Past Events
The Future of Trauma-Informed Care in Hawaiʻi | December 18, 2023
Assistant Professor in the Office of Public Health Studies, Lorinda Riley, joins Director of the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Tia Hartsock, to discuss the future of trauma-informed care in Hawaiʻi, highlighting the importance of restorative justice and community healing.
Participatory Grantmaking: Pitfalls & Possibilities | November 21, 2023
This learning circle was titled Participatory Grantmaking… Pitfalls & Possibilities | A Conversation with Melinda Tuan and Katy Love from Fund for Shared Insight.
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | November 17, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Act I: Urgent Updates
Speakers: Thomas O’Sullivan, FEMA Region IX, Deputy Federal Disaster Recovery Officer, FEMA; Kelsey A. Anderson MA, MPH, CPH, Readiness Branch Program Analyst | Office of Policy & Analysis | Field Operations Directorate, FEMA; Marybeth Chin, Maui County Councilmembers Tamara Paltin & Keani Rawlins-Fernandez Diane Peters-Nguyen, American Red Cross of Hawaiʻi Lawrie Ignacio & Graham Taylor, Licensed Clinical Psychologists, Co-Founders of Hawaii Pro Bono Mental Health Center
Act II: Hō‘ale Ka Lepo Popolo: Building an ‘Āina-Centered and People-Powered Movement
Speakers: Micky Huihui, Hawaiʻi People’s Fund; Davis Price, NDN Collective; Naalehu Anthony and Ikaika Hussey, ʻĀina Aloha Economic Futures; Paʻele Kiakona, President of Save Honolua Coalition and Lahaina Strong Organizer
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | November 3, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Act I: Urgent Updates
Speakers: Maui County Councilmembers Tamara Paltin & Keani Rawlins-Fernandez; Bobby Pahia, Maui Kalo Farmer
Act II: Wilia I Lei Hānai: Weaving Together Narratives of Immigrant ‘Ohana Resilience
Speakers: Josie Howard, Executive Director of We are Oceania; Veronica Mendoza Jachowski, Executive Director of Roots Reborn; Serlinda, Voices of Micronesia of Maui (VoMOM); Ana Malafu, Tongan community leader; Philios Uruman, Chuukese community leader; Nadine Ortega, Tagnawa for Maui; Liza Ryan-Gill, Co-Coordinator, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights
Redefining Community Learning Circle | October 31, 2023
This Learning Circle featured Dr. Akiemi Glenn, the Executive Director of Pōpolo Project. The Pōpolo Project is a Hawai‘i-based nonprofit organization that redefines what it means to be Black in Hawai‘i and in the world through cultivating radical reconnection to ourselves, our community, our ancestors, and the land, changing what we commonly think of as Local and highlighting the vivid, complex diversity of Blackness. Dr. Glenn is the Founder and Executive Director of the Pōpolo Project, a nonprofit organization that engages concepts of culture, race, and belonging through the convergence of African and Pacific diasporas in Hawaiʻi, working at the intersections of art, social justice, and education.
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | October 27, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Act I: Urgent Updates
Speakers: Summer Sylva, Senior Advisor for Native Hawaiian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior / FEMA; Maui County Councilmembers Tamara Paltin & Keani Rawlins-Fernandez
Act II: "‘O Ke Ali‘i Ka ‘Āina: Moving Toward A More Balanced, Safe, and Sustainable Energy Future"
Speakers: Josh Stanbro, Elemental Excelerator; Karen Irwin, EPA Sustainability Advisor; John Cheever, Director of Project Empower and Senior Commercial Project Developer at Revolusun; Jennifer Potter, Partner in #PowerBack Project, and former PUC Commissioner; Mark Glick, Chief Energy Officer, Hawaiʻi State Energy Office (HSEO); Sebastian Selarque & Ikaika Hussey, Shake Energy Collaborative; Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Updates on Sustainable Molokai; Alexis Ziegler, Living Energy Lights
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | October 20, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Act I: Urgent Updates
Speakers: Chris Schuler, UH WRRC; Matt Jachowski, Maui Hale Match; Ben Nishimoto & Mariko Chang, Civil Beat; Cody Lang & Joe Banks, Kai Hohonu; Diane Peters-Nguyen, Red Cross
Act II: Ka ‘Ai Kamaha‘o O Ka ‘Āina: Rebuilding Farming and Food Systems to Reclaim Ancestral Abundance
Speakers: Pomai Weigert , GoFarm; Autumn Ness, Maui Food Hub; Kaipo Kekona, Hawaii Farmers Union United; Kalisi Mausio, Project Kanu; Darren Strand, President, Maui Gold
Advocacy in Philanthropy Learning Circle | October 19, 2023
Joey Hentzler, Program Manager at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, will present on MAZON's federal anti-hunger work on the Farm Bill, primarily the Nutrition title, which funds SNAP and many other programs.
The 2018 Farm Bill expires September 30th and Congress is already working on the 2023 package for the next five years. The farm bill cycle is like the Olympics of the anti-hunger world because it includes the nutrition title funding a host of programs like SNAP.
This talk covers why advocacy is important generally, what’s up with the Farm Bill / federal legislation, and what’s happening in Hawaii around food access in the state legislature. We will touch on the value of advocacy, how to fund it, and how to engage in it both locally and nationally as funders.
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | October 13, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Act I: Urgent Updates
Councilmember Tamara Paltin; Diane Peters-Nguyen, Red Cross
Act II: Ho‘opakele I Ke Ola: Mitigating Environmental Toxins to Promote Protection, Healing, and Life for ‘Āina and People
Speakers included: Kaipo Kekona, Maui Bioremediation Group; Ekolu Lindsey, Maui Cultural Lands; Scott Crawford and Kim Falinski, The Nature Conservancy and the All Hands Environmental Research & Response Group To Address Post-Fire Impacts to Lahaina, Maui; John Starmer, Chief Scientist for Maui Nui Marine Resource Council; Tamara Li Farnsworth, The Nature Conservancy; Andrew Whelton PhD - Professor at Purdue
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | October 6, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Act I: Urgent Updates
Kalikolehua Storer, Lāhainā ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i Immersion Program; Cheri Souza, Stupski Foundation; Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez & Councilmember Tamara Paltin; Kayla Shaw, local ‘ohana caring for displaced ‘ohana ; Kahala Durrett Pratt, Maui Relief Storage Facility, MOKA INC.
Act II: Ke Wehe Nei Ke Alaula: Forging Compassionate Educational Pathways for Displaced Teachers and Students
Speakers included: Roxana Hollifield, Kūlanihāko’i; Miki Tomita, Education Incubator; Matt Zitello, Hawaiʻi Technology Academy
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | September 29, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Ho‘opakele I Ke Ola: Mitigating Environmental Toxins to Promote Protection, Healing, and Life for ‘Āina and People
Speakers for Urgent Updates included: Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and Councilmember Tamara Paltin; DHHL Maui Commissioner Randy Awo; Diane Peters-Nguyen, American Red Cross; Lisa Maruyama, HANO. Speakers for "Hānai I Ka Punawai Ola: Nurturing Resilience and Wellbeing Through Transformative Healing Practices" included: Momi Awo and Leni English, Hui Ho‘omalu; Ku‘ulei Maunupau, KAEHU and Native Hawaiian Philanthropy; Tia Hartsock, Director, State of Hawaii Office of Wellness & Resilience; Bryan Talisayan, Mental Health of America.
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | September 22, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Kōkua Aku, Kōkua Mai: Intrastate Knowledge Sharing | Lessons Learned in California
Speakers included: Jovanni Tricerri, North Valley Community Foundation; Abby Browning, California Office of Emergency Services; Alena Wall, Kaiser Permanente; Samantha Sandoval, Latino Community Foundation; Gina Zottola, Humboldt Area Foundation; and Laura Seaman, League of California Community Foundations. With urgent on-the-ground updates from Maui from: Autumn Ness; Diane Peters-Nguyen, Red Cross; and Aunty Nettie & Leihuanani, Nā Kia’i O Maui.
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | September 15, 2023
This was one of our Maui Briefings, which Funder Hui hosted regularly since the August 2023 Maui fires.
Kūkulu Hou I Ka Malu O Ka ‘Ulu: Restoring Hope through Community-Centered Housing & Redevelopment.
Speakers for on-the-ground updates included: Andrea Hernandez Rodriguez, PhD, Maui Mālama Organizer Fund; Darryl Oliveira, Interim Director, Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA); Tamara Paltin, Maui County Councilmember; and Keani Rawlins, Maui County Councilmember. Speakers for the Housing-themed portion of the call included: Keoni Kuoha, Community & Economy Sector Director, Hawai'i Community Foundation; Jeff Gilbreath, Executive Director, Hawai'i Community Lending; and Kimo Carvalho, Executive Director, HomeAid Hawai'i.
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | September 8, 2023
The 5th funder briefing was held on September 8 on the Maui Fire Crisis. Several speakers with on-the-ground updates shared the latest. We also had a thematic discussion that followed titled: "Ka Poli Aloha O Ka ‘Ohana: Embracing the Role of Women and Families in the Healing Journey" with a slate of speakers included.
Maui Fires: Emergency Briefing for Funders | September 1, 2023
The 4th funder briefing was held on September 1 on the Maui Fire Crisis. Several speakers with on-the-ground updates shared the latest. We also had a thematic discussion that followed on ʻĀina-Based Practices for Fire Prevention with a slate of speakers included. Please email us at kokua@funderhui.org with any follow-ups or questions on this briefing or issue as it relates to funding.
Maui Fire Crisis: Emergency Briefing for Funders | August 25, 2023
The 3rd funder briefing was held on August 25 on the Maui Fire Crisis. Several speakers from the philanthropic sector along with those on the ground in Maui and distributing food and other resources shared the latest. We also had a thematic discussion that followed on stopping land grabs from both local speakers and those with experience from the continent. Please email us at kokua@funderhui.org with any follow-ups or questions on this briefing or issue as it relates to funding.
Maui Fire Crisis: Emergency Briefing for Funders | August 18, 2023
The 2nd funder briefing was held on August 18 on the Maui Fire Crisis. Several speakers from the philanthropic sector along with those on the ground in Maui and distributing food and other resources shared the latest. Please email us at kokua@funderhui.org with any follow-ups or questions on this briefing or issue as it relates to funding.
Maui Fire Crisis: Emergency Briefing for Funders | August 11, 2023
An emergency funder briefing was held on August 11 in the days following the Maui Fire Crisis. Several speakers from the philanthropic sector along with those on the ground in Maui and distributing food and other resources shared the latest. Please email us at kokua@funderhui.org with any follow-ups or questions on this briefing or issue as it relates to funding.
ChatGPT & Philanthropy | June 8, 2023
A Funder Hui Learning Circle from June 2023 featuring John Nash, associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies at University of Kentucky. He has 30 years of experience in leadership development, strategy design, and social science research. Nash is the author of the book, "Design Thinking in Education: A Leader's Guide to Collaborating for Improvement," published by Harvard Education Press. He is the founder of UK’s Laboratory on Design Thinking (affectionately known as the “dLab”).
This call was moderated by Marisa Hayase, the Managing Director of Hawaii Programs at the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
MAZON's Approach to Fighting Hunger in Hawaii and Beyond | May 18, 2023
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger shares their unique approach to fighting hunger in Hawaiʻi and beyond. MAZON has funded four Hawaiʻi nonprofits to fight hunger through advocacy & public policy. Our speakers include: Joey Hentzler, Program Manager at MAZON and Kina Mahi, Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships at Hawaiʻi Foodbank.
Piʻikea Miller moderated this conversation.
Leveraging DAFs and Foundations for Social Enterprise Success | April 26, 2023
On April 26, 2023, we hosted a learning call on Leveraging DAFs and Foundations for Social Enterprise Success. Speakers included Mary Spadaro from Slow Money Hawaii, Claire Sullivan from Farm Link Hawaiʻi, and Matt Eldridge and Luni Libes from Realize Impact.
Engaging Local Donors Toward Impact | March 23, 2023
Carrie Ostroski from Dorrance Family Foundation shared about their work to actively engage their community, from subject matter experts on environmental issues to new local donors in Hawaiʻi. This hands-on approach from a funder has had great results and models the power of the philanthropic sector using their resources to convene key stakeholders and encourage investment in important issues.
Trust-Based Philanthropy Learning Circle | February 27, 2023
We partnered with Trust-Based Philanthropy Project to host this Learning Circle about the barriers to and benefits of trust-based philanthropy practices for Hawaiʻi grantmakers and grantees alike. Speakers included Chantias Ford of Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Suzanne Geary of The Healy Foundation, and Funder Hui’s Co-Founder and Consulting Director Ashley Lukens.
Nonprofit Sector Talent Drain Learning Circle | January 24, 2023
We held a learning circle on this topic on January 24, 2023 featuring Kathy Reich from the Ford Foundation. We discussed the issues of talent retention, compensation, and more in the nonprofit sector and ways the philanthropic sector can facilitate solutions to these issues.