Kaʻiʻi Hōʻike on April 30
Amid Chronic Underfunding, Indigenous Leaders Take The Stage At Philanthropono Kaʻiʻi Hōʻike
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Hilo, HI, April 22, 2026 — At a time when Native-led organizations remain drastically underfunded, Philanthropono’s upcoming Kaʻiʻi Hōʻike will spotlight a new generation of Indigenous leaders reshaping fundraising through culture, community, and relationship.
Hosted virtually on April 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Hawaiʻi Time, the Hōʻike is the culminating event for participants in Philanthropono, a fundraising training program for Native Hawaiian, Native American, and Alaska Native leaders. During the event, participants will present their Case for Support, share the impact of their work, and make a live fundraising ask.
More than a showcase, the Hōʻike offers a compelling look at how Indigenous leaders are redefining philanthropy — moving beyond transactional fundraising and centering reciprocity, stewardship, and accountability to community.
“Philanthropono demonstrates that fundraising is not just transactional — it is relational, cultural, and deeply rooted in who we are as communities,” said Olani Lilly, Founder of Changemakers Hawaiʻi. “Participants are reclaiming and applying ancestral skills in a contemporary context to sustain their work and their people.”
The event comes amid growing awareness of the barriers Native-led organizations face in accessing philanthropic capital, despite their outsized role in advancing solutions across education, culture, economic development, environmental stewardship, and community wellbeing.
Participants in this year’s cohort represent organizations leading transformative work across Hawaiʻi and beyond. Among them is Andrea Dias-Machado, founder of Ke ʻAlohi ʻo ʻEwa, whose work advances Native Hawaiian language immersion and education system-building grounded in ʻike kūpuna and parent leadership. Also featured is Shavone Lave of Waiʻanae Economic Development Corporation, who is helping expand economic opportunity and community resilience on the Waiʻanae Coast.
Funded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Robert’s Foundation, Philanthropono equips leaders with fundraising tools rooted in Indigenous values, authentic relationship-building, and long-term community stewardship.
Community members, nonprofit leaders, funders, and media are invited to attend the Hōʻike to hear directly from participants and learn how culturally grounded fundraising is strengthening Native-led organizations.
Register to attend the Hōʻike here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/UUAtuIkAThCJjXy6rHV0RA#/registration
Event Details
Event: Philanthropono Kaʻiʻi Hōʻike
Date: April 30, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. Hawaiʻi Time
Location: Zoom
About Philanthropono
Philanthropono is a training program funded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Robert’s Foundation that strengthens fundraising capacity among Native Hawaiian, Native American, and Alaska Native leaders. Grounded in cultural values and ancestral practices, the program helps participants build authentic relationships, develop compelling cases for support, and sustain their organizations through community-centered fundraising.
Philanthropono will also open registration for its next Kaʻiʻi Beginner Cohort launching in June 2026.
About ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi
Changemakers Hawaiʻi is an Emerging Native Community Development Financial Institution and Native Hawaiian-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community-driven economic development across Hawaiʻi. The organization strengthens the capacity and sustainability of Native Hawaiian and Indigenous-led organizations through leadership development, nonprofit capacity building, and culturally grounded economic strategies.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Boyette
Communications & Marketing Director Changemakers Hawaiʻi
jenny@changemakershawaii.org
808-769-0730
