"I’m glad I started my career as a journalist and that shaped my sense of community and public service. Journalists help people make good, informed decisions on issues that affect all of us. Today, I help organizations inform the public about their missions and activities in such a way that partnerships can develop. In the end, we’re working for a stronger, more vibrant community. That is my hope for today and for the next generation."

Barbara Tanabe is a communications and issues management specialist with 25 years of experience in public affairs, crisis management, and broadcast journalism in the United States and Asia.

As president and chief executive officer of Hill & Knowlton/ Communications Pacific, when it was part of a worldwide public relations company, and of her own consulting firm, Pacific Century, she counseled executives and government officials in the areas of cross-cultural communications, crisis and issues management, marketing communications, and news and presentation training.

Ms. Tanabe began her career in Seattle and Honolulu television stations as one of the first Asian-American women reporters and anchors. She received a Special Recognition Award from the national Asian American Journalists Association for being one of the first to break the color and gender barrier in broadcast news. She was selected by the Washington Press Club Foundation for an oral history project on pioneer women journalists, and was honored with the first Pioneer Award by the Hawaii chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. She received numerous awards, including an Emmy for a documentary on the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.

Ms. Tanabe was recognized for her community and professional leadership with a YWCA Outstanding Achievement Award in 1987 and was inducted into the University of Hawaii College of Business Administration Alumni Hall of Honor. She is the first woman to chair the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. She is currently a director of the Bank of Hawaii as well as various community and education-based organizations.

Community Services

Founding board chair, Hawaii Institute of Public Affairs
Board Chair, Japan-America Society of Hawaii
Board member, Pacific Forum, Asia arm of the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Advisory Board member, University of Hawaii Travel Industry Management School
Executive Advisory Council, Honolulu Community College
Delegate, White House Conference on Families

Education

BA in Communications, University of Washington
MBA, University of Hawaii