Mike Kaya
General Manager
Waimalu Plaza & City Square Shopping Centers

Mike Kaya is a Mentor Hawaii Cohort 10 mentor. Learn more about the program here.

About Mike

Mike is the general manager for the City Square Shopping Center in Kapalama and the Waimalu Plaza shopping center in Aiea. His commercial property management career started with office and medical buildings in Los Angeles which transitioned to moving back to Honolulu to manage retail, office and industrial properties on Oahu and Kauai. Mike took a hiatus from property management during a 16 year career with the Honolulu Police Department where he retired as a sergeant. In 2010 he returned to commercial real estate to assist his father Glenn before assuming fiscal and facilities management of the properties in 2015. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, US Japan Council, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and the 200 Club Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, Mike received a BA from the University of Washington.

Question and Answer with Mike

What is your preferred communication style when mentoring (in-person, video conference, phone, informal check-ins, structured meetings, etc.)?
In-Person Meeting

Why do you want to become a mentor in this program?
The mentor program is a great way for mentees to broaden their horizons and for mentors to engage with the new workforce. The program can be a mutually beneficial learning experience for both.

What specific skills, knowledge or experience can you share with your mentee?
I’ve been fortunate to have a variety of professional and personal experiences which provides opportunity for knowledge and encourages a wide perspective. My mentee can expect me to be honest as I prefer not to sugarcoat things and know that I adjust each cohort depending on the mentee’s goals, personality and situation.

What are your expectations for a mentor-mentee relationship?
I hope to provide building blocks towards whatever professional or personal goals my mentee has. Both mentees as well as mentors should expect that whatever they invest in time and effort will directly correlate to what they get in return.

How do you approach problem-solving and conflict resolution?
Careers and life never progress in straight lines. The ups build confidence and the downs build character. We all work through problems and conflicts differently so I would hope to provide a sounding board to provide honest opinions and suggestions.

How do you envision success for your mentee, and how will you measure it during the program?
During the program, I would just monitor energy and engagement since success remains to be seen. After the program, I would measure success by a continued relationship after our cohort ends and whether a mentee eventually becomes a mentor to others.