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.  

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.