Harold K.L. Castle Foundation’s Terry George talks succession planning and the new co-leadership model rooted in its values

Growing up in Honolulu, Terry George always knew he wanted to make the world a better place, but wasn't sure how to. 

He left the Islands to attend college and began a long career in philanthropy, which took him from the Mainland to Southeast Asia with the Ford Foundation, until settling on Oʻahu to marry his long-distance girlfriend and former teacher, Julie. Today, the pair have two adult children.

George told Aloha State Daily he worked locally for the Consuelo Foundation before getting recruited by Mitch D’Olier, board chair of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, and began his first day on the job as executive director in August 2003. 

“There was no mission, no values, no strategy when I first joined, and nonprofits were waiting at least six months just to hear back on a grant,” he said. “We looked at how to make grantmaking faster and established those things. That year, we also invested heavily in building a leadership pipeline, which created career pathways for low-income students through work-based learning initiatives, pre-college credits, and better counseling and guidance.”

Nearly 22 years later, George plans to retire in July from his role as president and CEO to “spend time traveling with family and stay involved with the community.”

“I had let the board know of my intention over a year ago, but it was ultimately my decision on when," he said. "It’s been a smooth process so far because of the board’s engagement. I have so much aloha for them."

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation recently named two successors for George – Alex Harris as president and Eric Co as CEO – essentially splitting up the work and skillsets. The co-leadership model was voted on by the board, to which the pair will report, and a 100-day succession plan is under way for Harris, Eric and George. 

“Leadership is a team effort and this will be a good renewal for the foundation,” George said. “Alex and Eric, both internal hires, have been poised for this work for a long time and are shadowing me now, so I want to make sure I am thorough and set them up to succeed.”

Meet Harold K.L. Castle Foundation’s newly appointed leaders, starting July 1:

Who is Eric Co and what is his role as CEO?

• Will manage internal operations, external communications, and special projects
• Joined the foundation in 2011 to run its ocean programs and is currently its vice president for resiliency, leading all environmental grantmaking, ‘āina-based education and climate work
• He serves as a trustee for Bishop Museum and the Polynesian Voyaging Society

Who is Alex Harris and what is his role as president?

• Will oversee all grantmaking, strategy and impact
• Joined the foundation in 2013 to lead its public K-12 and higher education programs and is currently its vice president of programs
• He serves as vice-chair of the Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission and chair of the Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative

Both will uphold its mission, goals and values

The foundation then and now

Founded in 1962 by the longtime owner of Kāneʻohe Ranch, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation has awarded more than $259 million in grants, with over $60 million going to organizations serving Windward Oʻahu, according to its 2024 impact report.

By December 2013, the foundation had sold all of its land, including retail and commercial parcels, George said. “We aim to grow beyond the level of inflation through both public and private equity markets to continue to make an impact in local communities."

Last year, the foundation dispersed more than $5 million toward statewide public education, ocean and climate resiliency, among other areas. The foundation is funded by the Castle family’s land and liquid assets, totaling about $200 million, of which 5% annually is used toward local grantmaking. 

Drive down any street [in Windward Oʻahu] and read the neighbors’ names:  Smith … Nobriga … Matsumoto … Ching … Park … Naone … Dela Cruz! Here are people — good neighbors — whose measure of each other is not ‘who’ you are [ethnically] but ‘what’ you are [as a person].

– Harold K.L. Castle, 1952 (Source: castlefoundation.org)

Q&A: Lessons in leadership, legacy and mentorship

Aloha State Daily: What are you looking forward to in retirement?

Terry George: I might spend all of July picking weeds, or in other forms of community service. I also want to learn ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, mentor middle school students, maybe get into consulting. Spend time with family and travel. I feel hopeful for Hawaiʻi’s future, in schools, nonprofits, government, business. We need to support them to move forward.

ASD: Who are some of your local mentors?

George: D’Olier with the foundation; Jan Dill, founder of Partners in Development Foundation; Rachael Wong of One Shared Future; Corbett Kalama, president and CEO, of Locations; Nainoa Thompson, president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society – just to name a few.

ASD: What is the legacy you hope to leave behind?

George: A web of trust-based relationships that span from small-scale organizations to top-level business executives. The legacy of showing that you can create an ecosystem of for-profits, nonprofits, policymakers and community members to nurture and create growth. Serving others. Be accountable to the children, youth, grassroots community leaders, and know that change takes time. Never give in to cynicism. We need to grow the muscle to solve problems – we have huge ones in Hawai‘i, and we have a choice to be a part of the solution or sit on the sidelines.

ASD: What will you miss most about this job?

George: It’s been 22 years of gratitude and a privilege to be a part of so many good things going on in Hawaiʻi. Humility is a part of good leadership here. Hawaiʻi is worth fighting for, so my advice for other leaders is: Get off the sidelines, find out what inspires you and go serve. Get in the canoe and paddle.

To learn more about how the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation is shaping Windward Oʻahu communities, check out this 20-year review video, presented by Terry George:

To learn more about its work in nearshore fisheries, see below:

To learn more about its work in education, see below:

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.