As we come to the close of 2025, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude and pride. This year has been one of steady building, thoughtful growth, and renewed commitment to the communities we serve. It has not been about rushing forward, but…

When I was a child, we didn’t have to go far for a snack. On long afternoons riding bikes with friends, we’d stop along the way to pick mango, lychee, or guava straight from our neighbors’ yards. We always asked first, of course, and more often than not, the answer came with a smile and a story. Nobody minded. That was just how things were. Food was shared, not sold. The ʻāina was generous, and so were the people.

There was a time when Hawaiʻi didn’t just grow its own food; it made its own everything. From canning pineapple and brewing Primo beer to bottling local sodas and distributing them island-wide, Hawaiʻi’s agricultural and manufacturing economy was vibrant, self-sustaining, and proudly local.

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.

As the year winds down and the world begins to slow, many organizations take this time to rest and reflect. At ChangeMakers, we are reflecting too, but our reflection fuels renewal. This season, instead of powering down, we are gearing up. We are preparing to…

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?

This transition is about more than leadership — it’s about honoring the journey that has brought us here and setting a bold course for where we are headed.

Olani Lilly’s journey begins not in a boardroom but out in the community. She envisioned a model of philanthropy rooted in cultural values and…

Philanthropy is more than gifts or grants; it’s an opportunity to partner with ʻāina (land), people, and place.

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…

The recent wave of federal budget cuts, initiated under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, is sending ripples across the nation. For Hawaiʻi, those ripples are more like shockwaves.

Across Native Hawaiian, Native American, and Alaska Native communities, powerful work is being done every day to protect land, revitalize language, heal communities, and shape futures grounded in…

In the ever-changing world of nonprofit funding, staying ahead requires adaptability, persistence, and strategic planning. At a recent event hosted by…