HPU'S BERNARD NUNIES NAMED SHRM HAWAI'I'S HR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Hawaiʻi Pacific University (HPU) Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Bernard Nunies was recently named SHRM Hawaiʻi’s 2026 HR Professional of the Year, honoring his leadership, professional accomplishments, and longstanding commitment to advancing human resources throughout the state.

Presented at the SHRM Hawaiʻi Conference & Expo on October 16^th in Honolulu, the award celebrates experienced HR professionals who have made meaningful contributions to their organizations, communities, and the profession.

For Nunies, whose career in human resources spans two decades, the achievement has a particular significance.

“I think it signifies that I’ve actually been able to make an impact on the human resources profession across the state of Hawaiʻi,” he said. “And for me, that’s very rewarding. I didn’t go into this looking for acknowledgement.”

An unexpected path to HR leadership

Nunies’ career in human resources began somewhat unexpectedly. After spending 13 years with Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), where he managed retail stores and developed a thorough understanding of the company’s operations and culture, he stepped into his first HR position as a director.

“I fell into HR accidentally. It wasn’t something that I had planned on doing,” he explained. “Because of that, I felt like an imposter.”

Determined to strengthen his knowledge and credibility, Nunies returned to school, taking human resources courses at the University of Hawaiʻi and earning his professional HR certification within two years. What initially felt like an unfamiliar or uncomfortable professional move became the foundation for a career dedicated to helping people and organizations succeed.

His subsequent experiences exposed him to different industries, organizational structures, and leadership challenges. After leaving DFS, he spent six years as an independent consultant, working with small and midsized businesses throughout Hawaiʻi and the Mid-Pacific region. He later joined HPU, where he learned to navigate the complexities of higher education, particularly the importance of building consensus among faculty, staff, and administrators in a shared governance environment.

His career continued at Tradewind Group, where he spent six years as Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, leading HR operations across a diverse family of companies. The position expanded his expertise into new areas, including executive compensation and benefits, while giving him experience working across multiple industries.

In December 2025, Nunies returned to HPU, drawn once again to the University’s mission and the opportunity to support its faculty and staff.

Advancing the HR profession through service and mentorship

While his professional experiences have broadened his expertise, Nunies credits his involvement with SHRM Hawaiʻi as one of the most influential parts of his career.

A volunteer with the organization since 2014, he has served in numerous leadership positions, including chapter president and state council director, a position he held for three years. His service has connected him with HR professionals across Hawaiʻi, the United States, and internationally, providing him a network of colleagues who understand the unique demands of the profession.

“SHRM Hawaiʻi has kind of been my grounding force within human resources,” he said. “Through the organization, I’ve met so many different people, and I’ve grown, especially from their experiences.”

Those relationships have been instrumental in his development. He recalls meeting an experienced HR professional at one of his earliest SHRM Hawaiʻi events who became a trusted mentor and longtime colleague. Her guidance helped him to navigate a field where many workplace challenges require discretion, leaving HR leaders with relatively few opportunities to openly discuss their experiences and seek advice.

Today, Nunies is working to provide that same support to others. After completing his service as state council director, he joined SHRM Hawaiʻi’s advisory council alongside four former board members. The group is developing a mentorship program to help prepare the next generation of HR leaders.

For Nunies, sharing knowledge also means being candid about the challenges and mistakes that come with experience. He openly shared that professional growth requires a willingness to learn, adapt, and take responsibility when things don’t go as planned.

“But it’s about how you pick back up. How you correct what’s been wronged and what to look for to move the organization forward,” he said.

Putting people first at HPU

That perspective continues to guide Nunies in his current leadership role at HPU, where he describes his approach as a combination of a specific leadership style and strategic thinking.

“I’m a servant leader. I like people to come first and to understand what their needs are,” he said.

He views human resources as an important connection between employees and senior leadership, helping faculty and staff have a voice in institutional decisions while also communicating the University’s priorities and the reasoning behind them.

His approach begins with identifying the desired outcome and working backwards to develop a plan. He often uses the analogy of paddling a canoe, emphasizing the importance of bringing people together around shared objectives and moving the same direction.

Since returning to HPU, Nunies has focused on strengthening the University’s human resources operations and compliance practices. Looking ahead, his priorities include improving employee compensation and benefits through consistent salary reviews, retirement contributions, and affordable healthcare. He also recognizes that these improvements depend on the University’s financial strength and a shared commitment to its long-term success.

These efforts reflect a central tenet of his leadership philosophy: investing in people is essential to attracting, developing, and retaining the talent an organization needs to thrive.

His recent achievement also offers an opportunity to draw attention to a profession whose contributions frequently happen behind the scenes. While other executive leadership positions often receive public accolades, Nunies believes HR professionals deserve greater visibility for the important role they play in organizational success.

“We are the group that stands for the people of every organization,” he said. “The 20 years I’ve been in human resources has been an incredible journey and experience. There’s still much more to come.”