Ho'okele Awards

A Celebration of Hawai‘i's Nonprofit Leaders

The Ho‘okele Award pays tribute to leaders from the nonprofit sector — the guiding forces in our community who strive to make Hawai‘i a better place. We are proud to congratulate this year's winners:

2009 award recipients pictured (l-r):

Stacy Sproat - Executive Director, Waipa Foundation

Matt Hamabata - Executive Director, The Kohala Center

Drew Astolfi - Executive Director, Faith in Action for Community Equity (FACE)

Laura Robertson - President & CEO, Goodwill Industries of Honolulu

Read more about the 2009 Ho‘okele Award recipients »

The Ho‘okele Award pays tribute to leaders from the nonprofit sector – the guiding forces in our community who strive to make Hawai‘i a better place. For many nonprofit leaders, commitment to their jobs and their causes far outweigh the challenges of working long hours with limited resources and support.

Just as a steersman, ho‘okele, is key to guiding a canoe successfully to its destination, this award recognizes the significant and often less visible role that a nonprofit leader plays in improving the quality of life for Hawai‘i’s people.

The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and the Hawai‘i Community Foundation created this annual program in 2002. Nonprofit leaders in Hawai‘i receive $10,000 to be used for their professional development and personal renewal.

Recipients are selected based on nominations from the community and on the following leadership characteristics:

	Thinks strategically and gets results
	Brings different groups of people together
	Inspires others
	Makes a difference in Hawai‘i
	Enthusiastically shares knowledge
	Works for an organization that has limited means to pursue professional and personal development

Funding Partners

Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation

The San Francisco-based Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation was established in 1961, by Martha Alexander Gerbode, a descendant of one of the original five New England missionary families who went to Hawai‘i.

The Gerbode Foundation makes grants of approximately $4.5 million a year with its activities focused in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Hawai‘i. Areas of interest include social justice, reproductive rights, the environment and the arts. Gerbode implements an award program similar to Ho‘okele that recognizes nonprofit leaders in the San Francisco area.

Hawai‘i Community Foundation

Established in 1916, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation is a statewide, charitable services and grant making institution endowed with contributions from many donors. HCF also serves as a resource on philanthropy and community investing.

Last year, HCF distributed $43 million in grants and contracts to the community.

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