Steve Sue

About

BIO & PICS

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Steve Sue, Chief Lemon Head Lemonade Alley, Big Buzz at BizzyB.com, Chairman Bizgenics Foundation

SHORT BIO:

Steve Sue is best known as a champion of the Shaka gesture having produced the documentary, “Shaka, A Story of Aloha,” the first in a trilogy of Aloha Spirit films that includes “The 100th, Seeds of Aloha” and “ʻONO, Foods of Aloha.” He also founded Project Shaka a non-profit movement that includes the Aloha Film Trilogy, wrote the 2024 bill that made the Shaka the Official Gesture of Hawai’i and created the Hawai’i DMV Shaka License Plate. He serves as Chairperson at ID8 (ide•ate), the Hawai’i 501C3 nonprofit behind Project Shaka.

He owns O-WOW, Inc., a digital automation firm that specializes in custom software, app and website automations, and SumoSum.com, a free visually-oriented financial forecasting application.

His career spans 25 years as a story expert, conceptualist and social venturer in entertainment, hospitality, food service, retail, product and software. Steve holds a BA in design from UCLA and a JD in law from UC Berkeley.

THE DEEP DIVE…

Conceptualist: Steve’s education in design and law resulted in a career as a conceptualist and “story guy” of theme parks, live entertainment productions, corporate theater, retail environments, restaurants, product brands and resort casinos.

Software Developer: In his mid-career, Autodesk provided a turning point by licensing his signature hand-drawing style for use within AutoCAD products. While helping create algorithms that mimic his hand drawing style, he learned how to develop software. Soon after, he began developing software products of his own.

Social Venturer: In 2009, Steve married his dream girl and settled in Hawai’i. Since then, Steve has created ventures from Hawai’i, including SumoSum.com, a visually-based financial forecasting application. He also has executed local projects including the creation of ChefZone for Y. Hata & Company, the rebranding of Waikiki Trolley, and built a food bank app for The Pantry.

Mentor: Through ID8 501C3, Steve is known as a pioneer of project-based learning, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship models having created Lemonade Alley (a culinary entrepreneurship challenge), Project Lemon Tree (a school tree planting program), BizzyB.com (a project-based learning application) and a number of PBL curriculum models for entrepreneurship, app development and search engine optimization (“SEO”) writing. He also founded ID8 Studios (a digital media soundstage operated by ID8 for the State of Hawai‘i).

Boards & Advisory: Steve has served on several local boards and advisory groups including Feeding Hawai’i Together, Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawai’i, Scouting BSA (Steve is an Eagle Scout), Blue Startups, Hawai’iloa EcosySTEM Cabinet, A’o Aloha Social Emotional Learning Collaborative, Hawai’i State Workforce Development Council and the James Campbell High School Academy Advisory Board.

Just take your time. Let the others go… then catch the big one.”

~ Duke Kahanamoku, Legendary Surfer

MENTOR MATH

We are the sum of others…

Life Basics

[strong]Love:[/strong] My mom, [em][strong]Darlene Sue[/strong][/em] taught me how to love, live and give. Since my dad was a super-hard worker, she was the one to teach me sports and how to be a boy. She taught me how to compete (we played doubles tennis tourneys). And how to be a good sport. She was frugal beyond being Chinese so I learned the art of getting by on less. She taught me how to smile and get smiles out of others. Mom was a star of stars. You’re the best Mom and I love you. [br][br] [strong]Determination: [/strong]My pop, [em][strong]John Sue[/strong][/em] was a landscape architect turned contractor turned real estate developer. He taught me grindstone determination and perseverance. He taught me how to be an entrepreneur. He taught me the meaning of “GSD” decades before it became a popular saying. Every time I win, I think, “This one’s for you Dad.” Now that I’m sort of grown up, I see I’ve turned into him in many ways. SCARY! But I don’t hate the result. Thanks for the hard love Dad. I love you. [br][br] [strong]Differentiation: [/strong]My 3rd & 4th grade teachers, [em][strong]Mrs. Thompson [/strong][/em]&[em][strong] Mrs. Selby[/strong][/em] encouraged me to blossom in the arts at the expense of compromised STEM and 3Rs. I eventually caught up on all that stuff years later. But supporting my unique qualities was a risk and therefore an amazing thing for them to do. I doubt that modern-day teachers would take on the liability of such backing. But so far, I haven’t chainsawed anyone yet, so I think their strategy has a chance of working out. [br][br] [strong]Connecting: [/strong]My Boy Scout leader [em][strong]Greg Hyde[/strong][/em] was just “Greg” to all of us. I take that with me today having the kids call me “Mr. Steve” rather than Mr. Sue. Like Greg, I aspire to connect like him. He was a rock star. And he was a consummate outdoorsman. Through him, I learned how to see nature, tie knots, be resourceful and survive. Thanks Greg for belaying me up the first pitch of life.