A Hawaii workforce
development nonprofit announced Tuesday that it has secured more than $500,000 from local leaders, businesses and organizations to extend career exploration and workforce programs in public schools for another five years, with a broader goal of raising $1 million through a statewide community campaign.
ClimbHI made the announcement at an event at Waialae Country Club, where education and business leaders gathered to celebrate the milestone and recognize companies, educators and state Department of Education complexes for their
participation in workforce development efforts during the 2024–2025 academic year.
The funding commitment will support continued programming within the DOE, building on ClimbHI’s reach to more than 400,000 students through nearly 2,600 events over the past five years. During the most recent academic year alone, participating businesses and organizations engaged nearly 142,000 students and about 6,000 teachers across 677 events statewide.
ClimbHI officials said the campaign, dubbed “$1 Million to Reach 1 Million Students,” is aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability for career exploration, work-based learning and industry partnerships in public schools.
“This five-year gift reflects a shared commitment to our students and to Hawaii’s
future workforce,” DOE
Superintendent Keith Hayashi said on Tuesday.
Hayashi emphasized the importance of partnerships between schools and industry in helping students see tangible pathways from education to careers, particularly through hands-on learning experiences with
local employers.
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“As a result, hundreds of thousands of DOE students from nearly every school have benefited from opportunities that build skills, confidence and a sense of purpose,” Hayashi said. “These experiences help students envision futures where they can succeed professionally while contributing to their communities.”
He added that the department is revisiting its vision for a Hawaii public school graduate — one who is “globally competitive” but “locally committed.”
Hayashi said that in his conversations with students across the state, many express a strong desire to
return to Hawaii, remain in their communities and contribute locally, a sense of purpose he said is shaped not only in classrooms but also through partnerships and mentoring opportunities.
Special guests at the event included Duane Kurisu, chairman of the Hawaii Executive Collaborative, and James Tokioka, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, underscoring the role of workforce development in the state’s broader economic strategy.
Corporate support has played a major role in the campaign. Kevin Sahara of Expedia Group said the company awarded ClimbHI a first-time $100,000 grant to support the initiative, citing the value of early exposure to career pathways for local students.
In addition to funding announcements, ClimbHI recognized its 2025 Community Engagement Leaders — businesses, organizations and DOE complexes noted for their excellence and sustained involvement in workforce development programs.
Among those speaking was Kristen Giang, a 2021 Roosevelt High School graduate, who shared how ClimbHI-supported hospitality and tourism programs helped shape her career path.
Giang said she first discovered her interest in hospitality while taking pathway courses in high school, which included industry
visits and leadership-focused programming. Although she initially pursued a different academic route after graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic, she later returned to hospitality, enrolling at Kapiolani Community College’s tourism management program.
“If it wasn’t for programs such as ClimbHI to show me the numerous opportunities in many different pathways, I wouldn’t have been able to be where I am today,” Giang said, crediting the organization for helping her reconnect with her passion and plan her next steps in higher education and the workforce.
ClimbHI leaders said stories like Giang’s illustrate the long-term impact of sustained partnerships between schools and employers — and why community investment is critical to reaching more students statewide.
The nonprofit said it will continue fundraising efforts toward its $1 million goal, with the aim of expanding access to career exploration opportunities and strengthening Hawaii’s local talent pipeline for years to come.