Board Announces New CEO (September 2023)

Hoʻoulu mai, hoʻoulu mai, ʻo Hauʻoli Mau Loa mākou e

September 19th, 2023

Aloha!

In March we shared with you that Janis Reischmann would be leaving the Foundation in October 2023--after 15 years of leadership--as a part of a long-anticipated succession plan. Following that announcement, we launched a search designed to identify the best possible candidate to assume the CEO role and lead the Foundation into the future.

We are very excited to announce that Keahi Makaimoku will be the Foundation’s next CEO, beginning on November 1, 2023.

Keahi’s selection by the Foundation’s Board of Directors was the culmination of a thorough process that included a written application and several rounds of interviews to determine the candidate who would best fit the array of qualities and competencies sought by the Foundation. The large number of applicants each brought incredible gifts to the table, making the Board’s decisions at each stage of the search extremely difficult.

Keahi has diverse experience across the nonprofit and education sectors and has been an integral part of the Foundation since joining the staff in March 2012. Prior to joining the Foundation, Keahi worked for the Kamehameha Schools Public Education Support Division where she supported the planning and implementation of the Ka Pua Initiative on the Waiʻanae Coast. Keahi currently serves as Chair of the Native Hawaiian Education Council.

When reflecting on the Board’s decision, Keahi said, “It has been a privilege and joy to support the Foundation’s mission and partners since becoming a part of the staff in 2012. I feel immense gratitude for this opportunity and, together with the Foundation Board and Staff, look forward to continuing to grow and build upon the legacy and work set forth by the Foundation’s benefactor, Helga Glaesel-Hollenback.”

Keahi resides with her ‘ohana in Hilo, Hawai‘i, and the Foundation will continue its practice of being a hybrid workplace, mixing in-office and remote work. Janis Reischmann will leave her positions on the Foundation Staff and Board on October 31, and she will work with the Board, Staff, and the Foundation’s colleagues and partners to ensure a smooth transition.

Janis noted this about the Board’s decision, “Being able to observe the Board’s active commitment to the Foundation, expressed throughout the search process, I was reminded that the Foundation is well positioned for the future. When you add to that the leadership Keahi will bring and the team she has in place to work and grow with, I am confident the Foundation is headed on a positive course. I hope you are as excited as I am to see this next phase of the Foundation's work unfold.”

A cornerstone of the Foundation’s work is partnership. As we move through this transition, we invite you to continue walking with us on this journey. We hope you will welcome Keahi to her new role and support us and guide us as we move forward in this next phase of our work together.

Mahalo nui,

James, Kylee, Barbara, and Anim
Board of Directors