Kōkua Kalihi Valley, a federally qualified community health center that has served Kalihi Valley since 1972, defines health as much more than medical care. For KKV, “health is wholeness,” involving movement, laughter, learning, and the health of the land. Primary among these is social connection. “Everything we do is face to face,” says Merlita Compton, […]
When you are sailing through uncharted waters—and all waters for the foreseeable future are uncharted—it’s good to have access to every decision-making tool available. One of the most powerful of these tools is data. Over the past few decades, data –and the analysis of that data—has provided nonprofit and for-profit institutions a solid foundation for
A Map of the Heart We often say no gift is too small to make a difference. What doesn’t get said as much: No person is too small to make a difference. In late April, a young anonymous donor directed a $20 donation toward the Kaua‘i Strong Fund and drew a beautiful map of the
Christian Fernando-Alonzo, who graduated from Waipahu High School this spring, has a motto: “At the end of the day, you get to define what your path to success is.” And not many of us have walked a path as difficult as his. Fernando-Alonzo knew for a long time what he wanted to do with his
Living sustainably—responsibly stewarding local resources so a community thrives over the long term—was once part of every successful Island community. Water, both fresh and salt, is at the heart of a sustainable Hawai‘i. These two new water-focused initiatives aim to create a resource use system that is both abundant and wise. Kai: Marine 30×30 For
Until earlier this year, Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium and its parking lot hosted joyful big events: football games, concerts, the swap meet, high school graduations. None of those were possible at press time, but the stadium has still been needed. It’s one of the only venues large enough for the mass distributions of food to the
Anna Rice Cooke was quite progressive in her day. She was the first woman in Hawaii to have a driver’s license. She wanted to bring art of the world to local children—knowing most wouldn’t be able to travel to Europe to see it themselves—so she founded the Honolulu Museum of Art and donated works from
If the reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more, the Hawaii Public Health Institute is ready to do just that. The former Coalition for a Tobacco- Free Hawaii, which was remarkably successful in reducing tobacco use, is viewed across the nation as a model of smoking-cessation efforts. Now, the renamed “HiPhi”
It started as a simple conversation in 2012 when leaders from two East Coast nonprofits asked a simple question: “Why isn’t there a day for giving?” A follow-up question took the idea a step further: “What if we had a day for anyone, anywhere to give?” Welcome to Giving Tuesday, a global event that connects
Last year’s conference opened like many in Hawaii, with a blessing in a large ballroom full of anticipation and excited attendees. Middle school students with ukulele waited on the sidelines with heads bowed for the prayer. Once onstage, they charmed the crowd, strumming, singing and reminding everyone of the promise of Hawaii’s youth and their
Hawaii’s culture is like a quilt woven together from diverse materials—beautiful and unique with a rich history and delicate threads held firm by the strong ties of community and leaders. One such business leader was Peter Fukunaga, an auto mechanic who opened a small garage on the North Shore of Oahu in 1919 and who,
You know it when you see it—a leader who has something special. They inspire their teams, often put in long hours, enlist family and friends to help out, and they truly seem tireless. They keep going when average mortals stop. Leaders who operate this way in the private sector are often rewarded with bonuses, accolades,
