Hawaii Leadership Forum

Update: September 10, 2026

A Message from Board Chair Sunshine Topping

I’m writing today on behalf of the board of Hawai‘i Leadership Forum to share some updates and exciting changes about The Omidyar Group’s work in Hawai‘i.

First, AJ Halagao has been offered an amazing opportunity with the East-West Center and will be stepping down as president of HLF on October 1, 2026. I want to say a heartfelt mahalo to AJ for three years of demonstrating the type of leadership HLF has encouraged in our community. His partnership and perspectives will be deeply missed.

Over the last several years, The Omidyar Group has been reflecting on our work in Hawai‘i and how we can be more responsive to community needs. Conversations with Pam Omidyar and the team were consistent: we have more than 15 years of work in Hawai‘i, and we know there is much more to do. Thanks to the generosity of community partners we’ve worked with along the way, we have learned more than we could have ever anticipated. After reflecting on where we’ve been and imagining a different way of approaching our work, we believe we have an opportunity to help steward change in Hawai‘i by following the community’s lead.

To do this, we will be making significant changes to our approach and structure.

We are changing how we work, grounded in and guided by four principles: foundational health and well-being; reimagining the economy in relationship to ‘āina; centering indigenous wisdom and leadership; and interdependent governance and mutual stewardship.
We have decided to sunset Hawai‘i Leadership Forum, Hawai‘i Data Collaborative, and Ulupono Initiative and transition the staff into a new organization under my leadership. This will take place over the next 18 months.

There isn’t a name or a scope of work for the new organization yet – that will be defined over the next 18 months. We look forward to sharing milestones as new details emerge about the work ahead and who we are becoming.

As we sunset HLF, know that we are honoring our commitments to complete all existing programs.

We do not yet know how or if leadership development will play a role in the new organization. We do know that Omidyar Fellows Cohort X will be the last, effectively ending the Fellows program. However, the Forum of Fellows will live on. We’re proud of this program’s legacy and are excited to share more as details unfold.

Leaders Lab, SMALLIFY Accelerator, and Climate Leaders Hawai‘i (a joint initiative with the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation) will continue as scheduled, with each coming to its previously planned conclusion in 2026 or 2027.

In addition, the HLF office will close for good in November, and the HLF team will move to a new temporary home in Civil Beat Plaza shortly thereafter.

We’ll spend the next 18 months in partnership with our newly-combined team and community — listening, learning, and building pilina with those who are working toward the same horizon to let them guide us. We’re excited about this new approach and will keep you informed about our journey.

Mahalo piha,
Sunshine Topping
Board Chair
Hawai‘i Leadership Forum

Our Purpose

The Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum is dedicated to developing, engaging, and inspiring leaders to drive impact and catalyze positive change.

Impact Report 2024

Waves of Change

Waves of Change, Hawai‘i Leadership Forum’s inaugural Impact Report, reflects on 12 years of shared work to strengthen leadership across Hawai‘i. It highlights how individuals who connected through HLF’s programs—Omidyar Fellows, Leaders Lab participants, and other community partners and collaborators—are taking action, building meaningful relationships, and responding to the state’s most complex challenges.

More than a summary of accomplishments, the report reflects how leadership in Hawai‘i continues to evolve, grounded in shared responsibility and long-term commitment.

Looking ahead, we remain optimistic—because we’ve seen what’s possible when leadership is rooted in action and shared responsibility. Together, we can continue building a more resilient and thriving Hawai‘i.

Read the report at the link below or download as PDF.

Read the HLF Impact Report on Issuu

About

Effective leadership is essential to creating a more resilient Hawai‘i.

Our purpose at Hawai‘i Leadership Forum is simple yet powerful: to develop, engage, and inspire leaders to drive impact and catalyze positive change. This principle is woven into each of our programs, grounded in the belief that Hawai‘i’s strength lies in leaders who embrace the shared responsibility of addressing our islands‘ most pressing issues.

The Omidyar Fellows, HLF’s cornerstone program, exemplifies this commitment by uniting diverse leaders across Hawai‘i who share a vision for a brighter future. Fellows are equipped with essential skills and a vibrant network that allow them to lead with purpose, mobilize communities, and drive lasting improvements. This approach is further supported by our other initiatives that also foster spaces for innovation, collaboration, and practical skill building. Together, our programs form a dynamic ecosystem of changemakers.

Programs

What we do

The Omidyar Fellows program is an enduring commitment designed to lead to a more thriving Hawai‘i. ‘Ike Hawai‘i, the knowledge that comes from Hawai‘i is critical to support leadership that is good for Hawai‘i. Our approach stresses leadership immersion with ʻāina as well as strong relationships and networks.

The Forum of Fellows, an active network of Hawaiʻi-based leaders, are committed to working together towards a shared vision for our island home.

Visit omidyarfellows.org

Hawai‘i Leadership Forum’s Leaders Lab is a dynamic platform for leaders to strengthen their leadership capacity in response to today’s complex challenges. The immersive labs convene 15-20 participants to engage in collective learning, peer exchange, and personal growth to deepen their leadership practice in the values of kuleana, kūlana, ʻāina, and community.

Co-facilitated by Omidyar Fellows, Leaders Lab is organized into eight groups—five thematic groups and three neighbor island groups that convene on Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i, and Maui.

Learn More

Hawai‘i Leadership Forum partners with SMALLIFY, led by Dave Viotti, to offer coaching, facilitation, capacity building, and other supports to Fellows and their colleagues and teams. The intention is to accelerate and expand participants’ impact, cultivate relationships across their networks, and strengthen their capacity for innovation.

SMALLIFY works with impact project teams comprised of Omidyar Fellows and other community leaders who have a collective challenge they want to address.

These sessions use SMALLIFY’s method and approach to community-centered innovation and moving work forward through action to achieve results. The SMALLIFY process focuses on six essential factors for transformative change:

Clear “Guiding Star”—the anchor purpose or long-term impact goal
Strong leaders, teams, and trusted partners
Commitment to "Small Bets that Matter"
Co-Development of solutions with communities to meet authentic community needs
Leveraging opportunities where there is energy or urgency in the system for change
Staying anchored in a Growth Mindset

Visit smallify.it

Our Team