Ohana Unites Booz Allen Data Scientists in Honolulu

Did you know that in Hawaii, "Aloha" isn’t just a greeting? Aloha means compassion, love, peace, and mutual affection—extending warmth and caring with no obligation in return. That’s why the second you walk in the doors at the Booz Allen Honolulu office, you’re family, or “Ohana.”

Though Honolulu is nearly 2,500 miles from the mainland, there is a tremendous U.S. military presence in Hawaii and other areas in the Pacific Rim, such as Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. The Honolulu team is grateful and proud for its tight-knit teams that reinforce shared successes with resilience.

The Honolulu data science team focuses on technical skills development every day, like applications for augmented and virtual realities, machine learning, analytics, and automation. Booz Allen also makes sure data science teams get training in project management, process improvement, and domain expertise outside of their immediate skillsets. That’s a broad list, but holistic learning opportunities give data scientists a clear view into the bigger picture, and a full toolkit for solving tough problems.

Recently, the Honolulu office teamed up with Booz Allen colleagues from Seattle and Norfolk to eliminate the time it takes to import data from U.S. Navy messages with an automated solution using MS Access and MS SharePoint—the only technologies available to the client in question. The result helped reduce the workload of nine employees by 3 hours per day, freeing them to spend more time focused on warfighter readiness.

Booz Allen’s Honolulu-based Indo-Pacific Global 4Sight team is a great example of generational dynamics in action. Team lead Bill Florig, a retired U.S. Army colonel, brings 30 years of leadership and military service experience to the table, while his team of four young analysts brings fluency in Korean and Mandarin language and culture. Together, they represent a wide range of academic backgrounds including strategic studies, unconventional warfare, computer engineering, media, communications, and international development. This diverse portfolio of experience—coupled with the latest publicly available information, tools, and technology—makes a powerful impact through collective understanding and cultural diversity.

In Hawaii, it’s easy to see how closely Aloha and Ohana unite communities. Booz Allen’s Honolulu crew keeps the spirit of the islands strong through supporting local causes.

Julie Hong, a Booz Allen environmental scientist, helped launch a Hawaii-based nonprofit called Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE). The Honolulu office also partners with a nonprofit called Ho’ola Na Pua to help counter human trafficking through data science and awareness building across the state, federal, and local government.    

The Honolulu team further extends Ohana through its partnerships with universities in the area. Working with the University of Hawaii Engineering and Computer Science departments, Booz Allen supports the Hawaii State Science Fair. Through the Hawaii Annual Code Challenge (HACC), a hackathon-inspired competition designed to engage the community in modernizing state functions, services, and workforce development, Booz Allen employees coach teams on presentations and business plans.

The Honolulu office is a highly cooperative environment where people are willing and encouraged to share their knowledge and help wherever needed. In addition to that Ohana, it also offers enviable weather, energy, culture, and an office that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

If you’re ready to dive into the Aloha spirit, and have a passion for data science, analytics, or linguistics, check out Booz Allen opportunities in Honolulu.