A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
HO‘OKELE AWARD A
C E L E B R A T I O N O F
H AWA I ‘ I ’ S N O N P R O F I T L E A D E R S
The 2017 Ho‘okele Award is supported by the Kelvin Taketa Ho‘okele Leadership Award Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation
A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
‘Au i ke kai loa. Travel in the distant seas. —Hawaiian Proverb
Skilled navigators—like nonprofit leaders—know where they are headed and work diligently and courageously to arrive at their destinations, however distant they may be.
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T H E H O ‘ O K E L E AWA R D
A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
THE HO‘OKELE AWARD The Ho‘okele Award was established in 2002 to recognize outstanding nonprofit leaders who are striving to create thriving communities across the state. or many nonprofit leaders,
nominations from the community; they
commitment to their jobs and causes
are assessed on the following leadership
far outweighs the challenges of
characteristics:
working long hours with limited
• Thinks strategically and gets results
resources. The Ho‘okele Award
• Brings different groups of people together
recognizes their dedication to making
• Inspires others
Hawai‘i a better place and provides
• Makes a difference in Hawai‘i
leaders with the opportunity for personal
• Enthusiastically shares knowledge
renewal and professional development. Ho‘okele awardees receive $10,000 with only
The Ho‘okele Award was made possible from
two conditions: that it be used for rejuvenating
2002 – 2016 through a partnership between
themselves and that they attend the awards
the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation
ceremony the following year to share with
and the Hawai‘i Community Foundation
former and current awardees their reflections
(HCF). In 2017, HCF’s Board of Governors
on how the award provided inspiration and
created the Kelvin Taketa Ho‘okele
renewal. Recipients are selected based on
Leadership Award Fund in honor of Kelvin’s visionary leadership at HCF over the past 19 years. The Fund ensures that the award will continue in perpetuity.
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A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
Congratulations! We congratulate the following 2017 Ho‘okele Award recipients KEVIN CHANG
BRENDA S. HO, RN, MS
Kevin is Executive Director of Kua‘āina Ulu
Under the direction of CEO Brenda S. Ho,
Executive Director Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo
‘Auamo (KUA), whose mission is to increase the capacity of community-based resource management (CBRM) initiatives with a vision of ‘āina momona (literally, “fat lands”). KUA, meaning “backbone,” is an innovative “backbone organization” for protecting, restoring and caring for Hawai‘i. KUA’s community-driven approach currently supports three statewide networks, E Alu Pū, 40 Hawaiian fishpond projects, and a group of limu practitioners. Prior to KUA, Kevin was a land manager for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and a field representative for the Trust for Public Lands’ Hawaiian Islands Program. He also practiced law as a solo practitioner. Kevin was born in Honolulu and raised in Ahuimanu Valley. A proud graduate of J.B. Castle High School, he earned a B.A. in Psychology and a J.D. from the University of Oregon. He currently sits on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Commission on Environment, Economic and Social Policy, and on the boards of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the Hawai‘i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, and the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust O‘ahu Advisory Committee. Kevin is married to Alma Siria Vega Urias and, on occasion, to the band Kupa‘āina.
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Chief Executive Officer Hospice of Hilo
Hospice of Hilo has grown from a largely volunteer-based program serving 40 patients annually, to a structured Medicare program with 80 staff members who care for over 800 individuals a year. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (William Jewell College), but before receiving a Masters of Science in Nursing (University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa), Brenda joined Hospice of Hilo in 1990. Within a year, she was appointed Executive Director, a position that expanded in 2011 to her current role as CEO. Under her visionary leadership, Hospice of Hilo opened the first neighbor island inpatient care center in 2012. Brenda’s dedication to the community extends even further by serving on the boards of Kōkua Mau and the Hawai‘i Healthcare Systems Corporation’s East Hawai‘i Regional Board, and as a member of the East Hawai‘i Regional Health Improvement Collaborative. She is President of the Rotary Club of South Hilo, a Weinberg Association Fellow, and recipient of numerous well-deserved honors including The Faces of Nursing award (UH); AIM for Excellence Award; Businesswoman of the Year Finalist (Pacific Business News); ATHENA Award® (Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce); and others.
A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
HEATHER LUSK, MSW
Executive Director Community Health Outreach Work (CHOW) Project, Hawai‘i Heather has dedicated more than 20
years to reducing health disparities and stigma as it relates to HIV, viral hepatitis, and other chronic conditions linked to substance use. In addition to serving as the Executive Director of the statewide harm reduction agency, CHOW, she is the Co-Director and Founder of Hep Free Hawai‘i, a coalition of over 80 agencies working together to eliminate hepatitis in the Islands. As Chair of the Hawai‘i Advisory Commission on Drugs and Controlled Substances, and through her role on the Executive Committee of Partners in Care, O‘ahu’s Homeless Coalition, Heather works to support systems integration and the intersection of mental health, substance use, homelessness, chronic health conditions, and the criminal justice system. Heather approaches her work with individuals, families, and communities adversely affected by drug use as if we were all ‘ohana, which, she believes, would help everyone move forward from a place of compassion. The CHOW project has adopted a harm reduction approach, stressing the importance of being nonjudgmental and respectful: a philosophy that Heather Lusk fully embodies.
PAULINE M. SATO
Executive & Program Director Mālama Learning Center Pauline’s passion for protecting
Hawai‘i’s environment dates back to her childhood. In her 30 years of professional experience, she has helped to build a broad network of individuals and groups dedicated to the conservation of natural, cultural, and agricultural resources across the state. Pauline is the Executive and Program Director, as well as co-founder, of the Mālama Learning Center, whose mission is to teach and inspire communities to create healthy living environments. Mālama Learning Center uses a hands-on and place-based approach to learning, preparing its participants for diverse real-world experiences and 21st century careers. She also conducts a training program for the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai‘i and has served on several boards and councils, including the Hawai‘i Environmental Education Association, Hawai‘i Academy of Science, and State of Hawai‘i Environmental Council. Pauline was honored with the Distinguished Service Award at the Hawai‘i Conservation Conference for a career that’s been dedicated to environmental preservation. Pauline is a proud graduate of the University Laboratory School in Honolulu; she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Educational Technology from the University of Hawai‘i.
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A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
THE HO‘O KELE EX P ER I ENCE:
Reflections
ahalo nui loa to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and Gerbode Foundation for allowing me to move on to the next chapter in my life.
William M. Akutagawa Jr. FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Na Pu‘uwai
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My work with nonprofit organizations was always about giving to the community as opposed to receiving anything in return. The Ho‘okele Award gave me an opportunity to give back to the organizations I’ve served and to the communities that make up our island of Moloka‘i. To continue present programs in health and resource management, I thought it was important for staff and board members of Moloka‘i Land Trust and Na Pu‘uwai to become familiar with place names, land divisions, and with how resources are managed. A grounding in our history would help to lay the framework for future leaders to better understand how communities can advocate for themselves and become responsible for their health and welfare. Passing on this knowledge will contribute to the future of our islands and the leaders of tomorrow. I started to photograph Moloka‘i’s land divisions with a drone, including offshore from the fringing reefs to fishponds that are still able to be restored and used for sustainability within the ahupua‘a. The research I did further reinforced my belief that residents of Moloka‘i historically were farmers of both land and sea. The material, photographs, and historical information will be assembled in a PowerPoint presentation and used as a teaching tool for organization members, the general public and, most importantly, the children of Moloka‘i. Once more elements are added, it could be put in digital format. As a Native Hawaiian, I want to communicate how important it is to mālama our island and care for our communities. My 97-year-old mother has taught me the importance of giving, and I see this project as a gift to our island community.
A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
THE HO‘OKELE E X PE R I E N CE: Reflections eceiving the Ho‘okele Award was a humbling honor for us. Mahalo to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and Gerbode Foundation for generously investing in the emotional and spiritual restoration of nonprofit leaders in Hawai‘i. The Ho‘okele Award is an inspiring reminder to us that nonprofit work in Hawai‘i is important, but not easy. If we do not care for ourselves and for those in leadership, we run the risk of leaders burning out and nonprofits faltering. We used the award to build memories with our families and rejuvenate ourselves. While exploring New Zealand with our four children in a camper van, we filled our days hiking, fishing, rafting, fruit picking, playing UNO card games, rock collecting, and simply sitting still and in awe of the beauty in our natural world. We also traveled to Australia, spending time in Sydney and the Blue Mountains with John’s parents. Our travels to these two countries lasted about a month. Julianna later traveled to Rapa Nui and Tahiti to introduce our youngest child, Aitomana, to extended family. We returned with our souls refreshed and our minds refocused on our kuleana. We have since become more intentional about investing in our Kupu staff and leaders, encouraging them to care for themselves and rejuvenate their spirits. We felt we could honor the spirit of the Ho‘okele Awards by becoming better stewards of those in our care and sphere of influence. We are planning leadership
John Leong and Julianna Rapu Leong CO-FOUNDERS
Kupu retreats for next year as a way of intentionally stepping back from the day-to-day to invest in restoring our leaders. We also continue to look for opportunities to leverage the experiences of Kupu to build capacity within other Pacific communities. Mahalo for your generosity!
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A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
THE HO‘OK ELE E X P ER I ENCE:
Reflections
Christine Richardson EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
North Kohala Community Resource Center hroughout the past year, I have reflected often on the Ho‘okele Award and I feel both honored and humbled by this recognition. Having built a small-shop nonprofit from the ground up, this award gave me a true sense of accomplishment, along with the inspiration to move forward with more long-lasting initiatives for the North Kohala Community Resource Center. This acknowledgement deepened my awareness of the richness of our community and our constituents, underscoring the importance of being present and available for all who come to us with great ideas for our community. To be in the company of such a diverse and committed group has nurtured a stronger appreciation for the nonprofit community in Hawai‘i, and the potential peer support from folks who are doing good work throughout the state. I express my gratitude every day in many ways. The Ho‘okele Award has reminded me of how essential and important this simple gesture is. Mahalo.
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T H E H O ‘ O K E L E AWA R D
A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
THE HO‘OK ELE EX P ER I ENCE:
Reflections
ahalo for allowing me the opportunity to address the great honor of being a Ho‘okele Award recipient. When I first learned that I had been selected for this honor, I was sincerely humbled, especially after reviewing the names of past recipients, whom I admire both personally and professionally. Being a recipient was for me a validation of a lifetime devoted to assisting bright young people struggling with the challenge of being "out of the box" thinkers, which often leads to feelings of low self-esteem or feelings of inferiority. I have been working in the nonprofit sector for over 40 years and have never second-guessed my decision to do so. I have had countless opportunities to watch struggling learners, who often share characteristics of anger, apathy and despair, evolve into optimistic, enthusiastic and creative, self-advocating individuals who clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel. Nothing could be more gratifying for me personally. As a Ho‘okele Award recipient, my passion for the "underdog" is stronger than ever. I look forward to continuing the altruistic tradition set by former recipients in the educational community, many of who I've modeled myself after for years.
Paul M. Singer HEAD OF SCHOOL
Assets School
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A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
Past Recipients Kepā Maly
Richard Taaffe
Marian E. Tsuji
Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center
West Hawai‘i Community Health Center
Lanakila Pacific, Inc.
2015
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Suzanne Case Former:
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HAWAI‘I PROGRAM
The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i
Nancy Aleck Former:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2013
The People’s Fund
Jud Cunningham CEO
2012
Aloha House
Lea Hong
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS STATE DIRECTOR
2011
Trust for Public Land
2010
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Domestic Violence Action Center
Former:
Child & Family Service
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Faith in Action for Community Equity
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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Kumu Kahua Theatre
Nola Nahulu
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Hawai‘i Youth Opera Chorus
Carol Kouchi Yotsuda
Kenneth L. Zeri, R.N., M.S.
Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i
Garden Island Arts Council
Hospice Hawai‘i
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PRESIDENT AND CPO
David Fuertes
Connie Mitchell
Marjorie Ziegler
Ka Ha-na No‘eau
The Institute for Human Services
Conservation Council for Hawai‘i
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tony Krieg Former: CEO
Hale Ma-kua Health Services
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Former:
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER
Harry Wong III
M. Nalani Fujimori Kaina
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Drew Astolfi 2009
Nanci Kreidman, M.A.
Gregory Dunn
Hawaii Youth Symphony
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Howard S. Garval, M.S.W.
Selena Ching Former:
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PRESIDENT AND CEO
Former:
Hawai‘i Nature Center
Matthews Hamabata, Ph.D. Former:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Kohala Center
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Robert G. Peters, Ed.D. Former:
HEAD OF SCHOOL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Leslie Wilcox PRESIDENT AND CEO
PBS Hawai‘i
Hanahau‘oli School
Jeanne Unemori Skog Former:
Patricia Tummons EDITOR
Environment Hawai‘i
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Maui Economic Development Board
Laura Smith
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc.
Stacy Sproat-Beck
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Waipa- Foundation
A Celebration of Nonprofit Leaders
Marilyn Cristofori
2007
2008
Former:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ FAMILY PHYSICIAN
CEO
Ko-kua Kalihi Valley
Hawai‘i Arts Alliance
2006
National Tropical Botanical Garden
Former:
Gary and Kukui Maunakea-Forth
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Arc of Hilo
FOUNDERS
Former:
Maui Coastal Land Trust
Rose Nakamura ADMINISTRATOR
Project Dana
Former:
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Wai‘anae Community Re-development Corporation
Christina Cox, M.S.Ed.
Roy Katsuda
KCAA Preschools of Hawai‘i
Hale Mahaolu
Former: MANAGING DIRECTOR
Vanessa Y. Chong
Janice Kalanihuia
Darrell H. Y. Lum
American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i
Moloka‘i General Hospital
Bamboo Ridge Press
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development
Tin Myaing Thein, Ph.D.
Wally Lau
Former:
Former: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2005
DIRECTOR AND CEO
Kanu o ka ‘A-ina Learning ‘Ohana
Mike Gleason
Robert Agres Jr.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Pacific Gateway Center
Neighborhood Place of Kona
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CO-FOUNDER, CO-EDITOR
CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR
Carol R. Ignacio
Lynn C. Z. Maunakea
Patricia A. McManaman
Robert M. Witt
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools
Former:
2004
Chipper Wichman
Former: PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Dale B. Bonar, Ph.D.
PRESIDENT
Office for Social Ministries
Former:
The Institute for Human Services
2003
Former:
Former:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Na- Loio
Walt Dulaney* and George Kon
Marsha Erickson
Alliance for Drama Education
Hui o Laka - Koke‘e Natural History Museum
Hardy Spoehr
B. Puni Kekauoha
Former:
Former: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Former:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Papakolea Community Development Corporation
Andrew Aoki
Eric Enos
David Nakada
Jo-Ann Ridao
CO-FOUNDER
Ka‘ala Farms
Executive Director Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i
Executive Director Lo-kahi Pacific
Former:
2002
Ku- Kahakalau
David Derauf, M.D., M.P.H.
College Connections Hawai‘i
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FORMER:
Papa Ola Lo-kahi
FORMER:
*deceased
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The Kelvin Taketa Ho‘okele Leadership Award Fund was established in 2017 to honor Kelvin’s visionary leadership at HCF and ensure that the award will be bestowed in perpetuity. Mahalo to the following Board of Governors, friends, and staff for their support: Leo & Lisa Amador Kūhiō & Claire L. Asam Robert R. & Frances Bean Deborah K. Berger & William H. Reeves Mary G. F. Bitterman Michael Broderick Kaleialoha Cadinha-Pua‘a Don E. & Eunice Carroll Newton & Roberta F. Chu Chips DaMate John C. Dean Kimberly W. Dey Thomas Fargo Tamar Goodfellow Richard W. Gushman, II Martha Hanson Robert S. Harrison Michael P. Irish Micah & Joelle Kāne Paul T. Keenan Charles G. King Tom Layton & Gyongy Laky Katharine P. Lloyd Violet S. Loo Lynelle Marble Pi‘ikea Miller David M. Nakada Pierre M. & Pamela K. Omidyar Tammi Oyadomari-Chun Michael & Judy Pietsch Wayne M. Pitluck & Judy Pyle Kaleialoha Cadinha-Pua'a Ron & Faith Serano Rex Lisa Ann N. L. Rodrigues Jennifer G. Sabas Curtis K. Saiki Lissa L. Schiff Myles S. & Wanda Shibata Joyce Stupski Christine van Bergeijk Joanne N. Watase-Yang Eric K. Yeaman Kawehi Yim
H O ‘ O K E LE AWAR D For more information contact: Hawai‘i Community Foundation 827 Fort Street Mall Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Phone: (808) 537-6333 Toll-free: 1-888-731-3863 HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org