many of the stories she learned of were from speaking with elders and community leaders who shared the important role Black Americans played in shaping our island’s history, culture, and values for more than two centuries.
Hawai‘i Black Chamber of Commerce
Danielle Wills founded the Hawai‘i Black Chamber of Commerce in 2023 and serves as the President of the Board and Executive Director. Founded on the principles of equity, innovation, and unity, the Chamber serve as a vital force of support, advocacy, and celebration for Black professionals and entrepreneurs building thriving lives and legacies right here in Hawai‘i.
“We’re here to just really establish a safe space for a lot of black business owners,” added Wills. “(To) let them know they are not in an island on an island, that communities care for them and help them be visible in the community and (to) help them grow.”
To learn more about the chamber and to get involved, visit https://www.hiblkchamber.org/
