AFP Aloha Chapter

Great to see so many Hawaiʻi fundraisers at 2026!

Celebrating a Day of Inspiration and Impact at NPD 2025! 🌟

Last Friday, November 14th, the AFP Aloha Chapter hosted a truly unforgettable National Philanthropy Day (NPD), gathering over 300 inspirational philanthropists from across the state to learn, connect, and celebrate the heart of giving.

We kicked off the morning with the perfect blend of inspiration and humor from keynote speaker Lynne Wester (Donor Relations Group). Throughout the day, attendees dove into 12 diverse breakout sessions, exploring everything from the nuts and bolts of annual giving and comprehensive campaigns to crucial discussions on ethics in fundraising and non-profit leadership.

The highlight was our NPD Awards Luncheon, where we honored 9 exceptional Awards Recipients and 4 outstanding volunteers in philanthropy—their dedication is a powerful reminder of why we do this work.

We concluded the event with a fascinating glimpse into the future, as Ian Kitajima, President of PICHTR, shared an interesting look at the role of AI in our evolving sector.

A huge mahalo to everyone—sponsors, speakers, volunteers, and attendees—who made this day an unforgettable success!

🌟 Honoring Rear Admiral Alma Grocki (Ret.) — Outstanding Volunteer in Philanthropy 🌟
In 1977, Alma Grocki made history as the first woman from Hawai‘i to enter the U.S. Naval Academy. Nearly four decades later, she retired as a two-star admiral — and her legacy of leadership continues to shine far beyond her military service. ⚓️✨
Since retiring, Grocki has served on the boards of Pacific Historic Parks, the USS Battleship Missouri Memorial, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and the Ke‘ehi Lagoon Memorial, among others. Her spirit of giving extends beyond military causes — she regularly donates her handcrafted gemstone jewelry to charity auctions across Hawai‘i.
One organization especially close to her heart is Assets School, where her generosity and advocacy have inspired others to give their time, talent, and treasure. 💛

While still a sophomore at Punahou, Kyla Nakashima noticed that many public high schools offered mentorship programs for elementary students — but few private schools did. Wanting to change that, she and a few friends launched a mentoring program for students at Lincoln Elementary School.

What started small soon grew: within a year, there were 24 mentors, and this past year, 44! 🙌

Nakashima trained each high school mentor and paired them with elementary students for weekly after-school sessions filled with conversation, activities, and games.

Although she graduated with Punahou’s Class of 2025, her legacy continues. Before heading to college, Nakashima trained a new team of leaders to keep the program going — fully funded through community donations.

Now in college, Nakashima continues to serve her community through youth-focused projects and service work. We are excited to recognize Kyla Nakashima as the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy!

Today, we spotlight our Outstanding Professional Fundraiser, Jung Song! She joined the East-West Center in 2022, leading the office of development as their Chief Development Officer. During her tenure, the center’s fundraising increased from $668,000 in 2022 to $2.82 million in 2024, a 322% increase.
“Jung’s strong listening skills and direct communication style are assets in connecting with donors and understanding what motivates their philanthropic investments,” says AJ Halagao, president of the Hawai‘i Leadership Forum.
Song began her career with community service and international relief organizations, and has worked as a fundraising professional for over 23 years.

It is with great joy to celebrate the legacy of Catherine “Kitty” Yannone as the Outstanding Philanthropist Award In Memoriam.  

Catherine dedicated herself to advancing philanthropy and corporate social responsibility and ensuring her investments in nonprofit organizations made a meaningful difference. Yannone was owner and CEO of public relations firm Communications-Pacific.

She spent countless hours serving on boards within the community and sharing her public relations expertise. 
“Kitty was a passionate person and when she believed in the mission of an organization, she went all out,” says Linda Jameson Myers, vice president of institutional advancement at Assets. 

Deadline Extended to Thursday, November 6!

Honor one of your distinguished volunteers at our National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon on Friday, November 14th. When your organization commits to an NPD sponsorship or purchases a table at the NPD Awards Luncheon, you have the option of recognizing your very own VIP.

Your Volunteer in Philanthropy seated at your table will be personally recognized during the luncheon, in the program, and even up on the large screen. Each VIP will be presented with a certificate while our luncheon emcee describes each one’s service and dedication.

It is a perfect opportunity to say thank you!

To ensure that your Volunteer In Philanthropy receives proper recognition, please submit, in 70 words or less, the reasons your VIP was chosen and include a color photo for the presentation by November 6.

For questions, send email to: [email protected], Attn: Janice N. Knapp, CFRE, AFP Aloha Chapter President

Congratulations to this year’s Outstanding Corporation in Philanthropy - Mauna Kea Resort! 🌟

The resort has a sustained commitment to the environment with donations averaging $500,000 annually to organizations like the Hawai‘i Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, and more than $300,000 to the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative.
Specifically, it has donated over $290,000 toward Hawai‘i Land Trust’s effort to purchase, protect and revitalize Māhukona, a 642-acre parcel on the Kohala Coast. That money helps ensure that 4 miles of coastline and hundreds of cultural and historic sites and recreational spaces will be maintained for the benefit of the public. The resort also partners with the National Park Service to provide upkeep on a portion of the 175-mile Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail that traverses its property.
Help us celebrate the Mauna Kea Resort on November 14 at National Philanthropy Day!

We are excited to honor The Stupski Foundation as our Outstanding Foundation at this year’s National Philanthropy Day!  🌟
To date, The Stupski Foundation has invested $225 million in communities in Hawai‘i and San Francisco to aid with postsecondary education, health care and food justice. 

The organization is now spending down its $365 million in assets to community partners by 2029 because “change can’t wait,” and people working directly in communities can make the best decisions about where funding can make real change, says Cheri Souza, the Hawai‘i postsecondary success program officer at the Stupski Foundation. 

“We commit to trust-based philanthropic practices, shifting decision-making power dynamics and breaking self-imposed rules to create systems that serve our communities equitably,” she says.

Early bird gets the worm! Today is the LAST DAY for early bird ticket sales AND group sales. 🎟️ Join us on Friday, November 14th at the Sheraton Waikiki for a day of inspiration, learning, and connection. ⭐️ Register now before prices go up at midnight!

Don’t miss this opportunity to secure the best possible rate for Hawaii’s must-attend event for fundraising and nonprofit professionals.

Register yourself and your team today to lock in the lowest price!

Preview of the November 2025 Nonprofit issue! 🤩 The National Philanthropy Day insert is included highlighting the many heros who serve and support our community through their philanthropic efforts. Will be celebrating them on November 14 at the annual conference and awards luncheon. Registration link in bio. Mahalo to Hawaii Business Magazine for partnering with the AFP Aloha Chapter! 🌺

We have an amazing lineup of speakers for National Philanthropy Day! Join us for our Leadership Panel: Leading Through Uncertainty — A Leader’s Blueprint for Nonprofit Stability and Growth. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation on navigating change and building resilient organizations.
📅 Date: Friday, November 14, 2024
📍 Location: Sheraton Waikiki Hotel
⏰ Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
🎫 Registration link in bio.