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Lauren Yoo

Lauren Yoo

Vice President, The AJA Group

Coming from a family of passionate, hardworking restaurateurs in the Honolulu area, I bring over a decade of investment banking experience and economics background to The Aja Group, our family business (est. in 1999). We are passionate about infusing family recipes into the favored dishes at our accessible, quick-service restaurants.  Currently, we have locations at the Ala Moana Center (Aja Sushi & Bento and Poke & Box) and also service the students and staff at the University of Hawaii.

After high school, I attended Rutgers University (Economics ’02) before becoming a Wall Street banker with Lehman Brothers in New York and Japan.  While my experience helps grow the family business as The Aja Group’s Vice President, I take great pride in giving back to the communities in which I live. I believe community leaders are crucial in strengthening our tomorrow, our future.

I am honored to be the Past-President of the Palama Settlement’s Board of Directors, and a board member on the McKinley High School Foundation as well as a member of the Hawaii Chapter of EO (Entrepreneur Organization).  Working alongside accomplished business and community leaders in Honolulu is an incredible experience.

Having an impact in the community by working with the Palama Settlement and other non-profit organizations to strengthen the community is truly rewarding. Empowering others to enhance their well-being through education, health, recreation and the fine arts allows me to be a catalyst in assisting others to reach their full potential!

I am a perpetual learner with a curious mind and a forward-thinking mindset. As an innovator with an entrepreneurial heart, I know how to make things happen and have a strong capacity for connecting people.

What does joining HYS mean to you?

Music has been an integral part of my life from a young age.

Playing the cello in high school, I had the opportunity to participate as a member of the Hawaii Youth Symphony. At that time, the HYS consisted mostly of Punahou, Iolani, MidPac, and Kamehameha kids. I was one of the few public school students in the program.

My parents were not able to purchase instruments for my brother and me. I remember going to your Varsity office and trying different size instruments. A sweet, dedicated woman helped us by picking out the best conditioned instruments with the nicest cases. We felt like royalty!

The impact and generosity did not stop there. Our private lesson teachers gave us additional discounts that helped immensely as well. While at practice at Kamehameha Kapalama campus, I felt, as we locals call it “chicken skin.” Many years later, I learned that there was a term for this feeling – “music frisson.” This emotional, yet visceral feeling from music is everlasting. It is amazing to me that still today I experience music frisson and it is all due to the impact the Hawaii Youth Symphony had in my life at a young age.

I am truly honored to have the opportunity to use my experience to promote and help build the Pacific Music Institute into the top international music camp for teens.

My deepest gratitude to the Hawaii Youth Symphony for making music education happen for a teen that would not otherwise have had a chance to participate in such a wonderful opportunity. It made me into a person that appreciates cultures, creativity, and hard work.