Ripple Effect Awards

We are excited to announce Nicole Chase, Executive Assistant at Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of East Hawaiʻi as the winner of the To Infinity and Beyond Go Getter Award—celebrating her drive, creativity, and unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of keiki in crisis. 💫

Before joining the Friends, Nicole spent years as a pediatric dental assistant, building trust with children and families. She brought those same skills—and her huge heart—to her role at the Friends, where she’s become a behind-the-scenes powerhouse helping the organization grow and adapt to meet urgent needs.

One of Nicole’s standout contributions? The creation of the 24-hour emergency closet—a beautifully restored, well-stocked space filled with clothing and essentials, designed with care and empathy for children in crisis. With community support and her close relationships with Child Welfare Services, Nicole helped shape the closet to be welcoming, accessible, and responsive to real-time needs. 🌟👕🧸

A former foster youth once called the Friends her “invisible hands”—always there when she needed something. Nicole embodies that spirit, quietly leading with compassion, humility, and creating positive ripple effects when our keiki need it most. 🌈

Our final 2025 Ripple Effect Award winner is Ian Kow, a Direct Support Professional with Full Life since 2018. We are thrilled to announce Ian is recipient of the North Star Visionary award.🏆

Ian is a passionate advocate for inclusion and a tireless champion for people of all abilities. His work goes far beyond the job description—he’s a visionary who sees possibility where others see limits. 💡

Ian co-founded ʻOhana Waʻa Laulima, an adaptive canoe club inspired by a participant’s love of paddling. What began as a personal support effort has grown into a thriving community space for individuals with disabilities. He also founded Huakaʻi Hele, a hiking group that opens up outdoor adventures to people of all abilities. 🌊🌿

His commitment to collaboration is just as inspiring. Ian has cultivated strong partnerships with Full Life, Arc of Hilo, Easter Seals, the County of Hawaiʻi, and nonprofits like the Hilo Yacht Club and Rotary Club of Hilo—building bridges that expand access and opportunity. 🤝

🌺Meet Charis Higginson, Founder & Executive Director of Humanity Hale, winner of the Human Spark Plug Energizer Award which honors her drive, dedication, and deep commitment to Hawai‘i’s youth. 💖

Growing up in Kailua-Kona and facing trauma of her own, Charis made a promise to create the space she needed as a child: a place of safety, love, and belonging. In 2019, she launched Humanity Hale while working three jobs, determined to support vulnerable youth in her community.

Her efforts led to the launch of Happy Hearts, Healing Arts in 2022, blending therapy, mentorship, and Hawaiian cultural practices. Today, Humanity Hale offers art therapy, counseling, life skills, and Hawaiian arts—all rooted in the belief that healing happens when we stand together as ‘ohana. 🌈

Charis’s vision includes creating a group foster home, community center, and transitional housing—spaces where youth aging out of care can find stability and support. She’s working to build not just programs, but a lasting foundation for healing and growth. 🌺

🌺 Meet Zahava “Zee” Zaidoff (she/her) — a fearless advocate, parent, Bridge House team member, and founder of Hope808 Consulting, who’s been transforming lives and systems across Hawaiʻi County for over a decade.

💥 An unapologetic warrior for justice, she’s a Speaker, Trainer, and Writer whose work spans behavioral health, disability rights, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, youth suicide prevention, and poverty.

Why Zee is the 2025 Loud and Proud Award Winner:

– Helped pass a **landmark disability access law in 2025**, ensuring dignity and equity for thousands across Hawaiʻi.

– Relaunched the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, making it more inclusive and accessible.

– Serves nationally on the APHSA Coordinating SNAP & Nutrition Supports Council, shaping food access systems that center lived experience.

– Trains parent leaders through Hawaiʻi Children Action Network’s Parent Leadership Training Institute , empowering families to advocate for children’s rights and well-being.

– Writes powerful op-eds and gives public testimony that challenge stigma and demands structural solutions and justice.

Zee holds certifications as a Masters Level Registered Addiction Specialist and Certified Co-Occurring Disorder Specialist, and she believes that authentic conversations and lived expertise are the missing pieces in our systems.

Her voice brings underserved communities into decision-making rooms throughout our communities.

We are honored to present the Good Trouble Social Justice Award to Pua Case — a powerful voice for justice, culture, and community. .

Born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, Pua is a Kumu Hula, educator, and protector of sacred places. Her work is rooted in aloha ʻāina — love and responsibility for the land — and a deep belief that standing up for what is right is both necessary and sacred.

As the founder of Mauna Kea Education and Awareness, Pua has led with courage and clarity, inspiring thousands through ceremony, storytelling, and peaceful resistance. Her leadership in the movement to protect Mauna Kea has rippled far beyond Hawaiʻi, building bridges between Indigenous communities and allies around the world.

Pua embodies the spirit what Civil Rights leader John Lewis called “good trouble” — speaking truth with grace, standing firm in her values, and uplifting others through cultural grounding and collective action.

Through every chant, every march, and every moment of quiet strength, she reminds us that justice is a kuleana — a shared responsibility we carry together. We are honored to present the Good Trouble Social Justice Award to Pua Case — a powerful voice for justice, culture, and community. .

Born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, Pua is a Kumu Hula, educator, and protector of sacred places. Her work is rooted in aloha ʻāina — love and responsibility for the land — and a deep belief that standing up for what is right is both necessary and sacred.

As the founder of Mauna Kea Education and Awareness, Pua has led with courage and clarity, inspiring thousands through ceremony, storytelling, and peaceful resistance. Her leadership in the movement to protect Mauna Kea has rippled far beyond Hawaiʻi, building bridges between Indigenous communities and allies around the world.

Pua embodies the spirit what Civil Rights leader John Lewis called “good trouble” — speaking truth with grace, standing firm in her values, and uplifting others through cultural grounding and collective action.

Through every chant, every march, and every moment of quiet strength, she reminds us that justice is a kuleana — a shared responsibility we carry together.

If you know animal rescue on Hawai’i Island, then you know Daylynn Kyles! Since 2010, Daylynn has led Aloha ʻIlio Rescue with compassion, resilience, and unwavering dedication to saving dogs across Hawaiʻi Island. She saw a need for change in how our community views pet stewardship—and built a mission rooted in aloha to meet that need.

Every day at Aloha ʻIlio is different—and most are incredibly difficult. From dogs with missing limbs and exposed bone, to entire packs covered in thousands of fleas, the emotional weight is immense. Yet Daylynn remains the calm, steady force at the center of the storm. Her steady leadership and strong vision brings results. Just to name a few:

Rehabilitated hundreds of severely injured and neglected animals

Provided hospice care for hundreds of senior dogs

Rehomed thousands of pets whose families could no longer care for them

Inspired the community to show up with love and support

And most recently, created educational outreach to help nurture the next generation to care for dogs

Through heartbreak and hardship, Daylynn has built thousands of success stories—and continues to meet each crisis with grace, determination, and a steadfast commitment to saving lives.

“Receiving the Ripple Effect Award from Hawai‘i United Way is a humbling reminder that small acts of kindness truly do create lasting waves. I’m grateful to be part of a movement that brings hope, healing, and second chances.”

— Daylynn Kyles, CEO of Aloha ʻIlio Rescue

KōCreate is this year’s Bold Moves Game-Changer Award winner at the Givers Gala!

Rooted in the belief that communities already hold the wisdom, relationships, and creativity to chart their own course, KōCreate shifts the focus of engagement from extracting input to cultivating leadership. It centers community members not as advisors to someone else’s agenda—but as the architects of their own solutions.

Launching this September with a dynamic cohort of KōCreators—residents from across Hawaiʻi Island will embark on a six-month learning journey to build practical skills in organizing, storytelling, systems thinking, and civic trust. Together, they’ll strengthen their capacity to lead change grounded in local strengths, lived experience, and collective vision. The initiative is designed and led by a cross-sector team including Breeani Kobayashi-Kūaliʻi, Ashley Kierkiewicz, Misty Pacheco, Raynn Dangaran, and Janice Ikeda.

We are thrilled to share West Hawaiʻi Mediation Center (WHMC) is the recipient of the 2025-2026 Ripple Effect: Mission Mastery Award ! 🌟

WHMC has been a cornerstone of conflict resolution and restorative justice in our community since 1988. As the only alternative dispute resolution center in West Hawaiʻi, they’ve mastered the art of turning conflict into connection. 🤝

Their mission—to empower individuals, families, and organizations to resolve conflict through mediation, education, and restorative practices—isn’t just a statement. It’s a daily commitment. From Peace Circle Trainings to school-based programs and community mediations, WHMC consistently delivers impact with integrity. 🌈

What sets WHMC apart is their explicit and unwavering commitment to generating peace. Every training, every circle, every conversation is rooted in the belief that healing is possible—and that peace is not just an outcome, but a practice. 🕊️

📊 The results speak volumes:

✅ 100% of participants said they’d use mediation again

✅ 93% would recommend it to others

✅ 83% of agreements reached were successfully upheld

WHMC’s dedication to mission-driven work is unwavering. They don’t just follow their mission—they embody it.

Meet the Peanut Butter Ministry Team. winner of the Dream Team We Rock Award which honors their incredible collaboration and compassion that fuels this long-standing community effort.

💛For 44 years, this all-volunteer team has served over 9,000 free meals annually to those in need in downtown Hilo. Hosted by Hilo United Methodist Church, the ministry includes 40+ volunteers each month from 3 Protestant churches, 2 Buddhist temples, a Rotary club, and many generous individuals.

🍽️ What it takes to make it happen:

🥗 Fresh meals with salad, rice, entrée & donated pastries

👩‍🍳 Cooking crews for every Tuesday & Thursday

🙌 Serving teams dishing out 90 meals per evening

☕ Daily pickups from 3 bakeries

💼 Behind-the-scenes heroes: grant writers, bookkeepers, donors & thank-you note writers

💓Collaboration and shared commitment to create positive ripple effects in the community

This is more than a meal — it’s a movement of kindness, teamwork, and unwavering dedication. 💫