Christopher Dawson
Social & Cultural Entrepreneur and Polo Player.
Christopher Mailani Dawson is a Native Hawaiian social entrepreneur dedicated to creating wide-scale economic and cultural impact. Over the last three decades, he has launched several successful ventures, including the Hawaiian Native Corporation (HNC), Hawaii Polo Life, and DAWSON – HNC’s family of subsidiary companies.
Founded in 1994, DAWSON employs over 1,200 people across 18 offices worldwide. Since inception, DAWSON has provided more than $100 million in economic impact to the global Native Hawaiian community through:
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Monetary Contributions
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In-Kind Contributions (labor, services, materials, and goods)
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Economic Engines (job creation, partnerships with local vendors, and contracts with Native Hawaiian businesses)
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Cultural & Historical Awareness (education and outreach promoting Native Hawaiian history and culture)
In addition to being a serial entrepreneur, Chris is an internationally accomplished polo player and a leader in his sport. He sponsored the Hawaii Polo Life Women’s team at the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championships in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, with the team winning the Championships in 2019, 2020 and 2022. He served on the United States Polo Association board for over ten years. In 2013, Chris was inspired to re-energize the sport in Hawai‘i and founded the Hawaii International Polo Association.
Chris is dedicated to supporting the Native Hawaiian community through philanthropy, his business enterprises, and his work to teach Hawaiian history and culture through the lens of polo.
“I’m a social entrepreneur—someone who focuses first and foremost not on profit, but on creating widespread social and economic good.” – Chris Dawson
