Hawai‘i Leadership Forum expands its Leaders Lab to Neighbor Islands

Nonprofit Hawai‘i Leadership Forum will expand its Leaders Lab program to Kaua‘i Maui and Hawai‘i Island this fall.

"These immersive one-day labs are designed to help participants deepen their leadership practice in the values of kuleana, kūlana, ʻāina and community," a recent announcement from HLF noted.

Applications are now open for those who want to attend. The deadline to apply is noon Friday, Aug. 1. You can do so here.

The 2025 Neighbor Island Leaders Labs will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Hale Līhuʻe, 4286 Rice St. in Līhuʻe, Kaua‘i; Friday, Nov. 7 at Kukahiko Estate, 5034 Makena Road in Wailea, Maui; and Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Anna Ranch Heritage Center, 65-1480 Kawaihae Road in Waimea, Hawai‘i Island.

HLF President AJ Halagao told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions that the organization — whose cornerstone program is the Omidyar Fellows — aims to develop, engage and inspire leaders to "drive impact and catalyze positive change."

"We believe leadership is an activity rooted in shared responsibility, and that Hawai‘i’s resilience depends on equipping leaders with the skills, relationships and opportunities to lead with purpose and meet the state’s most pressing challenges," he says.

Halagao says Leaders Lab launched in 2024 and was designed to offer a "more accessible pathway" for leadership development.

"Each Lab brings together 15 to 20 participants to strengthen their leadership practice through reflection, peer learning and practical skill-building."

He said in its first year, HLF hosted five Labs organized into thematic groups: educators and academic leaders; community organizers and nonprofit leaders; health, science and technology leaders; entrepreneurs, business and labor leaders; and public officials and government leaders. There were a total of 99 participants, 18 of which came from Neighbor Islands.

"With the success of these initial Labs and positive response from the participants, we decided to reconvene the thematic groups for two annual follow-on sessions in 2025 and 2026," Halagao says. "This fulfills an emerging vision for a three-part leadership journey that supports participants’ continued growth beyond the first session.

"Expanding this program to the Neighbor Islands with Leaders Labs on Kaua‘i, Maui and Hawai‘i Island reflects our commitment to uplifting leaders already doing the work in their island communities," he continued. "These labs will also be co-facilitated by a local leader from that island. We understand that each county faces unique challenges and brings deep strengths, making it essential that diverse voices and leadership from these communities are included in our efforts to drive positive change across the state.”

Each Neighbor Island lab, co-facilitated by Nicole Velasco and another local leader, will bring together about 15 to 20 participants from each county, the announcement noted. The co-facilitators include Marissa Sandblom on Kaua‘i, Kapā Oliveira on Maui, and Mahina Paishon on Hawai‘i Island.

“When we know where we stand in our ʻāina, our values and our kuleana, we lead differently,” Oliveira said in the announcement. “This platform allows us to return to those foundations, to listen deeply, and to lead in ways that are not just intentional, but more effective for our communities.”

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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.