HAPA Newsletter
Letter from the Executive Director
Like so many around the world I have been inspired to witness the NYC Mayoral underdog candidate, Zohran Mamdani completely defy the political establishment, elites and power brokers with a campaign that centers the well-being of the working class. The central campaign message of “afford to live and afford to dream” is backed up by a platform of policies he is able to deliver on such as rent freezes, free childcare, free buses and publicly funded grocery stores. These policies, a stellar campaign strategy and an unprecedented ground game (50,000 volunteers; 1.5 millions doors canvassed) won him the most votes in any NYC mayoral primary in history. However, this kind of mass mobilization was not merely the result of a charismatic candidate with a good platform. Behind the candidate were years of organizing and movement building by organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America and others.
So why is this relevant for Hawaiʻi? So many here at home are also fed up with the powerful monied interests that dominate our local politics. People are hungry for this kind of bold and transformative political leadership, that unapologetically centers the well-being of everyday people who are falling through the cracks. Here in Hawaiʻi we are witnessing that same energy bubbling up. HAPA is proud to link arms with community leaders who are organizing across a range of critical issues.
A huge shout out and congratulations to our friends at Lāhainā Strong who are showing us what is possible when communities get organized. The two year journey they have been on to reclaim housing for the local community has been awe inspiring. Despite losing their homes in the 2023 fires, these leaders channeled their energy into organizing. After winning at the legislature, they have just successfully advocated to pass Bill 9 out of the Maui County Council Housing and Land Use Committee. Bill 9 will return over 6,000 short term rental units into long term housing. Mahalo to everyone who submitted testimony in support of bill 9 which will now advance to the full council.
The Bill 9 win is also possible because of the savvy political organizing on Maui that has steadily worked to get community accountable candidates elected to their county council. In his recent OpEd for Maui Now, From GMO to STR Maui's fight to end the rule of profit over people, Lāhainā Strong leader De Andre Makakoa Takahashi thoughtfully reflects on the legacy of organizing that helped to pave the way for Bill 9.
As we enter the third month of our 8th Kuleana Academy cohort I see a room full of servant leaders from across Hawaiʻi who are willing to step up, to deliver for everyday people and the ʻāina that sustains us. This also gives me tremendous hope. Now more than ever I believe that it is critical that we hold a vision for a truly liberatory future and engage in tangible ways to work towards that vision. I would argue that daring to dream in these times is not frivolous or unrealistic, but necessary.
In solidarity,
Anne Frederick,
Executive Director
Fair and Sustainable Food Systems
by Fern Holland, Pesticides & Public Health Campaign Director
Our recent work has focused on continuing to investigate and address the complex and often harmful impacts of pesticide use on communities—both in Hawai‘i and across the globe.
In recent months, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with frontline communities, scientists, and advocates locally, and globally, in places like Costa Rica and Brazil, where the public health and environmental consequences of pesticide-intensive agriculture are deeply visible. These international conversations have revealed common threads: disproportionate harm to low-income and Indigenous communities, corporate influence over policy, and growing grassroots movements demanding safer, more just food systems.
Back in Hawai‘i, I continue to work with the community on efforts to reduce pesticide dependence, develop resiliency for our ecosystems and communities, and advance integrated pest management practices that emphasize prevention, soil regeneration, and indigenous and ecological knowledge. Our work at HAPA is grounded in a commitment to equity, environmental stewardship, and the belief that no community should bear the burden of toxic exposure for the sake of industrial agriculture and corporate profit.
Through research, advocacy, and coalition-building, we are working to shift the narrative—away from chemical dependency and toward community resilience, transparency, and the right to know what’s being used in our backyards. This is not just a local issue. The connections between Hawai‘i, Latin America, and other regions reveal how deeply global these challenges are—and how powerful our collective efforts can be when we share knowledge and stand in solidarity.
Reclaiming Democracy
By Aria Juliet Castillo,
Reclaiming Democracy Director
Our 2025 Kuleana Academy cohort has launched with three incredible weekends of learning, connection, and growth! These emerging leaders came together to build skills and strengthen their commitment to Hawaiʻi.
Participants kicked off the first weekend with Building Your Campaign 101 led by former State Representative Natalia Hussey-Burdick, exploring how to run authentic, people-powered campaigns. In the afternoon, Marti Townsend (EarthJustice) and Wayne Tanaka (Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi) highlighted strategies to protect Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources through collective action.
That evening, the cohort gathered at Tchin Tchin! in Chinatown for networking, photos, and video intros to launch their public leadership journeys. Inspiring guest speakers — Ikaika Hussey, Gary Hooser, and Keani Rawlins-Fernandez — encouraged participants to lead boldly and unapologetically.
Sunday included a Leadership Practice Inventory with Mason Chock, helping participants reflect on their personal leadership styles. A Maui County Council panel with Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Gabe Johnson, and Shane Sinenci shared real-world lessons on staying rooted in community values. The weekend closed with Dr. Jon Osorio, who reminded everyone of their kuleana to protect community, culture, and ʻāina for future generations.
The second weekend dove into narrative power and systems change. Dr. Dawn Morais Webster led Media & Messaging to help participants share authentic stories that shift hearts and minds.
Anne Frederick (HAPA) followed with Power Analysis, exploring how to build sustainable coalitions and challenge entrenched systems.
A Saturday evening screening of Dear Aloha sparked meaningful dialogue on diaspora, resilience, and the sustaining power of aloha, guided by Director Cris Romento and community leaders.
Sunday featured a housing justice panel with KA alumni Nara Boone and Jordan Hocker, plus Jade Moreno of Maui Housing Hui, highlighting grassroots solutions to Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis. Finally, we did a deep dive into District Analysis, equipping participants with tools to better research and target voters.
Mahalo to everyone who helped make these weekends possible! We are so inspired by this cohort’s courage, compassion, and commitment to serve Hawaiʻi with heart.
Social and Economic Justice By Kencho Gurung, Communications Organizer
ICE raids are devastating Hawaiʻi's communities. Between January 20 and June 10, 2025, ICE made 117 administrative arrests in Hawaiʻi- up from just 19 in the previous six months, marking a staggering 515% increase in civil immigration detentions.
Alarmingly, recent data reveals that about half of those detained had no criminal convictions, signaling a troubling shift toward targeting immigrants with no criminal history. These raids have created a climate of fear and chaos across the US as well as the paeʻāina. Congressional leaders Senators Hirono, Schatz, and Rep. Tokuda denounced ICE’s tactics as "needlessly aggressive," saying they “create chaos and confusion… while raising due process concerns”.
In our communities, families and farmers- like those in Kona- face deep disruption, with crops left unharvested and children uprooted after parents were taken in welfare-check operations.
In response, the Hawaiʻi Public Defender’s Office has urged Governor Green to issue an executive order forbidding state and county law enforcement from assisting ICE, arguing that local resources should protect, not terrorize, communities.
To make matters worse, ICE has begun transferring detainees from the continental US to Honolulu, adopting a policy of detention throughout removal processes- even holding those without any criminal charges without bond, as immigration judges in Hawaiʻi are now denying bond more frequently or setting prohibitively high amounts.
These tactics go beyond individual arrests- they’re breaking families, and instilling fear into the daily lives of our immigrant communities. We must take a stand to protect our neighbors from the terror of forced removal and detention- Hawaiʻi’s strength lies in our collective care.
Donate below to Aloha Latinos, a Big Island community group that is providing resources and advocacy for the Big Island’s immigrant communities.
