Empowering People.
Honoring Place.
Living Our Purpose.
Changemakers Hawaiʻi exists
to expand access to capital, opportunity, and pathways where more businesses, families and communities can thrive.
Our work is rooted in pilina: the relationships that strengthen communities and help resources, knowledge, and opportunity circulate where they can have the greatest impact.
We’re not here simply to help people navigate systems that weren’t built for them. We’re helping build new pathways forward.
Fueling Change
BIG DREAMS. BOLD STEPS. STRONGER COMMUNITIES.
Starting a business takes courage. Building one that reflects who you are, where you come from, and what you believe in? That takes something more.
It takes purpose. Persistence. A willingness to learn, stumble, grow, and keep moving forward. And sometimes, it takes the courage to stand in front of a room full of people and say, “This is what I'm building, and this is why it matters.”
NEW ON THE POD
In this episode of All Things Change, we talk story with Ipo Wright, founder of Hawaiian Diaspora, about identity, kuleana, cultural connection, technology, and community building across the globe.
BUSINESS WE LOSE
Small businesses should not have to reach the brink of closing before we recognize what they mean to us.
Sometimes preserving a stronger local economy begins with noticing what is already here—and deciding that it is worth keeping.
Priorities with Purpose
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![Logo for 'Khamronomics' featuring a circular design with a purple border, geometric shapes, and the text 'Decolonizing Wealth' at the bottom.]()
Kanakanomics empowers individuals in Native Hawaiian and underserved communities with financial knowledge and confidence. From budgeting to investing, this program builds real-world skills to navigate personal finance with clarity and purpose.
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![Logo featuring a tree with green leaves and a brown trunk, and the word "Alphabene" in green text underneath, enclosed within a purple circle.]()
ʻĀinapreneurs is a transformative program for small business leaders in Native Hawaiian and Indigenous communities. We offer culturally rooted training, mentorship, and resources to help entrepreneurs grow thriving, resilient businesses.
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![Digital artwork of a purple heart shape with stylized green, wavy ribbon featuring black pattern, and obscured text underneath.]()
Philanthropono is a unique initiative supporting the social sector in Native Hawaiian and Indigenous communities. We strengthen nonprofits with tailored training, resources, and guidance to help them grow sustainably and serve effectively.
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![Logo with silhouettes of people, the text 'Karakai Mobi' in green, and a purple circular border.]()
KanakaMob is a dynamic platform designed for local leaders in Indigenous and underserved communities. We connect people to essential resources and support, helping build a workforce that reflects the strength and diversity of our communities.
Blazin’ Snow
Zachere’s journey with Blazin’ Snow shows what happens when grit meets aloha. From mom to ʻāinapreneur, she’s carving her own path—one shave ice at a time.
Mikiʻala Lidstone
Mikiʻala doesn’t create change from the outside in. She cultivates it from the roots up — where culture, community, and ʻāina meet.
Bryson Hiro’s journey from quiet dreamer to ʻĀinapreneur changemaker is a story of perseverance, humility, and aloha.
Hiro’s Cookies
inspireaction,
sparktransformation
ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi champions economic equity and justice by empowering Native Hawaiian, Indigenous, and underserved communities. Through culturally grounded programs like ʻĀinapreneur, Kanakanomics, KanakaMob, and Philanthropono, we enhance small business growth, financial literacy, workforce development, and nonprofit capacity building. Join us in creating meaningful change and transforming lives!
plant roots with us
Change begins in connection—with each other, with ʻāina, and with purpose. By becoming a member of ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi, you’re joining a collective heartspace where ideas grow, voices rise, and community leads.
Walk with us as we imagine and build a thriving future, together.