HCYP serves as a hub for youth giving, nurturing philanthropic mindsets in youth and educators that honor and serve the peoples, places, and relationships of Hawaiʻi—amplifying community-driven, intergenerational change.
We envision a world of collective thriving and abundance, where philanthropy is intergenerational and rooted in the wisdom, gifts, and values of communities. A world where community-generated waiwai and solutions guide our path forward.
The Hawaiʻi Center for Youth Philanthropy (HCYP) is reimagining what it means for youth to give, lead, and serve in and with community. Rooted in the values of aloha, kuleana, and pilina, HCYP nurtures a new generation of culturally grounded leaders by connecting students, educators, and community partners in a shared journey of learning, reflection, and action. Through hands-on experiences, intergenerational relationships, and values-based projects, HCYP supports youth in developing their gifts and practicing philanthropy that is reciprocal, place-based, and sustained—transforming not just individuals, but the systems that shape how we give and grow together.
The Philanthropic Mindsets help guide how HCYP understands and practices philanthropy in a way that is rooted in Hawaiʻi, relationships, and community well-being. We practice philanthropy individually, as a school community and as HCYP members, honoring the people, place, and relationships of Hawai’i. Together, they encourage young people to see giving as more than money by honoring aloha, ʻāina, history, culture, diverse ways of knowing, and the gifts each person brings.
Hear from our HCYP Youth Advisory Board members as they share which philanthropic mindsets resonate most with them and why.
HCYP launched in 2024 with a simple idea: youth can lead a movement of giving grounded in aloha, kuleana, and pilina. In our first year, students, educators, and community members came together to imagine, create, and practice philanthropy that honors the people, places, and values of Hawai‘i.
HCYP’s Year 3 cohort was approved, expanding participation to new schools and communities across Hawaiʻi. This included welcoming Mālama Honua Public Charter School on Oʻahu and formalizing neighbor island connections through Hawaiʻi Technology Academy’s Kauaʻi campus.
HCYP held its second Hōʻike and Community Celebration at Waimānalo District Park, bringing together youth, educators, ʻohana, and community members. Students shared community waiwai, reflections, school initiatives, and learning journeys while Kumu Kimeona Kane guided participants in exploring philanthropy through a moʻokūʻauhau lens grounded in the Kumulipo.
HCYP advisory board members approved the bylaws that will govern the Youth and Educator Advisory Boards.
HCYP youth and educators deepened their work through quarterly hana gatherings, board meetings, waiwai mapping sessions, and collaborative philanthropy initiative development across schools and communities.
HCYP continued its quarterly hana gatherings and community mentor learning experiences with time spent at the Waimanalo Health Center, deepening reflection practices and intergenerational learning.
A virtual “Philanthropy Ecosystem” Talk Story brought together experts from across the state and beyond to explore how youth philanthropy in Hawaiʻi connects to broader systems of giving, leadership, and community change.
Schools engaged in expanded waiwai mapping efforts, cross-school collaboration, and community partnerships rooted in local strengths and relationships.
The HCYP Board Summer Intensive launched Year 2 with a deeper emphasis on youth leadership, governance, and collaborative program design. Youth and educator leaders helped shape advisory board agreements, expectations, and shared kuleana for the year ahead. HCYP also welcomed Kumu Kimeona Kane, to share time and space with the program over the year as community mentor.
HCYP expanded into Year 2, welcoming Castle High School and new fellows, educators, and advisory board members from existing schools. The program refined its mission, vision, theory of change, and philanthropic mindsets.
HCYP’s first full Hōʻike and Community Celebration at Waikalua Loko Iʻa brought together youth, educators, ʻohana, and community members. Students shared waiwai maps, philanthropy projects, reflections, and learning journeys while Uncle Herb guided participants in exploring the concept of Aloha.
“Paʻina at the Priory” brought the cohort together for connection, creativity, and waiwai map sharing.
Schools across Hawaiʻi continued developing community-rooted initiatives connected to youth leadership, cultural connection, transportation, service, food, and community care. Educators also participated in dedicated waiwai mapping workshops to strengthen facilitation and reflection practices.
A second hana and talk story gathering at Waikalua Loko Iʻa deepened mālama ʻāina practices and introduced community waiwai mapping as a central HCYP framework.
Schools launched their first HCYP learning journeys and philanthropy projects. Students participated in virtual talk story sessions exploring trust, power-shifting, and philanthropy in Hawaiʻi while beginning to document reflections through Unrulr.
HCYP’s first major in-person gathering at Waikalua Loko Iʻa, guided by Uncle Herb Lee, grounded participants in place-based learning, kilo, and relationship-building through ʻike connected to loko iʻa, stewardship, and history.
The inaugural HCYP cohort formed, bringing together 6 schools from across Oahu and their educators/youth to co-create philanthropic mindsets, early program structures, and a shared vision for community-rooted youth philanthropy.
HCYP launched with a brainstorm gathering of students and educators, grounding the program in ʻāina-rooted, youth-centered values.
HCYP is guided by a dedicated team of educators, cultural practitioners, youth leaders, and community partners. Together, we co-create an environment where giving is a shared way of life, not a one-time act.
Sophie Halliday believes the most meaningful work grows out of genuine connection, shared effort, and care for our communities. Grounded in the belief that wisdom emerges through relationship, she is drawn to ideas shaped collectively and finds joy in helping bring them into being. A connector by nature, she brings enthusiasm, a collaborative spirit, and genuine delight in supporting good people and good causes.
A maker at heart, Mel is happiest creating spaces where people learn with and from one another. She believes deep, meaningful learning happens when people experience joy and wonder and curiosity in community. Her work seeks to honor the strengths and diversity of the learners she serves.
Passionate about authentic, purposeful, liberated learning centered around global competencies and personalized strategies, Susannah works to increase humane education practices around the world through her company, Individualized Realized.
Maile Ah Sam is an educator and community leader dedicated to empowering youth through culture, place-based learning, and stewardship. As Executive Director of Hui Mālama O Ke Kai Foundation, she works alongside her community in Waimānalo to create opportunities that strengthen relationships with ʻāina and one another. She is grateful to serve as an HCYP Community Mentor and to support the next generation of Hawaiʻi's leaders.
Kimeona Kane, born and raised in the foothills below Puʻu o Kona, Waimānalo, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu. Graduated from the Kamehameha Schools- Kapālama Campus, currently the Director of Community Outreach for 808 Cleanups, Chair of the Waimānalo Neighborhood and Pōhaku Practitioner of Waimānalo.
Herb Lee, Jr., is a Native Hawaiian and the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific American Foundation (PAF), a Native Hawaiian serving nonprofit established in 1993. In 1995 he founded the Waikalua Fishpond Preservation Society to protect and steward a 400-year-old ancient Hawaiian Fishpond, one of the few remaining in the 21st Century. He also has 36 years of experience as a community involvement specialist and has been a recording artist, Hawaiian musician, and cultural practitioner for 46 years.
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