DREAM Expo Hawai‘i wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of our Champions — individuals and organizations who said “yes” to the vision before it ever became a reality. These Champions believed in the dream before the doors opened. They invested, encouraged, and stood beside us to help create a space where dreamers and doers could gather, grow, and go further—together. Their support reminds us that every great move starts with someone willing to believe.

To every Dream Expo Champion: thank you for being part of the foundation.

You are not just supporters—you are legacy builders.

Dream Expo Champions

Phyllis Unebasami

Phyllis Unebasami is an educator and community leader with extensive experience in Hawaiʻi’s private and public educational systems and non-profit organizations. She is deeply involved in various boards and community initiatives, and continues to serve her community through consulting and mentoring work. Her passion for leadership and service remains a guiding force in her career and her decision to co-design Hawai’i’s first Dream Expo.

Michele Okimura

Michele Okimura is passionate about empowering every generation to Dream Big and live with purpose. Through her consulting work since 2015, she creates safe, transformative spaces where healing, restoration, and growth flourish. Her Dream Big Journal curriculum, for use in families, schools, and community organizations, inspires youth and adults alike to Dream Big. As founder and Executive Director of Releasing Generations, Michele has spent over a decade elevating the local Hawaiian community and beyond. Michele and her team was recognized with the  2023 “Outstanding Advocate of the Children and Youth of Hawaii” award presented by Governor Green and Mayor Blangiardi.  She believes in the Dream Expo as a powerful catalyst for all generations in Hawaii to DREAM BIG for their lives and for our state.

Francis Oda

Francis has received more than 50 design awards, including the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Our Divine Savior Church in Chico, California. In 2014, he was honored by Pacific Business News as Hawaii Business Leader of the Year. Francis’ other award-winning projects include the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, the Four Seasons Manele Bay Hotel, Hanauma Bay Nature Center and the Maluhia Golf Clubhouse.

Francis is a Fellow of the AIA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He was designated a Manoa Forum Fellow by the University of Hawaii, received the Gordon Bradley Humanitarian Award, and was inducted into the Hawaii Business Hall of Fame. Francis earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and a Doctor of Architecture from the University of Hawaii. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of the UH School of Architecture and a Distinguished Alumnus of the University where he developed the Doctor of Architecture program.

Francis is Senior Pastor and Board Chair of New Life Church Honolulu and serves as Global Chair of Transform Our World. Francis is married to Caroline Ward Oda. They have two children, Nalani and Reid.

Mike Rompel

Mike Rompel has one of the most powerful and inspiring “If you can dream it you can do it” stories. Starting with a salary of $5/hour with Dominos, Mike Rompel has been a Domino’s Pizza manager and franchisee for nearly 30 years, overseeing eight stores and 75 employees by the age of 19. He purchased his first store in 1998 in downtown San Francisco before first coming to Hawaii in 2005 to assist a friend’s franchise. Rompel then went on to settle on Oahu, purchasing six Domino’s Hawaii locations and building a brand that now includes over 800 team members across 23 locations. Mike was inducted to the Hawaii Restaurant Hall of Fame in 2024.  Mike is a family man of faith and serves as member of the board of trustee in many organizations. Together with his beautiful wife Karla they have a passion to serve the community and to create opportunities and pathways for others to also flourish and live their dreams realized.

Matt Kaneshiro

Matt Kaneshiro is a Local Boy, Family Man, Serial Entrepreneur, Leader in the Construction and Real Estate Management Industries and Servant in his community.

As a serial entrepreneur, Matt Kaneshiro is the President of Universal Matrix LLC, and Universal Matrix Management & Services. Matt’s ability to mentor and develop and entrepreneurial knowledge a solid form of successful partnerships and relationships have been developed. Matt has over 25 years of construction management, site management and entrepreneurial Business Development experience and property preventive maintenance experience. He has a reputation for quality assurance, systems management, customer service, Industrial crisis/conflict management and the heart to pull the right people together. 

As a builder and Chairman of “The Hawaii Prayer Breakfast” Matt is passionate about empowering individuals and the community to rise up to their greatest potential and live purposeful and impactful lives to elevate our beautiful state.  This passion led Matt and the Hawaii Prayer Breakfast to collaborate with House of Vuu Foundation to present the first ever Dream Expo Hawaii.

INDIVIDUALS

ORGANIZATIONS

The DREAM Expo is a springboard for the people of Hawaii, a community initiative designed to awaken dreams, elevate purpose, and empower individuals across Hawaiʻi to live with passion and impact. This annual gathering brings together leaders, learners, and visionaries from every sphere of influence.  Utilizing the DREAM Academy blueprint our signature structure to build with integrity, grow revenue through sustainable practices and creative innovation to provide insights, tools and access to resources positioning participants to believe, then live "Dreams Realized".

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