Steven Loui
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Vital Information
- Birth Place: Hawaii (likely)
- Parents: Fred Loui, Alyce Loui
- Education: Stanford University (Engineering degree)
- Occupation: Business Executive, Engineer, President of Pacific Marine & Supply Co.
Family Background
Parents
- Father: Fred Loui - Co-founder of Pacific Marine & Supply Co. (died 1969)
- Mother: Alyce Loui - Co-founder and leader of Pacific Marine & Supply Co. (1969-1972)
Family Legacy
Steven is the grandson of Heong Poo Loui and Alicia Loui, continuing the family’s entrepreneurial tradition in Hawaii. He is first cousin to:
- Michael Loui
- Warren Loui - Attorney, winemaker, USC Law professor
- William Loui
- Ronald Loui - Computer scientist, professor
- Terrence Loui (deceased)
Education
Stanford University
Steven earned an engineering degree from Stanford University, one of the nation’s premier engineering schools. This technical education would prove crucial in his later transformation of the family business.
Business Career
Early Career
After completing his engineering degree at Stanford, Steven initially pursued a career outside the family business. The exact nature of this early career is not documented.
Return to Family Business (1972)
In 1972, three years after his father Fred’s sudden death in 1969, Steven rejoined Pacific Marine & Supply Co. His mother Alyce Loui had been leading the company in the interim.
Transformation Strategy
According to company history, Steven was “determined to survive the boom-and-bust cycles of ship repair” and “initiates an ambitious strategy of trade specialization and market diversification.”
His strategy transformed Pacific Marine from a single-focus ship repair business into a diversified enterprise.
Business Expansion
Subsidiaries Founded Under Steven’s Leadership:
- HSI Mechanical, Inc. (1974) - Specialty mechanical services
- PacMar Technologies (1978) - Advanced ship research and development; became major innovator in maritime technology
Overall Growth:
Under Steven’s leadership, Pacific Marine & Supply Co. spawned over 20 subsidiary companies that became integral to Hawaii’s economy, spanning multiple industries beyond maritime services.
Leadership Philosophy
Steven’s approach was characterized by:
- Trade Specialization: Focusing on specific expertise areas rather than general services
- Market Diversification: Spreading risk across multiple industries and market segments
- Innovation: Particularly through PacMar Technologies’ R&D initiatives
- Long-term Vision: Building sustainable business model resistant to industry cycles
Relationship to Loui Family
Connection to Wallace Loui Branch
Steven is the first cousin of Warren Loui’s father Wallace Loui (his uncle). This makes Steven:
- First cousin once removed to Warren Loui
- Second cousin to Nicholas Loui, Ryan Loui, and Samantha Loui
Both branches of the family (Fred’s business dynasty and Wallace’s medical/professional lineage) represent different paths of Chinese-American success in Hawaii.
Timeline
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Sources
Notes
Steven Loui represents the third generation of the Loui family in Hawaii (after grandfather Heong Poo and father Fred). His story illustrates:
- Educational Achievement: Following the immigrant family pattern of valuing education (Stanford engineering)
- Family Loyalty: Returning to family business after father’s death
- Innovation: Using technical education to transform traditional business
- Entrepreneurship: Building on parents’ foundation to create business empire
- Diversification: Strategic thinking to ensure long-term business survival
The contrast between the business-focused Fred/Steven branch and the medical/professional Wallace branch shows the diverse paths Chinese-American families took toward success in 20th century Hawaii.
Historical Context
Post-WWII Hawaii Business Environment
Steven’s father Fred founded Pacific Marine in 1944 during WWII, when Hawaii was a crucial Pacific theater naval base. By the time Steven took over in 1972:
- Hawaii had been a state for 13 years (since 1959)
- Tourism was booming
- Military presence remained significant but evolving
- Local Asian-American businesses were gaining economic power
The 1970s Transformation
Steven’s entry in 1972 coincided with:
- Post-Vietnam military drawdown
- Oil crisis (1973) affecting shipping
- Economic uncertainty requiring business diversification
- Rise of technology-driven business models
His strategy of specialization and diversification was well-suited to this challenging environment.
Research Needed
- Exact birth date
- Full name (Steven? Stephen?)
- Marriage and spouse
- Children
- Siblings (other children of Fred and Alyce)
- Current status (living or deceased as of 2024)
- Where he grew up in Hawaii
- High school attended
- Years at Stanford
- Degree specifics (mechanical, electrical, etc.)
- Early career before 1972
- When he became president/CEO
- Current role in company
- Relationship with uncle Wallace Loui
- Relationship with cousins (Wallace’s sons)
- Community involvement
- Awards or recognition
- Current residence