About

About Better Hawaii:

Since 2010, “Better Hawaii” is not only about a better Hawaii, it’s a challenge to better Hawaii – and ourselves.

It started with GoodReads.com, because they sent me the book “Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone” (2009) by Mitch Joel. I felt a little overwhelmed, but one line jumped out at me: “Start your own blog – now” (page 262). But it began even earlier than that, with a challenge to step out of your comfort zone by teenagers Alex and Brett Harris in their book, “Do Hard Things.”

Like me, you probably don’t like being told what to do. But the words stuck with me. That night I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking about the things I want to say.

It made me realize that I want to be heard. I don’t want to regret being silent when everything around me can be better. I promise not to make complaints without also offering solutions.

Our leaders don’t have all the answers – we do! Please join me in coming up with ideas and innovations to make Hawaii exceptional.

About Rachelle Chang:

Born and raised in Hawaii, I graduated from Kamehameha High School (Honolulu, HI) and from Pomona College (Claremont, CA) with a bachelor’s degree in English. I thought I might become a librarian or work in a bookstore, but I ended up in marketing – first for a start-up software company OCRON (Sunnyvale, CA), which became NewSoft America (Fremont, CA); and then for an online ad-serving company, AdForce (Cupertino, CA).

Today, I am executive director at Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii, a nonprofit mental health counseling center; and I am a partner in a radio-controlled electronics company. I volunteer on the boards of my homeowners association and a local pottery hui. I am a mother, a reader, and an optimist. I’m not a member of any political party, I don’t copy talking points from any organization, and I’m reluctant to step forward. But I will. I promise not to make complaints without also offering solutions – or at least different perspectives.