Sunshine Pualani Walker Topping
Sunshine Pualani Walker Topping joined Hawaiian Telcom as Vice President of Human Resources in June 2015. A seasoned strategic HR executive with nearly two decades of experience, she oversees the company’s HR, benefits, employment and HR information systems (HRIS), laborrelations, and organizational development and training functions.
Prior to joining Hawaiian Telcom, Ms. Topping served as Chief Human Resources Strategy Officer for ‘ike (formerly known as DataHouse Holdings Company), a Hawai‘i-based technology company. At ‘ike she was responsible for guiding HR within the family of companies, including strategic staffing, benefits alignment, employee engagement activities, and leading the rebranding initiative for the parent company.
Prior to this, Ms. Topping served as Senior Director of Recruitment for Hawaiian Airlines. Among other accomplishments, she launched their recruitment department, conducted a comprehensive needs assessment and created innovative workforce development plans.
In 2010, Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Ms. Topping to serve on his cabinet as the State’s Director of the Department of Human Resource Development, where she managed labor and employee relations, recruitment, training, workers compensation, organizational development, legislation and the departmental budget.
Ms. Topping also has extensive HR experience at telecommunications and technology companies both in Hawai‘i and on the mainland, including at Sandwich Isles Communications, Adtech/Spirent Communications, and The Boeing Company.
Born and raised in Hilo, Ms. Topping graduated from Hilo High School before receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is also a certified Senior Professional Human Resources.
Committed to giving back the HR industry and to the community, Ms. Topping currently serves as an appointed member of the State Workforce Development Board, on the board of the Society of Human Resource Management, and is a member of Hālau Kupukupu Kealoha.