A Leader’s Journey is a new original series that profiles Hawai‘i leaders one at a time — exploring the experiences that shaped them, the challenges that tested them, and the insights they hope to pass on.
Rooted in Hawai‘i and guided by hula, Dr. Diane Paloma leads with aloha — blending heart and discipline in all she does. Her story is one of resilience, and the strength that comes from knowing who you are, and where you came from.
11 Nov 2025
A Leader's Journey: Dawn Lippert
Every failure holds a lesson — if you keep moving. In this episode of A Leader’s Journey, Elemental Impact CEO Dawn Lippert reflects on resilience, risk, and the power of momentum.
4 Nov 2025
A Leader's Journey: Jack Kittinger
Raised on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Jack Kittinger turned his ocean passion into a career in conservation. Now leading Conservation International Hawai‘i, he helped pass the Green Fee, generating $100M yearly to protect nature through grit and community.
28 Oct 2025
A Leaderʻs Journey: Janice Ikeda
For Janice Ikeda, home is more than a place — it’s her purpose. From humble beginnings to community leadership, the Vibrant Hawai‘i founder is nurturing resilience across Hawai‘i Island, proving that small acts of service can spark lasting change.
21 Oct 2025
A Leader's Journey: John Leong
From lava fields to leadership, John Leong built Pono Pacific and Kupu to restore both land and lives — and to show what’s possible when purpose leads the way.
14 Oct 2025
A Leader's Journey: Marisa Castuera Hayase
Her family left Hawai‘i for opportunity. She found her way back. Today, Marisa Castuera Hayase leads one of the state’s largest philanthropic portfolios, and is shaping a vision of leadership rooted in care and connection, with community voices at the forefront.
7 Oct 2025
A Leader’s Journey: Rich Matsuda
What does it mean to grow up in Hawai‘i, leave for opportunity, and then come home to lead one of the world’s most powerful observatories? In this week’s A Leader’s Journey, meet Rich Matsuda, the first Hawai‘i-born director of Keck. From tinkering with cars in Nuʻuanu Valley to capturing light from galaxies older than Earth itself, his story is about balance — between science and culture, leadership and humility.
30 Sept 2025
A Leader’s Journey: Amy Miller
Amy Miller believes kindness can change lives — and she’s proving it every day at the Hawai‘i Foodbank. On A Leader’s Journey, she shares how compassion and accountability guide her work to ensure no one in our islands goes hungry.
23 Sept 2025
A Leader’s Journey: Josie Howard
From a small atoll in Micronesia to leading a statewide organization in Hawai‘i — Josie Howard’s journey is one of resilience and humility. In this episode of A Leader’s Journey, she shares how We Are Oceania empowers youth, strengthens community, and helps newcomers find their place.
16 Sept 2025
A Leader's Journey: Billy Pieper
From the ballfield to the boardroom, Billy Pieper’s journey is rooted in hustle, humility, and a deep love for Hawai‘i. In this episode of A Leader’s Journey, he reflects on the lessons that shaped him as a leader — and why he’s focused on keeping families here, building affordable housing, and strengthening community.
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