For businesswoman Gerri Hayes, being told that “you can’t do it” just makes her more determined to succeed. Gerri shares her survival story as a single mother of two young children who moved to Hawaii to take a human-services job that didn't materialize. She founded a business, Office Pavilion Hawaii, providing furniture to workplaces. It was hailed by Pacific Business News as 2011's top female-owned business in the Islands, with revenues that year of $37 million.

Skippa Diaz is a big guy with a big heart who has had a big influence on the students he taught and the athletes he coached. He’s best known as the head football coach at Farrington High School for two decades, starting in the 1980s.

Colbert Matsumoto grew up on Lanai when it was a pineapple plantation employing both his father and mother. He didn’t set foot on the Continent until he was a college freshman. And he grew up to become an attorney, insurance company executive and business and community leader in Hawaii.

As a young boy growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana, Victor Marx was beaten, electrocuted, and tortured by his stepfather. By the time he graduated from high school, he was “using drugs, fighting and stealing.

When Mitch DʻOlier arrived in Hawaii from Iowa, fresh out of law school, he fell in love with the islands. Since then, he has helmed Hawaiian Airlines, helped guide the development of Kakaako and Kailua, and has found time to support public education in Hawaii.

The next LONG STORY SHORT features Mike Irish, known as Hawaii’s “kim chee king.” As a young man starting college, Mike broke his neck in a football impact which left him paralyzed. He had to leave college and faced the prospect of never walking again.

Frank Padgett’s B-24 bomber was shot down over Indochina in World War II. Held prisoner by the Japanese, he was subjected to torture by one of the more abusive arms of the Japanese forces. Padgett survived the torture, disease and what was then known as “shell shock,” eventually became a lawyer in Hawaiʻi, and was later appointed to the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.

Retired Hawaii State Auditor Marion Higa learned from her parents not to let her gender stand in the way of her goals. On this episode, she matter-of-factly shares her story of seeking the State Auditor position, back when few women in the U.S. had such top jobs.

Mark Dunkerley is most happy when he’s flying an airplane – upside down. The Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO grew up with aviation fuel in his blood, flying unaccompanied between boarding school in London and his parent’s home in Washington D.C., and eventually earned a degree in Air Transport Economics.

Patti Lyons has been showered with awards this year – recognizing her nearly half-century of devotion to her work in child welfare. But this social worker's tireless efforts to protect Hawaii's abused and neglected children weren't always appreciated. Lyons spent years battling a state bureaucracy while working directly with countless families to prevent abuse. Her persistence paid off and Lyons' achievements include helping to establish state Child Protective Services, Hawaii Healthy Start and the Consuelo Foundation which serves children in Hawaii and the Philippines.