Healani Land Co. transitions leadership to family's next generation

AIEA, (Hawaii) September 10, 2019 – Healani Land Co. Inc., founded decades ago by Howard K.O. Chong Jr., who was a former part owner of the iconic Hawaii home improvement company, City Mill, is stepping aside and promoting Stacy (Chong) Philippou, his daughter, to the top leadership role at the Aiea-based real estate investment and management firm, known for reeling in Hawaii’s first Best Buy store.

Philippou’s promotion to president and chief operating officer of Healani Land Co. became effective Sept. 1. Meantime, Chong will still remain as an integral part of the company as CEO and Chairman, taking on more of an advisory role through the transition. 

“She has earned it,” Chong said. “She started working for me for four years as a bookkeeper to office manager to higher roles, and now she is the president.”

Philippou, who is currently the director of commercial property management for Avalon Commercial LLC, a subsidiary of Honolulu-based Avalon Group, spent six years working her way up from a call center agent to senior program agent at the financial software giant, Intuit Inc. in Tucson, Arizona.

“My background is not in real estate,” she said. “But [Avalon Group President] Christine Camp really has taken me under her wing and so has everyone else there. I’ve learned so much in the last three years [at Avalon], [which] is such a unique company with so many knowledgeable people. It’s a really great environment to learn and thrive.”

Philippou, whose role at Avalon won’t be affected by her promotion, says there’s much to be accomplished at Healani Land Co., which owns eight acres of land in Aiea between Kamehameha Highway and Pearl Harbor that includes a plethora of industrial warehouse tenants and Best Buy, which replaced a Tony Honda car dealership on a 3.3-acre site in the early 2000s. The old Primo Brewing Co. was also once located on this property overlooking Pearl Harbor. 

“We have a rail station right in front of our property, and I want to mainly focus on diversification, as well as my main focus, as well as learning from Christine Camp and doing some development,” Philippou said, noting that the company may be looking at acquiring even more industrial-type properties. 

Howard Chong Jr., whose grandfather founded City Mill, managed to acquire Healani Land Co.’s prime eight acres through a stock trade. The land was once owned by Primo Brewery’s parent company, Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co., which was purchased by City Mill after the famous beer company needed cash, according to Chong.

In 1990, he created Healani Land Co., and some 30 years later, the company has come full circle and is now in the hands of the next generation of his family.

“While she does all of the work, I’ve got years of experience,” Chong said. “That’s what I’m here for – to help her. She has a lot to work with, especially with the Aiea area being ripe for development. I wish I could come back in 25 years and see what it’s turned out to be.”

And even if he’s not around to witness that, he’ll be able to rest assured knowing he left the company in capable hands. 
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“I’ve learned a lot from my dad, including the value of hard work, patience, timing and being able to roll up your sleeves and get dirty when you need to,” Philippou said. “I’ve also learned to foresee and plan for the hard times to come. I look forward to continuing the legacy of my family’s company.”