Lānaʻi’s Kepa Maly Honored For Nonprofit Leadership

Kepa Maly, Executive Director of Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center. File photo at MNHCoC event 2014 by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

Lānaʻi’s Kepa Maly, the executive director of the Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center was one of four individuals honored during the 14th annual Hoʻokele Awards hosted by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

The awards pay tribute to selfless leaders and gives them an opportunity to renew themselves in their personal and professional lives.

As an award recipient, Maly was awarded $10,000 to be used for his professional development and personal renewal.

Additional $10,000 awards were issued to fellow Hoʻokele Award recipients: Richard Taaffe of West Hawaiʻi Community Health Center, Marian Tsuji of Lanakila Pacific and Harry Wong III of Kumu Kahua Theatre.

The Ho‘okele Awards were created and funded in partnership with the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation.

(L to R): Richard Taaffe, President and CEO West Hawai‘i Community Health Center, Kepa Maly, Executive Director of Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center, Harry Wong III, Artistic Director at Kumu Kahua Theater, Marian Tsuji, President and CEO, Lanakila Pacific.

Since 2002, $560,000 has been awarded to 58 nonprofit leaders statewide, the majority of which remain in the nonprofit and public sectors.

“Ho‘okele Award winners represent the very best in an incredibly demanding field, which experiences high rates of burnout and turnover,” said Kelvin Taketa, president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.

“We’re honored to recognize these hardworking and inspiring individuals for their years of service in our community,” said Taketa.

Taketa continued saying, “Investing in our nonprofit leaders is one way to support the work they do, so they can continue to bring about lasting change and build stronger communities in Hawai‘i.”