Est. 2018
Behind the Scenes of oak + pine
Oak + Pine is committed to sharing the honest truth about bootstrapping a business in Hawaii. Will you follow our journey as we take Oak + Pine from a simple idea of creating a supportive community of female entrepreneurs to a luxury coworking space?
Hey, lady!
I’m Michelle Carmack, the founder of Oak + Pine. In 2018, I decided to share my journey with those on the same adventure — designing life on our own terms — by documenting my adventure through Instagram and my blog.
There’s so much freedom when you bootstrap your business. You discover new parts of your identity and transform into the woman you were meant to become.
Our vision is to empower women through entrepreneurship.
Since making the leap, I’ve experienced heartache, disappointment, joy, friendships. And I’m committed to sharing my journey through all of the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship with you.
Will you join me on this thrilling adventure?Michelle Carmack
Meet The Oak + Pine team
"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."
-Helen Keller
Janell Agcaoili,
Marketing Assistant
Janell Agcaoili is joining the Oak + Pine team as our Marketing Assistant. With her love for culture, community, and communication, her primary role is to empower women to pursue their entrepreneurial desires through all our digital marketing platforms.
Janell is passionate about writing, which shines through her copywriting skills. She holds a BA in Communication and a minor in Speech. Inspiration comes from her enthusiasm to connect, learn, and grow with like-minded people.
When she’s not writing, Janell enjoys singing karaoke, learning Korean, watching k-dramas, and hiking. The biggest and best highlight of her life so far was moving to Seoul, South Korea, to work and live abroad.
With the entrepreneurial bug herself, Janell’s business aspirations are to design a safe space where her content provides others with joy and comfort.
Leka Kiner-Falefa,
Community Engagement Assistant
Passionate about supporting people's growth, Leka Kiner-Falefa is joining the Oak + Pine Team as a Community Engagement Assistant. Her primary role is to proactively seek how we can leverage the Oak + Pine platform to support our Society Members' growth both personally and professionally.
Leka is joining us during a big transition in her life with the desire to start her own business in Hawaii soon. She holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from Chaminade University and is actively pursuing her MBA.
Engaged in her university experience, she is on the Chaminade Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as a Treasurer and Student-Athlete playing volleyball. With a packed schedule, she prioritizes helping our next generation feel confident in the early stages of their personal and professional lives as a HI Intensity Volleyball Club coach for 13-year-olds.
When she's not studying, playing volleyball, or coaching, you can find her spending time with 2 adorable Blue Nose Pitbulls, Polu and U'i.
You have a choice.
Michelle launched Oak + Pine with the desire to build a meaningful life. As she transitioned out of her corporate identity, she experienced a frightening transition. “Who am I if I’m not an employee? What do I want in life?” To inspire others to chase after their own dreams, Michelle decided to document her entrepreneurial journey.
My dad would pick fruit and sell it to a nearby market at age 10. His life living in the Philippines was so different, it gives me an undeniable sense of gratitude as a first-generation American. But he isn't the reason my family resides in Hawaii instead of PI. Because of two strong women, my grandma and mom, I have a life full of opportunities.