Honolulu-based nonprofit Partners in Development Foundation has been intentional about stabilizing its early childhood workforce over time, according to COO Terry Nakamura.

He told Aloha State Daily that despite ongoing challenges, the organization has been “trying to increase the salary for entry-level positions.”

“Incrementally, we raised their pay from $15 to $16 and then to $17,” Nakamura explained. “So, it was a deliberate attempt to make it affordable for folks. And it does make a difference, it helps.”

“I feel seen. Being in this field we never enter for the pay, we enter to make a difference, so living paycheck to paycheck is just a part of my life, but to have the extra help is such a blessing.”
– Testimony from Staff

So has offering stipends to workers.

With early childhood educators in mind, PIDF dispersed a grant, then called Early Childhood Workforce Stabilization and Compensation Assistance Award (ECWSCA), to employees in May of 2025 from Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnership for Education, which includes the Executive Office on Early Learning, the state Department of Education and the University of Hawaiʻi System.

The total amount awarded was $176,250 to 85 early childhood education staff via one-time stipends. The 56 full-time staff received $2,500 and the 29 part-time staff received $1,250.

“These stipends have been a huge benefit. For both the first and second rounds of this, it was a surprise. I was the one that primarily submitted our application, and we did it per program.”

Of PIDF’s 10 free community programs offered statewide, three are dedicated to early childhood education: Ka Pa’alana Homeless Family Education, Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana and Tūtū and Me.

Most recently, the organization was awarded a total of $153,750, which was used for stipends distributed to 62 early childhood education staff.

To read the full article written Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros, click here.

Our guests joined keiki and ʻohana and observed a Family-Child Interaction Learning (FCIL) program in action. They watched our teaching team integrate early literacy, math, art, and science with Hawaiian values through playful, hands-on experiences that keep parents and caregivers deeply engaged in their keiki’s learning.

“We had a wonderful visit from the delegation yesterday. The hui visited our Panaʻewa site and then returned to our Home Visiting office for further discussion,” shared Amanda Ishigo, Project Director of Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool. “It was an honor to share our work and be inspired by the progressive ways they are supporting families in their own community.

Visits like this deepen understanding of Hawaiʻi’s families and the importance of community-based early learning opportunities. By observing how keiki and caregivers learn together, the Pueblo of Jemez Delegation gained valuable insight into how programs like Tūtū and Me help build a strong foundation for school success, while honoring culture and ʻohana.

Mahalo nui loa to our guests of the Pueblo of Jemez Delegation for spending time with our keiki, ʻohana, and staff on Hawaiʻi Island. We are grateful for partners (and now friends) who share our commitment to inspiring and equipping families through culturally grounded, relationship-based learning.

To learn more about Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool and ways to support our mission, visit pidf.org/tutuandme.

Originally published by American Savings Bank – Check out the full news release here.

American Savings Bank (ASB) announced the results of its 2025 Kahiau Giving Campaign, contributing more than $277,000 to four local nonprofits. This year, 94% of teammates participated in the annual employee-led initiative, a 2% increase from the prior year. Since its inception nearly 15 years ago, the Kahiau program has generated more than $4 million in total donations.

“Kahiau means ‘to give from the heart without expecting anything in return’ and reflects who we are at American Savings Bank,” said Ann Teranishi, president and CEO at American Savings Bank. “For 100 years, we’ve believed in helping Hawaii thrive by investing in our people and communities. This campaign is a reminder that when we come together with generosity and purpose, we can create lasting change. I’m grateful to our teammates for giving from the heart and continuing to bring real impact to Hawaii.”

2025 Kahiau Campaign Highlights

• 94% teammate participation – 2% increase from prior year
• $175,221 pledged by teammates
• $277,000 total donated with a match from the ASB Charitable Foundation
• More than $4 million donated since program launch

This year’s campaign carried special significance as part of ASB’s centennial celebration. ASB collaborated with Aloha Revolution to design a limited-edition 100 Years of Aloha shirt gifted to all teammates who contributed to the campaign. Ed Sugimoto, owner of Aloha Revolution and an ASB customer for more than 40 years, collaborated on the initiative as a tribute to ASB’s legacy of community giving.

Kohala High School has an average student population of 252 students, with the two largest represented ethnic groups being Native Hawaiian (37%) and Filipino (29%). Through Piha Me Ka Pono, Liza works closely with the school to increase family engagement and reduce absenteeism. 

As a proud alumnus of Kohala High School who moved to Hawaiʻi at 16 years old, she understands the challenges of navigating a new school environment and overcoming language barriers. “A lot of the parents come to school, and they feel intimidated to speak to anyone or interact with each other,” she shares. “Engaging with the parents help them feel comfortable to approach staff members and get involved with their children’s journey through high school.” 

Liza’s approach to increased family engagement is hands-on. She works with the school staff to hand out event flyers on and off campus, and shares information about events with Kohala Mountain News. She is also the creator and moderator of a Kohala High School group on the Team Reach app, sharing announcements and resources to the school community. The community and students have grown accustomed to her friendly and welcoming presence around campus and at school events. 

One of her most impactful initiatives was an attendance incentive program. In the 2024-2025 school year, students who were on track each quarter to be below the chronic absenteeism rate at the end of the year had their name submitted into a drawing to win a PlayStation 5, provided by PIDF and thanks to Liza’s efforts. She also met with families of students with continued absences to problem-solve barriers to attendance. Kohala High School’s daily attendance rate went from 87% to 90%. 

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. The Kohala High School graduating class of 2025 honored Liza and Piha Me Ka Pono in their graduation ceremony. In a statement from Kohala High School they shared, 

“The Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) has been an invaluable and integral part of Kohala High School and the broader Kohala community. Their efforts have consistently strengthened the relationship between the school and the community, fostering meaningful connections that have made many events and initiatives possible. Their dedication does not go unnoticed and is deeply appreciated by all. 

Through Liza’s efforts, our school has received impactful donations from PID, including iPads for teachers to enhance instructional support and bleachers for our football games. She has also provided vital classroom and art supplies, helping to ensure students have the tools they need to succeed and feel a sense of pride. 

Beyond these contributions, Liza has built strong relationships with families, attending school community council meetings, visiting homes, and coordinating EL family nights, making her a trusted and integral part of our community. She also worked directly with the vice principal to help students in the attendance boot camp reflect on their own attendance barriers and write clear goals for success. Her work has been a driving force in creating an environment where students feel supported, valued, and excited to come to school. 

We are truly grateful for the continued support of Partners in Development and hope they are able to carry on their invaluable work in the years to come.” 

Through trust and genuine care, Liza isn’t just connecting families to Kohala High School, she’s building a stronger community for generations to come. 

Aloha United Way’s Day of Action event brings together people all across our community to kōkua local nonprofits like ours. At sites around O’ahu, community members showed up to lend their time and talents in service to causes that uplift and support those most in need.

We are grateful to build connections and community with every one of our volunteers. Mahalo to all Day of Action volunteers, your aloha reaches far beyond the task at hand, and we’re honored to have worked with you.

Her carefully crafted module exploring kalo (taro) offers educators a profound window into Hawaiian culture, guided by the Hawaiian principle “He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka” – Land is chief and man is its servant. This foundational concept shapes how Pua teaches about kalo, which represents far more than just sustenance—it embodies the deep connection between land, people, and tradition. 

As both an educator and the author of the children’s book “My Kalo Has Lau, Big and Green,” Pua weaves together the parts of a kalo with the symbolism within our ʻike Hawaiʻi (cultural wisdom). Her lesson plan reveals how the very structure of the Hawaiian word ʻohana (family) comes from ʻohā, the kalo’s offspring buds bundled with the mature hā (stalks), illustrating how deeply this plant is intertwined with Hawaiian cultural concepts of family and community. 

The module provides educators with rich, hands-on activities that help students explore these connections while learning about sustainable agricultural practices that have sustained Hawaiian communities for generations. Through Pua’s guidance, students discover how traditional Hawaiian farming systems maximized efficiency and minimized waste, offering valuable lessons for contemporary environmental stewardship. 

Pua’s kalo module is part of a broader educational resource titled “Celebrating Cultural Inclusion in the School Garden” available through Kids Gardening. This module is great for K-5 educators who are looking to effectively center cultural learning in their school garden program. Educators and parents can access this comprehensive teaching resource, along with other valuable garden-based learning materials, by visiting KidsGardening.org. As a nonprofit educational organization, KidsGardening.org relies on sponsors and donors to provide these free garden-based resources to parents and educators, ensuring that cultural knowledge and garden education remain accessible to all who wish to learn and teach. 

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.

A large share (72%) of PIDF funding comes from Federal funds. The freeze could impact services in 45 communities across Hawai’i, affecting over 3,200 young children and 3,300 caregivers each year. These high-quality programs provide essential early childhood education, youth mentorship, workforce development, and community support services at no cost to families who need them most. 

According to recent ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report data, over half of Hawai’i’s population lives paycheck to paycheck. Any disruption to these vital programs and services would have far-reaching consequences for our community’s most vulnerable members. 

PIDF remains dedicated to our mission of serving Hawai’i’s families. We will persist in advocating for the continuation of these essential programs and support for our communities. Currently, all PIDF programs are operating as usual, but we want to be transparent about potential changes that could impact our no-cost services: 

• Early childhood education programs that give our keiki a strong foundation in learning may be affected. 
• Mentorship programs and workforce development programs that empower our youth could face challenges. 
• Community school support services may experience funding cuts. 
• Agricultural education initiatives that build pilina (relationships) with ʻāina could be affected.  

We welcome you to help spread the word about the impact of PIDF programs for keiki and ʻohana by sending your story to communications@pidfoundation.org. Mahalo for supporting PIDF and continuing to uplift our mission to inspire and equip families and communities for success and service using timeless Native Hawaiian values and traditions. 

For media inquiries, please contact communications@pidfoundation.org or our Communications Office at 808-595-5290.  

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.