Advisor Highlight: Kimberly A. Jackson, Esq.
Making Philanthropy Personal
For Kimberly A. Jackson, estate planning isn’t just about documents and dollars—it’s about people. Named as one of Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s 2023 Outstanding Professional Advisors in Philanthropy, Jackson brings a deeply personal touch to her practice, shaped by decades of experience and her own life journey.
Since establishing her law practice in Kailua Kona, Hawai‘i, in 1993, Jackson has focused on estate planning, guardianship, conservatorship, probate and trust administration. Over the years, her role has evolved as she’s walked alongside clients through the aging and loss of loved ones.
When people are facing cognitive decline or death of a family member, it’s not about the legal analysis—it’s about compassion. To Jackson, it’s a time to listen and offer support. “I try to build some peace somewhere, to make the administration as easy as it can be.”
Having lost her mom to cancer when Jackson was just 48 years old, her empathy comes from personal experience. “I’ve been there. It’s a difficult point in the person’s life,” she says. “So instead of just jumping right in with legal analysis, I remind myself to say, ‘I’m really sorry for your loss. How are you doing? Do you have enough support?’”
Introducing Philanthropy at the Right Time
In Jackson’s experience, conversations around philanthropy become more meaningful once the initial waves of grief and administrative matters subside. “Once they get the probate and trust stuff settled and we get into estate planning, they are better able to look at the bigger picture about the legacy they want to leave,” she says.
A firm believer in giving back to her community, Jackson encourages clients to support local causes—especially in Kona and throughout Hawai‘i Island. For newcomers to the islands who may still be giving to organizations in their previous communities, she invites them to consider the impact they can make in their new backyard.
When clients are unsure where to start, Jackson often recommends donor-advised funds (DAFs) through HCF. “A DAF gives them the flexibility to support what they care about, when they’re ready,” she says. “If a client is interested in ocean conservation, for example, or performing arts, or education in West Hawai‘i, HCF will find relevant, impactful organizations, where support is needed.”
Walking the Walk
Jackson doesn’t just talk about giving—she lives it. She and her family have a DAF of their own with HCF, which she set up to involve her daughter, now a physician assistant, in their family’s philanthropic journey.
“We really raised her knowing the importance of giving back,” Jackson shares. “I’ve always told her, ‘If you’re going to complain about something, put that energy instead into finding a solution, because that’s what helps everybody.”
Having her own family DAF allows Jackson to speak authentically with clients about the power of philanthropy. “I’m not just telling you this—I actually walk the walk. I have [a DAF]. This is important to me, it may be important to you, too.”
With over 30 years of familiarity with HCF and service on the advisory committee of the West Hawaiʻi Fund of HCF, Jackson has her finger on the pulse of local philanthropy. That insight helps her guide clients toward meaningful, lasting impact—even if they’re still figuring out exactly what causes matter most to them.
“Having more ideas about where things could be going,” she says, “that’s what makes the difference.”
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