On May 2, we had a wonderful time at Waimānalo District Park celebrating HCYP youth and educators through our annual hōʻike. The event was a powerful reminder of what is possible when youth, educators, community, and ʻohana come together in shared space and relationship. Throughout the day, participants shared not only the projects they worked on, but also the deeper learning journeys behind them, reflecting on pilina, waiwai, kuleana, and how their understandings of philanthropy evolved. The gathering created space for storytelling, reflection, hana, and meaningful conversation, while honoring the many people and communities who have shaped HCYP along the way.
The day kicked off meaningful with an interactive discussion led by Kumu Kimeona Kane, who grounded participants in approaching philanthropy with a moʻokūʻauhau mindset. Through learning of the Kumulipo, youth and adults reflected on what it means to understand ourselves as part of a much larger lineage, shaped by those who came before us while also recognizing our kuleana as ancestors of the future. The conversation invited participants to think more deeply about how acts of giving, relationship-building, and community care extend across generations and must be centered in something greater than ourselves.
Another highlight of the hōʻike was the waiwai gallery, where youth shared community waiwai maps they developed throughout the year. The gallery celebrated the deepening ways students came to understand their communities through relationships, stories, knowledge, strengths, and places that hold meaning. As participants walked through the gallery, they engaged with reflections, visuals, and experiences that demonstrated growing pilina with community and a more grounded understanding of philanthropy rooted in place.
We were also privileged to welcome many new faces into the space. Studentsʻ ʻohana, future HCYP youth and educators, and community friends joined us throughout the day, including guests from Kauaʻi who traveled to learn alongside the group. Their presence strengthened the sense that HCYP is continuing to grow as an intergenerational and statewide community rooted in learning, humility, and collective care.
Mahalo to our HCYP ʻohana, our kumu, Waimānalo, and all those who continue to help us learn and grow together.
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