Throughout the day, board members and leaders were guided by the dedicated program teams who serve these communities every day. Mahalo to the project directors and staff who led the visits and offered firsthand insight into each program’s impact!

From participating in Parent And Children Together (PACT) time, to sitting in on Parent Education classes, to walking through a puʻuhonua created for youth at Ke Kama Pono, the day was filled with powerful moments of pilina (relationship-building) and ʻike (understanding). Each site visit offered a closer look at how PIDF’s programs support families through culturally grounded approaches, and how staff and participants continue to shape these spaces with care, resilience, and aloha.

At the close of the visit, the Board and Leadership Team left with a renewed understanding of why this work matters—and the collective commitment that makes it possible. As the ʻŌlelo Noʻeau reminds us, “ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia”—no task is too big when done together. That spirit was felt throughout the day in the way PIDF comes together to uplift one another and strengthen Hawaiʻi’s communities.

We extend a sincere mahalo to the staff and participants who welcomed the Board and Leadership Team with such warmth and aloha. Your stories are the heartbeat of this organization, and a meaningful reminder of the purpose that guides this work.

Sarah Kama, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, has built a distinguished career spanning over a decade in high-profile roles across music, financial services, consumer products, and asset management industries. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Finance at Sony Music Entertainment, where she excelled in financial forecasting, strategic analysis, and leading transformative forecasting processes. Her previous roles at American Express Global Business Travel and PepsiCo further highlight her expertise in financial management and strategic planning. 

After completing college at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Science with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Economics. Her educational achievements, including honors such as the Charles Diebold III 1958 Memorial Scholarship, underscore her strong analytical and leadership capabilities. 

Sarah’s connection to Hawai’i is a central aspect of her professional and personal life. Having grown up in Honolulu, she is deeply committed to contributing to the community she calls home. In her new position at PIDF, Sarah will apply her extensive financial expertise to oversee the foundation’s financial strategy, manage budgeting and forecasting, and support PIDF’s mission to empower and uplift communities throughout Hawai’i. 

“Sarah’s return home to Hawai’i and her remarkable financial acumen make her a perfect fit for our team,” says Dr. Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, President and CEO of PIDF. “We are thrilled to welcome her back home and are confident that her leadership will significantly advance our mission of fostering sustainable development and community empowerment.” Sarah’s diverse experiences, unique perspectives, and extensive networks locally and nationally will undoubtedly enhance PIDF’s efforts to create lasting positive change in Hawai’i. 

Please join us in welcoming Sarah Kama back to Hawai’i and to Partners in Development Foundation. 

Partners in Development Foundation has named Summer Uwono as chief financial officer, according to an announcement from the organization.

Uwono succeeds Stephanie Nishimura, who has held the role for 17 years. “Nishimura has helped lead the path toward excellence, growth and transformation of PIDF into a multi-generational service provider, impacting over 50 communities across the Islands through vital programs and services,” the announcement noted.

“Serving as CFO for PIDF for these many years has been an incredible journey,” she said in a statement. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the partnerships and relationships that have shaped this organization. As I transition out of my role, I have full confidence in Summer’s ability to carry PIDF’s mission forward with a strong commitment to our funders and families.”

Uwono brings 20 years of nonprofit finance experience to PIDF, previously working for Mental Health Kokua and Parents and Children Together. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

“We are thrilled to announce that Summer Uwono will be joining us as our new chief financial officer and are so grateful for all that Stephanie Nishimura has done for PIDF,” said the organization’s president and CEO Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni. “With over 20 years of distinguished experience in financial management, Summer is set to bring a wealth of expertise and leadership to our organization, in addition to her dedication to our mission and values and oluolu, “or pleasant/gracious” style. She will be a tremendous asset as we continue to advance our work in service to the community.”

Kana‘iaupuni took the helm in 2020, succeeding Jan Dill, who founded the nonprofit in 1997. According to its most recent annual report, PIDF generated $18.5 million in revenue in 2021.

PIDF aims “to inspire and equip families and communities for success and service,” its mission states. The organization has served more than 148,000 people in over 50 communities across the Hawaiian Islands.

To learn more about PIDF’s programs and services, visit pidf.org.

To view the original article by Pacific Business News, please click here.

Hawai‘i Leadership Forum Welcomes Sixteen Leaders to Omidyar Fellows Program

HONOLULU – Hawai‘i Leadership Forum (HLF) welcomed 16 local leaders into the ninth cohort of its Omidyar Fellows program. The program seeks to cultivate the conditions in which Hawai‘i thrives by equipping leaders with the skills and cross-sector relationships necessary to affect societal change.

Following a rigorous application process, these individuals were selected from the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors based on their accomplishments, innovative skills, ability to collaborate with other leaders, and motivation to make a positive difference.

“We are excited to bring back this unique opportunity for emerging leaders to engage in impactful discussions, learn from one another, and help make Hawai‘i even better,” said AJ Halagao, president of Hawai‘i Leadership Forum. “We strive to develop, engage, and inspire leaders to drive impact and catalyze positive change.”

This year’s cohort includes:

• Ed Barnabas, Vice President and CTO, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Katie Bennett, Founder and Lead Mediator, Family Mediation Hawai‘i
• Kainoa Casco, Climate + Resiliency Executive, Johnson Controls, Inc.
• Amanda Corby Noguchi, President and Creative Director, Under My Umbrella, Inc.
• Yunji de Nies, Journalist, Hawai‘i News Now & PBS Hawai‘i
• Chris Dods, Vice Chairman and COO, First Hawaiian Bank
• Stacy Ferreira, CEO, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
• Emily Fukunaga, Vice President, Servco Parts Center, Servco Pacific
• Vicky Hanes, COO, Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center
• Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, President and CEO, Partners in Development Foundation
• David Kopper, Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi
• Richard Matsui, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy – Loan Programs Office
• Kaulana Mossman, Community Planning Liaison Officer, Department of Defense Pacific Missile Range Facility
• Sabrina Nasir, Deputy Director, Hawai‘i Department of Budget and Finance
• Landon Opunui, Executive Director and Medical Director, Nā Puʻuwai
• Laura Reichhardt, Director, Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing

For the full Press Release and biographies, please visit the original post.

Hoʻomaikaʻi e Shawn! We applaud your continuous efforts to uplift our lāhui to achieve a brighter and better future.

Nonprofits help everyone from keiki to kūpuna in everything from healthcare to childcare, to providing shelter, putting food on the table or simply sharing a hot meal. But rising costs including wages and persistent calls for help from the community, continue to be a challenge for many of these organizations, making it difficult for them to survive.

The retreat steps off the heels of the Ulu Hana 25th anniversary Pāʻina, where the PIDF board of directors and officers gathered to celebrate and support the foundation laid before them by founders Jan Dill, Morris Takushi, and the late Gary Glenn. 

With the addition of four new board members in the last year, the team had an opportunity to connect and learn from each other, as well as share more about their own networks and the capacities for which their reach can benefit PIDF and the Hawaiʻi community at-large. The retreat discussion reflected on organizational directions to strengthen foundations, maintain core values, and consider ways to build financial strength, visibility, and partnerships. 

“PIDF has been a critical provider of services from keiki to kūpuna,” said Kyle Chock, PIDF board chair. “As a board, we were able to spend time and see first-hand the direct impact these programs have in improving beneficiaries’ lives. Our goal is to continue to provide services and collaborate to address the critical issues in our community.”  

The board headed over to the Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center, host to the Opportunity Youth Action Hawaiʻi campus partners: PIDF’s Kupa ʻAina Natural Farm, Kinai ʻEha, Hale Kipa, RYSE Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility, and Olomana School. 

Farm hands Machijah and Mana led the PIDF board of directors through the traditional Hawaiian and contemporary farming methods, such as the Korean style fertilizer that they use to cultivate crops like kalo and ʻuala in the mala. Not only did the young staff share about how working on the farm has changed their views and life choices, they briefed the board on the various projects and visitors from Kawailoa campus partners, including youth from HYCF or RYSE, who support and learn about food security and ʻāina-based healing. 

The board of directors toured the rest of the campus and ended their day at the Kawailoa campus partner, Kinai ʻEha, where they met with ʻōpio (youth) beginning their fitness session after a day’s work. They shared their gratitude for being able to participate in diversion programs that offer opportunities outside of a jail cell or on the streets. The team toured the pilot residential work training facility and learned about fitness as part of the mind, body, and spiritual healing that is supported on campus.

“Learning about the vital work of PIDF in collaboration with the network of providers involved in the Opportunity Youth Action Hawaiʻi collective was both inspiring and heartening,” said Kawena Beaupre, PIDF board director. “This effort is a true testament to how a Native Hawaiian system of support that offers healing, empowerment, and opportunities can change one’s trajectory in life. It also exemplifies the importance and value of PIDF’s work in our communities.” 

The PIDF board retreat concluded with an exercise that parallels the way kūpuna categorized and organized our natural world and all systems within our universe. The team focused on deconstructing a chant called “Kūlia e Uli” using the Papakū Makawalu method taught by the Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation. This method categorizes systems into three houses: Papahulilani (space above the head into the stars), Papahulihonua (area inclusive of the earth, ocean and itʻs development and evolution by natural causes), and Papāhanaumoku (stage of life from embryonic state of all life to death). 

When applied to PIDF, the Papakū Makawalu method can serve as a guide in understanding how our programs are categorized, how they function within the system they are placed in, and opportunities for improvement. Through careful observation and analysis, the Hawaiian people navigated systems and responded to them in a connected, aligned way, much like how PIDF hopes to flow within our communities.

Partners in Development Foundation announced today the appointment of four community leaders to the board of directors, for a total of ten. All directors on the PIDF board are Native Hawaiian and provide PIDF with strategic guidance to propel the organization’s efforts in expanding its transformative work of strengthening families and communities in Hawaiʻi. 

PIDF presents the most recently confirmed board of directors (in alphabetical order): 

Elwin P. Ahu, founder and pastor of Metro Church of Hawaiʻi and author of Resilient Hope: Encountering the Unexpected, Ahu joins the PIDF board to expand on his commitment in supporting Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable families through spiritual guidance.

Kawena S.M.S. Beaupré, senior vice president & general counsel at Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Beaupré joins the PIDF board with over 15 years of legal experience and dedication to Hawai‘i’s nonprofit sector. 

Summer H. Kaiawe, partner at Watanabe Ing, LLP, Kaiawe joins the PIDF board with expertise in the areas of land use entitlements, land titles, water rights and resources, business and real estate issues in addition to knowledge around intellectual property. 

Scott W.H. Seu, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries joins the PIDF board bringing his knowledge and commitment in the areas of environmental management and community relations. 

“PIDF’s transformative work in strengthening families and communities in Hawai‘i centered in its core values of aloha, lōkahi, mālama, pono, and po‘okela resonates with me on a deeply personal level as I was raised by my ‘ohana with these same values,” said Summer Kaiawe, PIDF  board director. “I am honored and feel very privileged to join the PIDF board and ‘ohana, and look forward to working in service of PIDF’s mission.”

The Board of Directors continue the legacy that founders Jan Dill, Morris Takushi, and the late Gary Glenn began in 1997 with the goal to address the gaps in Hawaiʻi’s society and support families in need. 

“Since its founding, PIDF’s programs have helped to educate local keiki, strengthen families and communities, and help to care for our ʻāina,” said Kyle Chock, PIDF board chair. “We’re fortunate to have Elwin, Kawena, Summer and Scott join the board to continue our mission using timeless Native Hawaiian values and traditions to uplift our community.”

The newly elected directors join board chair Kyle Chock who serves as assistant executive secretary treasurer at Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters; board vice chair Kimo Todd, partner and owner of Todd & Seabolt; board secretary Diane Paloma, PhD, president and CEO at Hawaii Dental Service; board treasurer James Gomez, CPA and owner of Marujyu Market; director Michael Chun, PhD, former president and headmaster of Kamehameha Schools; and ex officio director Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, PhD, president and CEO of PIDF.  

Celebrating 25 years as a local nonprofit, PIDF draws on ʻike kupuna, ancestral wisdom and knowledge, to support the needs of economically vulnerable keiki and ʻohana and in meeting the current challenges facing Hawaiʻi. PIDF delivers 10 free programs and services across the state including early childhood education and mentorship, opportunity youth and foster care services, and caring for the ʻāina, guided by time-tested values and practices that honor kuleana for people and place in caring for Hawaiʻi. 

American Savings Bank’s (ASB) 2022 Kahiau Giving Campaign raised $362,043, which will allow local community organizations to continue providing critical resources and services to our community. A remarkable 93 percent of ASB teammates participated in the annual workplace giving program, which resulted in the largest Kahiau donation yet.

“Our Kahiau partners have continued to work hard throughout the pandemic to provide much-needed services to our community and we are honored to be able to support them,” said Ann Teranishi, president and CEO of ASB. “I am proud of our teammates’ continued commitment to give from the heart and bring real impact to our community.”

This year’s Kahiau campaign theme was “Here Comes the Sun,” which generated $212,043 in teammate donations. ASB contributed an additional $150,000. As the state continues to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic, ASB teammates remain committed to making dreams possible for customers and the community by bringing sunshine through their donations.

The word “Kahiau” in Hawaiian means “to give from the heart without expecting anything in return.” The Kahiau funds were donated to Child & Family Service, Kapiʻolani Health Foundation, Kupu, Partners in Development Foundation and United Way chapters in Hawaiʻi: Aloha United Way, Friendly Isle United Fund, Hawaiʻi Island United Way, Kauaʻi United Way and Maui United Way.

“Working together with like-minded organizations like American Savings Bank helps bring important resources to our youth, community and economy,” said John Leong, CEO of Kupu. “ASB’s support allows us the opportunity to continue preparing future leaders and stewards with a heart for service to people and ʻāina for years to come.”

ASB supports initiatives that promote educational excellence and financial literacy, strengthen families and foster innovation and entrepreneurship through donations, sponsorships, grants, scholarships, internships and volunteerism. ASB supports its Kahiau Community Partners year-round through the bank’s Seeds of Service volunteer program and financial literacy workshops.

“We gratefully applaud the staff and leadership of American Savings Bank as a vital partner in helping us serve low-income, remote, rural families and communities,” said Dr. Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, president and CEO of Partners in Development Foundation. “Through their support, we continue to provide cultural, trauma-informed educational programs and services across the state.”

Last year, ASB contributed more than $1.5 million to nearly 80 nonprofit organizations and donated more than 13,000 Seeds of Service volunteer hours with nearly 160 nonprofit organizations. In total, ASB has donated nearly 100,000 volunteer hours and millions of dollars to Hawaiʻi’s nonprofits and community organizations, including more than $2.6 million raised through the Kahiau Giving Campaign since 2011.

Original story published on Honolulu Civil Beat’s Community Voice column on Feb. 7, 2022 by Shawn Kana‘iaupuni, Alfred L. Castle, Keala Peters, click here to read.

As we look forward to a new year filled with exciting opportunities, it is also important to take stock of the opportunities that were missed and how we can learn from them.

Omicron’s surge has raised questions about whether Covid’s latest wave will be its last or just part of the “new normal.” Activities like spending time with family and enjoying the simple pleasures of walking on the beach or sharing a meal take on greater significance.

Covid-19 has left an indelible mark in Hawaii. More than 200,000 people have contracted coronavirus and, sadly, more than 1,200 have succumbed to the virus. It has impacted families across the islands and all businesses in immeasurable ways, from both a workforce and economic perspective.

Covid’s reach into all sectors of the state has also highlighted a tremendous weakness in our safety net, specifically as it relates to our keiki and ohana — in particular a lack of quality, affordable child care and inadequate resources to address both an increase in family violence and mental health needs.

To address this shortcoming, business leaders have joined forces with education, family support, philanthropic and mental health leaders to launch Commit to Keiki. This effort, directed at the gubernatorial campaigns now underway, seeks to underscore the importance of greater investments in early learning, child care, family violence prevention and mental health.

The public education campaign focuses on gubernatorial candidates and the importance of making early learning and child care more accessible, affordable and of higher quality. At the same time, Commit to Keiki will underscore the importance of investing in family violence prevention and mental health.

Covid exposed the fact that the lack of adequate investment in Hawaii’s keiki and ohana is not sustainable and hurts our children and families now and in the long-term. As parents get back to work, our keiki deserve priority attention, better education, greater funding and improved services to help them succeed.

Building Blocks

In a recently completed statewide survey, 74.5% of voters agreed that Hawaii’s next governor must invest more to create a system of high-quality, publicly funded, community-based child care, early learning and family support programs. Given that Hawaii ranks 43rd of 50 states, seventh from the bottom in its investments in children, it’s no surprise voters feel so strongly about their support.

Considerable research demonstrates the importance and the positive impact of early learning and family support programs, especially in the first five years of life — when a child’s brain absorbs knowledge and develops at its fastest rate. These programs represent building blocks for a better future.

According to recent data, Hawaii today can serve only about 25% of keiki ages birth to 5 in child care, which also impacts parents and caregivers’ ability to work. In addition, this research highlights that young children who are exposed to family violence are more likely to suffer from health-related problems, as well as academic and cognitive problems, delinquency, and involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

The Commit to Keiki campaign intends to change this dynamic by working with all gubernatorial candidates and, ultimately, the state’s next governor to address the needs of our youngest keiki. The challenge is great and solving it won’t be easy.

All of Hawaii will benefit from investments in programs that help young keiki and their families. It’s an important and necessary effort to ensure parents have the ability to get back to work and make a living, and our keiki get the attention and programs they need to grow, develop and thrive while improving the wellbeing of our state’s diverse communities.

Anything less is unacceptable for Hawaii’s future.

Editor’s note: The authors are members of the Commit to Keiki steering committee, a non-partisan education initiative created by partners within the Early Childhood Action Strategy collaborative. Visit www.CommitToKeiki.org for more information.

Community Voices aims to encourage broad discussion on many topics of community interest. It’s kind of a cross between Letters to the Editor and op-eds. This is your space to talk about important issues or interesting people who are making a difference in our world. Column lengths should be no more than 800 words and we need a photo of the author and a bio. We welcome video commentary and other multimedia formats. Send to news@civilbeat.org. The opinions and information expressed in Community Voices are solely those of the authors and not Civil Beat.

About the Authors

Shawn Kana‘iaupuni

Shawn Kana‘iaupuni is president and CEO of Partners in Development Foundation.

Alfred L. Castle

Alfred L. Castle is CEO of the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation.

Keala Peters

Keala Peters is executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

“It’s very humbling to see Partners in Development Foundation grow into what it is today because I strongly believe in the work that we’re able to accomplish, which directly benefits our keiki, kūpuna, and families as a whole,” Dill said. “I’ve been honored to work with an amazing team of people as we’ve striven for our mission of inspiring and equipping families and communities for success and service, using timeless Native Hawaiian values and traditions.”

As a Native Hawaiian, Dill has dedicated his life to the betterment of not just Hawaiians, but also to Hawaiʻi and all of its people. He’s amassed significant experience in community development work within the Hawaiian community and has proven to be both innovative and highly successful in securing grants and resources. This has been vital for our ability to support and grow our programs.

One of the very first programs Dill and his team offered was the Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool. Adopted from Kamehameha Schools, the traveling preschool was created to help meet the developmental needs of infants to five-year-olds and to offer support to their caregivers — oftentimes their grandparents. Teaching teams comprised of early education educators travel to preselected communities where they set up, conduct, and facilitate the program. The curriculum is organized around learning themes and integrates Hawaiian values and culture. Today, Tūtū and Me reaches over 26 communities across the state through funding from the U.S. Department of Education and Kamehameha Schools.

Dill’s commitment to education is apparent not only in his work here at PIDF. He also founded the Mālama ‘Āina Foundation in 1998 to develop programs in environmental education and sustainability for public charter schools in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi and other entities. He also held positions with Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s Oceanic Institute, Tufts University, Punahou School, and was a Fulbright Fellow at the San Carlos National University in Guatemala.

Tūtū and Me’s success opened the door for PIDF to expand its offerings to reach over a dozen other programs like We Are Oceania for Micronesian social services, Hui Ho‘omalu for foster care, and Kupa ‘Āina Natural Farming for sustainability. Another issue of major importance to Dill and PIDF is the state’s ongoing homelessness epidemic, which disproportionately affects Hawaiians. This prompted the creation of the Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education program for children and families. It is the only accredited homeless preschool in the country, an honor earned from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

“Over the past 21 years, we’ve been able to set a solid foundation for PIDF’s continued growth with the support and dedication of so many individuals and organizations,” Dill said. “I’m excited to see the next president expand our current initiatives while carving his or her own path for PIDF’s future success.”

Dill also served the community as Vice President and President of the Board of Na Pua a Ke Ali‘i Pauahi, and Founder and Chairman of the Governor’s Mayors’ Annual Hawai‘i Prayer Breakfast. He was Chair of the Board for the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Hawai‘i, member of the Steering Committee for the Polynesian Voyaging Society (Hōkūle‘a Voyage), and Volunteer Corps of the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center.

In April of 2018, Dill was honored for his accomplishments and service to Hawaiʻi’s businesses and communities with the ‘Ō‘ō Award by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce. In 2016 he was selected to receive the Order of Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Award by the Pauahi Foundation and Kamehameha Schools for his personal and professional contributions that have helped communities locally and abroad for nearly 50 years. He was awarded the Angels in Adoption Award by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in 2015.

The organization, with support and direction from the Board of Directors, is working through a planned leadership transition and is expecting to name a new president in mid-2019. To learn more about our work, view our recent news and explore the rest of our website.

The “Kai and Friends” series comprises seven books. Each follows the story of a creature dealing with a struggle common to keiki – such as bullying – and shows the importance of elders.

The characters use inter-generational wisdom to find solutions to their problems. Each of the stories is grounded in contemporary issues, from ocean pollution to the Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death fungus impacting Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi.

The creators of the books were at the event: co-authors PIDF president Jan Dill, Judy Dill, and Gail Omoto, and the illustrator, Gary Omoto. Gail gave several lively readings of the books to families visiting the museum, and all four creators signed books for the keiki.

In between readings, Jan shared other stories relating to the books, and Gail had activities to keep the participants active and involved. It was our second book event at Bishop Museum, and was a great success!

Our books make wonderful gifts for keiki 10 and under. They include audio CDs to help with reading and comprehension, narrated by Jack Johnson, Aaron Mahi, and others. The stories are a great way to introduce or reinforce Hawaiian language and cultural traditions.

To purchase any of our books, contact our office at (808) 595-2752. Our online bookstore will be available soon!