Ka Pewa by Hawaiʻi Community Foundation

In this episode of Ka Pewa Podcast, host Kanoa Leahey sits down with Wes Lo, President & CEO of Ohana Pacific Health, to discuss the topic of rethinking our healthcare delivery system — exploring how housing access improvements and job training can reshape the way care is provided, especially here on Maui.  Together, they explore how investing in people and place can help create a healthier, m...

In this episode of the Ka Pewa Podcast, host Kanoa Leahey sits down with U.S. Senator Brian Schatz for an in-depth conversation about the challenges and opportunities shaping Hawai‘i’s future. Senator Schatz shares candid reflections on the evolution of political leadership in Washington, the growing polarization fueled by social media, and the urgent need to rethink how we approach housing, susta...

In this episode of the Ka Pewa Podcast, Stefan Pellegrini, Principal and VP at Opticos Design, shares insights from the Missing Middle Housing Scan Analysis and Definition of Barriers completed for Maui in September 2024. As a leader in the Missing Middle Housing movement, Pellegrini explains why this approach is key to addressing Maui’s housing challenges, how regulatory barriers stand in the way...

In this episode of the Ka Pewa Podcast, we sit down with Sterling Higa, Executive Director and co-founder of Housing Hawaiʻi’s Future , a nonprofit movement dedicated to ending the workforce housing shortage for Hawai‘i’s next generation. Sterling brings a deep background in policy, education, and community leadership. Prior to co-founding Housing Hawai‘i’s Future , he was a lecturer at Hawai‘i Pa...

Roots Reborn is a community-led nonprofit born from shared immigrant experiences and a deep commitment to serving Maui’s migrant and immigrant families impacted by the fires. With support from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund, Roots Reborn has expanded its services, launched vital recovery programs, and empowered those often overlooked. In this video, the team shares their journ...

In this episode of the Ka Pewa Podcast , we sit down with Trey Gordner, Policy Researcher and Data Scientist at UHERO, to explore the economic impacts of the Maui wildfires and what it will take for the community to recover and rebuild. Trey shares key findings from UHERO’s Maui Recovery Report, including insights on housing vulnerabilities, job displacement, and the deeper systemic challenges tha...

"Kaibigan" means more than just "friend" — rooted in the Tagalog word ibig (love), it speaks to a deep and enduring affection. Kaibigan ng Lahaina embodies that spirit of love and friendship through their unwavering commitment to West Maui’s Filipino and immigrant communities, especially in the wake of the devastating Lahaina fires. In this episode, we explore the powerful miss...

In this episode of Ka Pewa by Hawaii Community Foundation , host Kanoa Leahey continues the critical discussion on Maui’s housing crisis, exploring both long-standing challenges and the urgent needs amplified by the devastating Lahaina wildfires of 2023. Joining the conversation is Keanu Lau Hee, Senior Director at the Hawaii Community Foundation, who provides strategic guidance for the House Maui...

In the debut episode of Ka Pewa, Hawai‘i Community Foundation President & CEO Micah Kāne joins host Kanoa Leahey to discuss House Maui, HCF’s bold initiative to address Mauiʻs housing crisis. With deep personal ties to the issue, Kāne shares their philosophy and approach to this issue, the urgency of building more homes, and why it’s time to accelerate and take a stand for affordability. Tune...