Shar Tuiasoa didn’t start with connections, capital, or a clear plan. She started with late nights waiting tables in Kailua, raising kids while finishing her art degree, and returning home to Hawai‘i with no job prospects in sight. Fear was always there, but instead of letting it crush her, she learned to work with it. What began as “pretend” projects turned into a thriving art business rooted in bold, vibrant illustrations that now travel the globe.

From Kailua kid to Hale ʻAina Restaurateur of the Year, Dusty’s journey isn’t about short-term wins, but about growth, service, and building a body of work that attracts opportunity. Through it all, one theme has guided him: what others call luck is often the byproduct of choosing growth over comfort, again and again.