Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i announced Feb. 25 that President Harry Saunders would retire at the end of February after nearly five decades of service. Saunders, who led the company’s Hawai‘i operations since 2001, will remain on the company’s board of directors.
“Leading Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Saunders said in a news release. “For nearly 50 years, I have had the privilege of working with an incredible team dedicated to building communities that support local families and businesses. I’m proud of what we have accomplished together and I look forward to seeing Castle & Cooke continue to shape Hawai‘i’s future.”
Saunders, who was hired by Castle & Cooke in 1975, played a key role in overseeing residential, commercial, agricultural and renewable energy operations across O‘ahu, Lāna‘i and Hawai‘i island over the ensuing decades. One of his most notable achievements was the completion of more than 16,000 homes in Mililani, Hawai‘i’s first master-planned community. He also oversaw the creation of Koa Ridge in central O‘ahu, which welcomed its first residents in 2020.
Beyond residential development, Saunders also expanded Castle & Cooke’s commercial holdings that now include 790,000 square feet of office and retail space. He also led diversification efforts into aviation services and agritourism, including the transformation of Dole Plantation into one of Hawai‘i’s most-visited attractions.
Saunders was succeeded by Garret Matsunami, who previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective March 1. Matsunami, who joined Castle & Cooke in 2003, currently oversees two major upcoming Castle & Cooke projects: Waiakoa at Block D in Kaka‘ako and the Iwilei Master Plan.
“I am deeply honored to follow in Harry’s footsteps and lead Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i into its next chapter. His leadership and vision have created a strong foundation for our future,” Matsunami said in the release. “I am excited for the future and confident that with our collective expertise, passion and commitment, we can continue to create thriving communities and meaningful projects for Hawai‘i.”
