KanakaMob: A Thriving Hawaiʻi
KanakaMob:
Weaving a Thriving Future for Hawaiʻi Together
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?
Welcome to KanakaMob — a movement of hearts and hands working together under ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi to build a resilient, thriving Hawaiʻi. Rooted in Hawaiian values and collective vision, KanakaMob isn’t your typical workforce initiative. It’s about growing leaders, reimagining systems, and lifting each other up as we mālama ʻāina and one another.
WHAT IS KANAKAMOB?
KanakaMob is more than a program—it’s a movement. A hui of educators, cultural practitioners, local industries, and everyday community champions coming together to:
Learn from each other
Align on shared values
Act boldly for systems-level change
And most importantly, it’s grounded in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and ‘āina-based wisdom — flipping the top-down script and centering collective kuleana. As the ʻōlelo noʻeau says:
“ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.”
FOUR PHASES OF TRANSFORMATION
KanakaMob’s journey unfolds through four interconnected phases — each honoring community voice and cultural values:
1. Envision
We begin by listening — gathering manaʻo from across Hawaiʻi to co-create a shared vision. This is where dreams meet direction.
2. Explore (Coming soon)
Here’s where bold ideas bloom. We’ll invite diverse voices to imagine new ways forward, sparking innovation rooted in radical collaboration.
3. Execute (Coming soon)
Ideas take flight. Pilot projects and partnerships begin shaping real change, tested and refined along the way.
4. Embed(Coming soon)
We pause, reflect, and document the journey—capturing lessons, celebrating wins, and making sure this movement lives beyond any single initiative.
WHAT’S A DATA WALK?
Glad you asked! Think of a Data Walk like a community talk story session — but with powerful numbers to spark dialogue. From business to agriculture to population trends, these interactive gatherings turn dry stats into meaningful insight.
It’s not just about what the data says — it’s about what we see, feel, and know as a lāhui. When community ʻike meets data, real solutions emerge.
WHY IT MATTERS
KanakaMob is different because it’s built on three foundations:
Community-Centered Leadership: Local voices lead the way—no more one-size-fits-all.
Systems-Level Change: We’re done with surface fixes. KanakaMob aims to shift the entire system to work better for Hawaiʻi’s people.
Cultural Grounding: From vision to evaluation, it’s all rooted in values like aloha, kuleana, and mālama ʻāina.
HOW CAN YOU JUMP IN?
Your manaʻo is vital. Right now, we’re in the Envision phase — gathering ideas, dreams, and feedback from communities across the pae ʻāina.
Ways to get involved:
Come to a Data Walk
Join a steering committee conversation
Fill out a survey or share your manaʻo
Because this isn’t just a program — it’s a movement. And we’re stronger when you’re in it.
KanakaMob is about more than workforce development.
It’s about weaving a future where our keiki, our kūpuna, and our communities can thrive — not just survive.