On a quiet stretch of road in Puna, a wooden little booth serves as more than just a food stand; it’s a symbol of community care. These unmanned stands, now popping up across neighborhoods, hold home-baked breads, candies, fresh produce, and lovingly prepared meals. There’s no cash register, just a deep sense of trust.

When people hear “entrepreneur,” they often picture tech startups, pitch decks, and high-speed scaling. But for many of us navigating the world as Native social entrepreneurs, the work looks, and feels very different.

When I first started thinking about business, I didn’t imagine a sleek office or a viral product. I imagined people. I imagined our community. I imagined making something that mattered—not just something that made money.

Since announcing the next chapter for ChangeMakers, the outpouring of aloha and encouragement has been incredible. Every message, handshake, and conversation reminds me how deeply people believe in our mission to build equitable economic opportunity rooted in aloha ʻāina, cultural integrity, and…

Too often, workforce efforts are siloed; training programs are separate from employer needs, educational systems are disconnected from cultural identity, and economic opportunities do not always reach our most underserved communities. But when we apply laulima, we shift the paradigm. We begin to see that workforce development is not just…

Across the country, something powerful is happening: funders are no longer acting alone. They’re joining forces—sharing not just money, but vision, purpose, and accountability—to transform how…

What if the way forward for Hawaiʻi wasn’t just about jobs—but about pilina (deep connection), kuleana (responsibility), and a shared future shaped by the community, for the community?

Indigenous Hawaiian economies aren’t relics of the past; they represent powerful pathways toward social, cultural, and ecological resilience rooted in aloha ʻāina, ʻohana, and interdependence.

Cross-sector collaborations (CSCs) are one of the most promising tools communities have to address complex, systemic problems—whether in public safety, education, housing, or infrastructure. But as many of us know from experience…