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Help Hawaii Now

Small Acts – Big Impact – No Strings

  • Initially, I attended a few Kokua.org events with the intention of helping other participants. However, by just sharing about a new project I was working on called the Purple Mai’a Foundation, help came MY way!

    Donavan Kealoha
    Co-Founder
    Asio Corp and Purple Mai'a Foundation

  • I heard about Kokua.org at a conference and supported the concept immediately…I’ve met wonderful, engaged community members and have increased my social network through work with this organization.

    Kimi Takazawa
    Executive Search Consultant
    Inkinen & Associates

  • …Through the “meet-ups” at Kokua.org, I’ve been able to meet new people and build stronger relationships while sharing my expertise and talents to pay-it-forward. Thank you!!!

    Paul Chapman
    Sales & Business Development Manager
    Vertaccount Hawaii Inc.

  • Our company has a community minded culture so when I saw on Kokua.org that the non profit organization NEI Hawaii needed computers, I located unused computers in our office and donated them to NEI. It feels good to be able to make a positive impact on a community organization with our business.

    Jon Yee
    IT Manager
    Proservice Hawaii

  • …I’m grateful to Kokua.org for helping these nonprofits build better Boards!

    Leigh-Ann Miyasato
    Executive Director
    Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawaii

  • Kokua.org has been a great way to connect people and to use my skill set to help others. I’ve also made wonderful friends in the process.

    Darin Leong
    Partner
    Marr Jones & Wang

  • …Being involved in Kokua.org reminds me what is important and gives me a network of similarly minded people.

    Donna Blanchard
    Managing Director
    Kumu Kahua Theatre

  • …Thank you Kokua.org for introducing me to like-minded people who are willing to help me short term and build long-term relationships to help each other in the long run.

    Rechung Fujihira
    Co-Founder
    The Box Jelly

  • …I feel like the 2 hours I spent at the Kokua.org event saved me 8-10 hours in meeting and travel time! It was hugely productive and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

    Ben Ancheta
    Chief Revenue Officer
    Proservice Hawaii

  • I enjoy the time “unplugging” from technology and building real, meaningful relationships with others while being able to use my expertise to help others and pay it forward.

    Collin Kobayashi
    Owner
    3D Innovations

  • I really found this last event to be great. I made some great connections and met people I think I can help.

    Dean Levitt
    Co-Founder
    MadMimi.com

  • At Kokua.org, I have found board opportunities, volunteer opportunities, fantastic introductions and friends…we are solving issues that make organizations and communities stronger.

    Jim Murphy
    Account Representative
    American Cancer Society

  • Kokua.org has been the ideal organization to allow me to meet my goal of giving back.

    Darryl Nakamoto
    Partner and CEO
    Kaiuli Energy, LLC

  • The Kokua Event #4 was an invaluable 2 hours for me. Walked in the room with a specific offer for free advertising on TheBus and 5 separate members accepted it in minutes. I’m very satisfied about supporting other’s needs. Thanks again Evan and the Kokua Team.

    Jeffrey Zimmerman
    AdWalls

» More Success Stories »

Kokua means “to help others”…

Connect

Bring people together to build relationships at a deeper level with interesting people from different areas of the community.

Collaborate

Work together to help others.

Change

Create positive change and make a difference in our community and lives.

What We Do

We focus on bringing special people together to collaborate and make a positive impact in our community.

Provide mentorship and leadership development

Board matching between non profits and business executives

Relationship building and problem solving initiatives

Create and help implement corporate community and giving programs

Host unique group events and workshops

Launch and facilitate public private partnerships

Act as a community accelerator and spread PROnoia

Provide pro bono skills based volunteers and consulting to non profits

Provide facilitators for conference break out sessions

Our Guiding Values

 

Integrity

Make a Difference

"Consumption to Compassion"

Kokua.org brings together high quality people from different sectors in our community to build deeper relationships, collaborate and help each other solve problems. We do this by sharing expertise, matchmaking and mentorship which we call “Kokua Experiences”.

Kokua.org is the portion of Greater Good Radio that we meant to implement before the Great Recession hit. We had always planned for there to be ways for executives to get involved with the community and events and initiatives that supported this. Kokua.org continues what Greater Good Radio started. Go here for a short list of what we are working on.

  • Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

    Margaret Mead

  • Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.

    Mattie Stepanek

  • I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.

    Mother Teresa

  • Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.

    Dalai Lama

  • …And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.

    Luke 12:48

  • Be the change that you wish to see in the world.

    Mahatma Gandhi

Who We Are

"Industry INCLUSIVE vs EXCLUSIVE"

We are a group of people that are motivated to help Hawaii’s community by facilitating Kokua Experiences and cross sector collaborations. Our youngest volunteer is 16 years old and the oldest is…well, we won’t go there…

Our group consists of a wide range of community and business leadership. We consider ourselves “industry inclusive” since we have people from all industry sectors and not just one. Each brings their own “special sauce” and everyone shares the common belief that we can do better as long as it’s together.

Steering Committee

Chris Leong, PhD
CEO of Quality of Life, Inc.
http://qualityoflifehawaii.com/Who_We_Are.html
Donavan Kealoha
Co-Founder at Asio Corp.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/donavankealoha
Donna Blanchard
Managing Director at Kumu Kahua Theatre
http://www.linkedin.com/in/donnablanchard
Evan Leong
Co-Founder at Greater Good Inc. and Bubble Tea Supply
http://www.linkedin.com/in/evanleong
Kalei Stern
Director, Omidyar Fellows Program at Hawaii Leadership Forum
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kalei-stern/31/8b5/a84
Kari Leong
Co-Founder at Greater Good Inc. and Bubble Tea Supply
Kimberly Lau
Director of Development and Marketing at Boy Scouts of America
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-lau-71468111
Kimi Takazawa
Director of Development and Marketing at Boy Scouts of America
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kimi-takazawa/12/b13/37a
Luke Tucker
CEO of Ritify
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lukettucker
Tori Abe
Director of Marketing and Development at Hospice Hawaii

 

Members

Alex Harris
Senior Program Officer for Education at Harold K.L. Castle Foundation
http://www.castlefoundation.org/directors-staff.htm
Alexander Bergo, PhD
Co-Founder & CEO at SIFT Co.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alexander-bergo/1/aa0/42
Alia Pan, PhD
Punahou School
Alison Lum
Community and Commerce Liaison, City & County of Honolulu Department of Community Services
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alison-lum/1/566/a87
Allison Higgins, MPA
Director, Membership and Marketing at Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/allison-higgins-mpa/36/578/ba0
Ann Kishi
Hogan Entrepreneurs Program
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ann-lujan/1/a17/476
Ben Ancheta
Chief Revenue Officer at ProService Hawaii
http://www.linkedin.com/in/bancheta
Benjamin Godsey
President and CEO at ProService Hawaii
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/ben-godsey/0/23/1b6
Bernice Parsons
Co-Founder and President, Pacific Region at Vertaccount Hawaii Inc.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bernice-parsons/22/7a9/68
Billy Pieper
Vice President at Barclaycard US
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/billy-pieper/50/828/28a
Brad Char
COO at RedHammer
http://www.redhammer.it/aboutcontact.html
Brad Punu
Manager – Strategic Initiatives at Energy Excelerator
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brad-punu/0/580/295
Brian Kealoha
Regional Manager at Chevron Energy Solutions
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kealoha
Bryan Butteling
Account Executive and Business Development at Nella Media Group
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/bryan-butteling/25/719/464
Bryan Li
Executive Vice President at BlackSand Capital
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bryan-li/0/2a2/358
Buffy Cushman-Patz
School Leader at School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability (SEEQS)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/buffycushmanpatz
Casey Agena, PhD
Director, Summer School at Punahou School
http://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyagena
Cathy Ching
Mid-Pacific Institute
Cathy Ogawa
Government Relations Director at Hawaiian Educational Council
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/cathy-ogawa/48/874/804
Chad Sakumoto
Chief Investment Officer at J. Kadowaki, Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/chad-sakumoto/6/59a/8ab

Charlene Flanter
Communications Manager/Program Officer at Nā Lei Aloha Foundation
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/charlene-flanter/6b/791/320
Chris Kanemura
MADE IN HOPE
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kanemura
Christopher Dods
Senior Vice President of First Hawaiian Bank
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/chris-dods/0/372/369
Christopher Pan
Executive Coordinator at First Presbyterian Church
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/christopher-pan/0/407/51a
Cindy Matsuki
Economic Development Specialist at High Technology Development Corporation
http://htdc.org/staff.html
Collin Kobayashi
President at 3D Innovations
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/collin-kobayashi/4/107/451
Cynthia Yamasaki
CEO & Founder, Coach for Executives & Entrepreneurs at CMY Consulting LLC
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/cynthia-yamasaki/3b/531/152
Darin Leong
Partner at Marr Jones & Wang
http://marrjones.com/attorneys/darin-r-leong/
Darryl Nakamoto
Partner and CEO at Kaiuli Energy, LLC
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/darryl-nakamoto/2/272/a04
Dave Mori
University of Hawaii Cancer Center
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dave-mori/0/76/379
David Aquino
Project Specialist at Blue Planet Foundation
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-aquino/61/151/553
Dean Levitt
Co-Founder and Chief of Culture at MadMimi.com
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dean-levitt/2a/74a/99a
Debbie Kim Morikawa
Director of Organizational Development at HawkTree International
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/debbie-kim-morikawa/30/680/621
Deborah Zysman
Executive Director at Good Beginnings Alliance
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/deborah-zysman/2/516/817
Francis Choe
Special Assistant at Office of Lieutenant Governor Shan S. Tsutsui
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/francis-choe/9/822/34
Glenn Boulware
VP/COO at HIE Holdings and Hawaiian Isles Enterprises
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/glenn-boulware/47/7a1/5b7
Heather Chun
Lifespan Respite Care Project Coordinator at the Executive Office on Aging, Hawaii Department of Health
Ian Kitajima
Director at Oceanit
http://www.linkedin.com/in/iankitajima
James “Kimo” Lopaka Cuizon
Data Specialist at EPIC ‘Ohana
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuizon
Jan Harada
President & CEO at Helping Hands Hawaii
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jan-harada/39/743/12b
Jeff Chang
Engineering Program Manager at Hawaii DOT Airports Division
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jeff-chang/15/990/bb0
Jeffrey Harris
Name Partner, Managing Director and Vice President of Torkildson, Katz, Moore, Hetherington & Harris
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jeffrey-harris/0/439/430
Jeffrey Zimmerman
AdWalls
http://www.adwalls.com/
Jennifer Michel
Kupu Hawaii
http://kupuhawaii.org/
Jennifer Thompson
Senior Manager, Global Merchant Services at American Express
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jennifer-thompson/7/982/977
Jerry Tanaka
Director – Inventory Control & Supply Operations at Hawaiian Airlines
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrytanaka
Jim Murphy
Executive Director for Honolulu Habitat for Humanity
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-murphy/4/96/ba1
Jim Takatsuka
Area Manager at Microsoft Corp.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/takatsuka
Joanne Yanogacio
Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/joanne-yanogacio/69/81/66b
Jon Lim
President of LimPacific, Inc.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/limpacific
Jon Shear
CEO/Co-Founder at ReadyZoneHQ
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonshear
Jon Yee
IT Manager at ProService Hawaii
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jonathan-yee/3/a2a/13
Joseph Heaukulani
Co Organizer at RailsBridge Hawaii
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joseph-heaukulani/50/618/705
Joseph A. Stewart
Partner at Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joseph-stewart/5/8bb/164
Joy Barua
Director of Community Benefit & Health Policy at Kaiser Permanente
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joy-barua-mba-ma-oc/9/709/118
Kainoa Casco
Chief Responsibility Officer at Susty Pacific LLC
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kainoacasco
Kamil Schuetz
Real Estate Agent at Jack Tyrrell & Company
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamilschuetz
Kathleen Berg, PhD
Interim Director of the Curriculum Research & Development Group at UH Manoa
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kathleen-berg/20/231/a7a
Kelli Abe Trifonovitch
Director of Communications and Outreach, University of Hawaii Innovation Initiative
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kelli-abe-trifonovitch/12/1b6/382
Kent Mori Walther
Associate at Blacksand Capital
http://www.blacksandcapital.com/overview
Kim Gennaula Hagi
President and CEO of Aloha United Way
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kim-gennaula-hagi/79/679/54a
Kim Perez Hults
Argosy University Hawaii
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimperezhults
Kim Wong Yoshimoto
Director of External Affairs at Office of Senator Brian Schatz, United States Senate
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kim-wong-yoshimoto/6b/875/747
Kimo Carvalho
Development & Community Relations Manager at IHS, The Institute for Human Services, Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kimo-carvalho/65/987/285
Kristine Averill
Campus Director at University of Phoenix
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kristine-averill/62/2b4/115
Lance Takenaka
Financial Services
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lance-takenaka/21/6b9/215
Larry Rodriguez
Community Volunteer
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/larry-rodriguez/32/840/a24
Lauren Primiano
Associate at Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lauren-primiano/b/aa9/41
Laurie Kawakami
Digital Editor at The Honolulu Star-Advertiser
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/laurie-kawakami/19/12/719
Lea Hong
Hawaiian Islands State Director at The Trust for Public Land
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lea-hong/5/352/505
Leela Bilmes Goldstein
Executive Director at Women’s Fund of Hawaii
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/leela-bilmes-goldstein/4/44a/9b8
Leigh-Ann Miyasato
President & Executive Director at Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawaii
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/leigh-ann-miyasato/75/679/673
Leslie Campaniano
Government Relations & Public Affairs Advisor at Watanabe Ing
http://www.wik.com/Advisors.aspx?AdvisorID=1008
Liann Ebesugawa
Executive Director at Hawaii State Board of Education
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ebesugawa-liann/3/a94/629
Linda Axtell-Thompson
Business Ethics Professor, MBA Program at Chaminade University
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/linda-axtell-thompson/7/52b/905
Lisa Maruyama
President and CEO at Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lisa-maruyama/10/472/bb6
Lyle Fujikawa
Director of Communications at Tow Choice
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lylehfujikawa
Maile Thompson
Operations Manager at Hastings & Pleadwell
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mailethompson
Marek Lehocky
Managing Director and Founder at ProWorks Group
http://jp.linkedin.com/in/mareklehocky
Matt McCarville
Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-mccarville/8/a10/140
Mike Watanabe
SVP Creative Director at BrainPOP
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewatanabe
Mike Webb
Peer News Marketing Director at Civil Beat/Huffpost Hawaii/Peer News
http://www.linkedin.com/in/gmikewebb
Monica Umeda
UH Electrical Engineering Masters Student
Newton Parks
UH Manoa
Nicole Velasco
Executive Secretary, Neighborhood Commission at City and County of Honolulu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolevelasco
Omar Sultan
CEO of Upside Fund and Partner at Sultan Ventures
http://www.linkedin.com/in/sultanomar
Paul Chapman
Sales & Business Development Manager at Vertaccount Hawaii Inc.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/chapman-paul/37/108/494
Peggy Hill
Director at Windward Biofeedback Associates
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/peggy-hill/15/22b/130
Peter Heimerdinger
Guest Service Manager at Pacific Beach Hotel
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/peter-heimerdinger-mba/78/b65/a7
Rechung Fujihira
Co-Founder of The Box Jelly and Advisor at Blue Startups
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rechungfujihira
Robert Stehlik
Owner of Blue Planet Surf
http://www.linkedin.com/in/robertstehlikhawaii
Robin Campaniano
Senior Advisor at CGI Technologies and Solutions
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/robin-campaniano/10/b13/8b6
Ron Hochuli
Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy
Ryan Leong
Executve Director at Hands In Helping Out (HIHO)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmleong
Ryan Ozawa
Director of Communications at Hawaii Information Service
http://www.linkedin.com/in/hawaii
Ryan Yamane
State Representative at Hawaii State Legislature
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ryan-yamane/a/3a6/534
Sara Buehler
Attorney at Shea & Kamiya, LLLC
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sara-buehler/6/436/31a
Sean Tadaki
Founding Partner at Commercial Asset Advisors
http://www.linkedin.com/in/seantadaki
Sharene Urakami-Oyama
Area Retail Sales Manager at AT&T
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sharene-urakami/8/177/695
Shelley Wilson
Owner of Wilson Homecare
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/shelley-wilson/7/2a7/708
Stacy Evensen
Director, Education & Vocational Services at Hale Kipa, Inc.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/stacy-evensen/75/498/ba1
Tarik Sultan
CEO of Sultan Ventures
http://www.linkedin.com/in/tariksultan
Tim Mobley
President at DentaSupport
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/tim-mobley/0/429/3aa
Tim Motts
President and CEO at Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tim-motts/95/70b/129
Tom Presler
Realtor at Prudential Locations, LLC
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tom-presler/4/ab/660
Trever K. Asam
Associate at Cades Schutte
http://www.cades.com/attorneys/dsp_Attorney.cfm?attorneyid=101
Tyler Dos Santos-Tam
Executive Director at Hawaii Construction Alliance
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerdst
Valery Baranets
Chaminade University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerybaranets
Viil Lid, PhD
Co-Founder & CIO at SIFT Co.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/viillid
Waialeale Sarsona
Ho’olako Like Department Director at Kamehameha Schools
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/m-waialeale-sarsona/4b/396/385
Yunji de Nies
Anchor at KITV
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yunji