Hookele award program 2017

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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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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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