Kahakauwila Named Top 20 Under 40

L to R: L.A. Limousines & Transportation Services’ VP of Operations Kyara Kahakauwila, Operations Manager Gina Frey, and President Edison Kahakauwila Vancouver, B.C. — When the sixth-annual Top 20 Under 40 Business and Community Achievement Awards announced its winners in April, a familiar industry face was among the prestigious list: Kyara Kahakauwila of L.A. Limousines & Transportation Services.

A panel of judges, which included mayors, councillors of Vancouver Island cities and towns, and prominent businesspeople whittled down the original list of 110 nominees to the final 20, with Kahakauwila standing out for her multifaceted background in serving her community, company, and family:

“Kahakauwila became the youngest elected woman in Canadian politics, winning a seat on the District of Metchosin Council in 1999. She served three consecutive terms and was deputy mayor to two mayors. She was also elected chair of the WestShore Chamber in 2009. Kahakauwila was also elected to the B.C. Chamber board of directors, but resigned her position after re-entering politics in 2014 on Metchosin council. She has served on numerous community boards, including the Jeneece Edroff Society, Capital Region Music Awards Society, bringing the Western Canadian Music Awards to Victoria, Visions Gala and co-chairing the Tip A Fool steering committee. Kahakauwila helped to grow L.A. Limousines Inc. from six cars in 2000 to 20 cars today. She also developed Luxury Wine Tours Inc., adding another layer of client experience to the company she operates with her husband. She is a mom of two teenage boys and has been known to run soccer practice when the coach was unavailable.”

Roger McKinnon, the chairman and founder of the awards and longtime real estate developer on the island, said that winners are selected not only for their business successes but also on the merit of how nominees give back to their communities, such as through charitable work, time or money contributions, or programs they have developed through their businesses.

The winners—11 women and nine men—were recognized during an April 21 black-tie gala, which hosted a sold-out crowd of more than 400 attendees who gathered at Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island Conference Centre. The celebration was right on the heels of Kahakauwila’s 40th birthday.

Visit 20under40.ca for more information.

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