Visitors to the 17th floor at 55 Merchant St., a commercial tower in Downtown Honolulu, can immediately feel the energy. It’s home to the Blue Planet Foundation, a nonprofit with the ambitious goal of guiding Hawaii on the road to producing 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by …
NONPROFIT SHOWCASE | by Jim George, HANO Contributing Columnist
There are thousands of nonprofits in Hawai‘i, each trying to achieve their individual missions. One of the ways HANO advocates for the many organizations that collectively compose the nonprofit sector is to build community awareness of their value.
In this monthly series, former newspaper editor and columnist Jim George visits with organizations that make up Hawai‘i’s not-for-profit community. Through these profiles, we hope to shine a light on the many ways these different organizations contribute to improving the quality of life for all of us who call Hawai‘i home.
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Foundation awakens the world to an educational philosophy born in Hawaii
Tiffany Huynh realized at a young age that she was different from many of her friends and that it had something do with the school she was attending. She never questioned why her parents sent her and her brother to Hoala, a small private school in Central Oahu. It was close to home, and its …
Former TV journalist brings renewed passion to the world of nonprofits
The Hawaii Foodbank is moving in new directions under the leadership of a former TV journalist who moved into the world of nonprofits after reporting the stories of Hawaii residents for three decades. “Now my mission is to tell Hawaii Foodbank’s story,” says Ron Mizutani, who left KHON-TV eight …
When the dog doesn’t bark … or how Meals On Wheels saves lives in different ways
Call it the case of the barking dog that didn’t bark. Remy Rueda was making a Meals On Wheels delivery to an elderly man and was expecting a noisy greeting from his dog. But, instead of barking his hello, the dog was silently staring out the window. Something was wrong. Rueda gained entry into …
Nonprofit finds its new leader thanks to a touch of serendipity
A touch of serendipity has guided Michael Marsh to his new role as leader of a Hawaii nonprofit that cares for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The self-described civil rights activist joined Responsive Caregivers of Hawaii on Aug. 1 as its president and CEO and already is …
New agreement helps Hawaii and China expand “Rainbow Bridge” for the sake of their keiki
A “Rainbow Bridge” is strengthening ties between Hawaii and China at a time when a trade war between the U.S. and China is pushing the nations further apart. The trade war is all about tariffs, jobs and economic dominance. The Rainbow Bridge is all about the education and intellectual growth of …