Pooling Resources
Pooling Resources, Empowering People:
How Philanthropy is Fueling a Workforce Renaissance in Hawaiʻi
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 we prepare people for meaningful work.
From coast to coast, and especially here in Hawaiʻi, this wave of collective impact is reshaping workforce development. Strategic philanthropic partnerships are aligning with culture, community, and public systems to remove barriers and build something better—together.
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP, LOCAL IMPACT
KanakaMob Leading foundations and collaboratives like StriveTogether and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions are showing us what’s possible. They’re not just writing checks—they’re:
✅ Bringing sectors together—employers, educators, cultural leaders, community groups, and government—to solve challenges as one.
✅ Scaling what works—especially models rooted in culture, place, and people.
✅ Expanding access—so rural, Indigenous, and underrepresented communities aren’t left behind.
These efforts are raising the bar nationwide—and Hawaiʻi is stepping into the spotlight.
KANAKAMOB: CULTURE AT THE CORE
In Hawaiʻi, the movement has a name: KanakaMob.
Launched by ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi, KanakaMob is a workforce development collective rooted in Native Hawaiian values. It's not just about jobs—it’s about identity, dignity, and self-determination.
Philanthropic partners, both local and national, are helping bring KanakaMob’s four-phase framework to life:
Envision – Community-led “Data Walks” reveal lived experiences and guide shared goals.
Explore – Creative, culture-based ideas get funded, even if they defy the usual boxes.
Execute – Pilot programs blend cultural education with real-world employment pathways.
Embed – Successful models are evaluated, improved, and scaled system-wide.
It’s systemic change, driven by aloha ʻāina—love for the land and its people.
GOVERNMENT + PHILANTHROPY = BIGGER WINS
This isn’t just philanthropy in a silo. It’s working hand-in-hand with public systems like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). In Hawaiʻi County, the American Job Center (the One-Stop Operator) coordinates employment services, training programs, and support under WIOA to maximize access and impact.
Together, public and philanthropic sectors are building a bridge between tradition and innovation—between ancestral wisdom and 21st-century readiness.
WANT TO BE PART OF THE CHANGE?
ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi is calling on new partners to help shape the future of workforce development in Hawaiʻi. Here’s how you can join the movement:
Align your philanthropy with public systems to create greater collective impact.
Support culturally rooted services that uplift communities through identity and empowerment.
Help co-create pathways that are not only sustainable—but spiritually and culturally resonant.
Together, we can move beyond programs and build systems that reflect Hawaiʻi’s people, culture, and future.
Let’s make workforce development more than a policy—it can be a movement grounded in aloha, equity, and collective strength.