Pilali Podcast

Pilali Podcast
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Weekly

PILALI: A podcast by Funder Hui. Weaving trust and impact into our future. Pilali is a storytelling podcast rooted in Hawaiʻi, lifting up the vital role nonprofits play in our communities, while celebrating the kind of philanthropy that actually stick. Through conversations with grassroots leaders, community changemakers, and their funding partners, Pilali explores what it looks like when giving is reimagined. We dig into the relationships, the risks, and the reciprocity that make lasting community impact possible.

  1. Jul 13

    Kahi Pacarro

    Ashley and Wren sit down with environmental advocate and entrepreneur Kahi Pacarro to discuss ocean conservation, community leadership, and the evolving role of civic engagement in Hawaiʻi. Kahi reflects on his upbringing in Kailua, his early career in finance and real estate, and the moment when witnessing environmental degradation during his travels pushed him to rethink his path. That shift ultimately led him to found Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi, where he has spent more than a decade mobilizing communities to address marine debris and protect Hawaiʻi’s shorelines. Ashley and Wren explore the scale of plastic pollution in the Pacific and the deeper systems driving it, from industrial fishing practices to global consumer culture. Kahi shares how his work expanded through global partnerships like Parley for the Oceans and youth initiatives such as Ocean Uprise, which empower young leaders to take action on climate and environmental issues. The conversation also touches on civic participation and Kahi’s decision to run for public office, reflecting his belief that protecting Hawaiʻi’s environment requires both grassroots action and stronger democratic engagement. Socials:  @instakahi | @parley.tv | @sustainablecoastlineshawaii | @peopleforpacarro | Linkedin  Show Notes: People for Pacarro Parley Hawaii Ocean Uprise  Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii The City and County of Honolulu Clean Water & Natural Lands Program  Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe

  2. Jul 6

    Sonya Niess

    Ashley and Wren sit down with birth worker and advocate Sonya Niess to explore maternal care and birth options in Hawaiʻi. Sonya explains the roles of doulas and midwives and how the midwifery model of care centers emotional, physical, and community support throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The conversation highlights how Hawaiʻi’s maternal health system faces shortages of providers and structural barriers that make it difficult for many families to access the care they need. Ashley and Wren also discuss the policy and cultural shifts shaping birth in Hawaiʻi today. Sonya shares her work with the Pacific Birth Collective and the challenges midwives face navigating licensing, insurance, and regulation. The episode explores how collaboration among birth workers, healthcare providers, and families could improve outcomes while restoring agency and dignity to the birth experience. Together they reflect on how strengthening maternal care systems can better support mothers, families, and communities across the islands. Socials:  @pacificbirthcollective | LinkedIn Show Notes: Pacific Birth Collective  Committee on the Status of Women, County of Maui Maui 2023 midwifery law (Act 32) Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center  Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe

  3. Jun 29

    Kaniela Ing

    Ashley and Wren sit down with community organizer and former state legislator Kaniela Ing to talk about political power, grassroots organizing, and the future of democracy in Hawaiʻi. Kaniela reflects on his path from working in the pineapple fields and student activism at the University of Hawaiʻi to becoming one of the youngest legislators in state history. He shares how experiences inside government shaped his understanding of power and led him to focus on building movements outside traditional political institutions. The conversation explores Kaniela’s work with Our Hawaiʻi and the importance of base building, community trust, and participation in shaping public decisions. Ashley and Wren discuss lessons from movements such as Mauna Kea and disaster response efforts in Lahaina, and how communities can organize to both stop harmful projects and build alternatives. Kaniela reflects on the need for multiracial working class movements, deeper civic participation, and new forms of leadership that empower communities to reclaim influence over the systems that affect their lives. Socials:  @kanielaing | @ourhawaii808 | LinkedIn | ⁠Kaniela Ing Website ⁠ Show Notes: Our Hawaii  Lahaina Strong  Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe

  4. Jun 22

    Robert Perkinson

    Ashley and Wren sit down with historian and educator Robert Perkinson to explore the intersections of incarceration, higher education, and public dialogue. Robert shares how his path from student activism to academia eventually brought him to Hawaiʻi and to the University of Hawaiʻi’s Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, a program designed to bring complex social issues into open, community-centered conversations. Together they examine how systems such as mass incarceration and immigration detention shape society, and why prison should be a last resort rather than a default response. The conversation also looks at the role universities can play in social change by producing knowledge, connecting diverse voices, and creating space for big ideas to meet real-world implementation. At its core, the episode reflects a shared belief that progress happens when people come together to question assumptions and imagine better futures. Socials:  @robert_perkinson | @uh_btss | @uhmanoanews | LinkedIn Show Notes: Better Tomorrow Speaker Series Texas Tough: The Rise of America’s Prison Empire  Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe

  5. Jun 15

    Dawn Lippert

    Ashley and Wren sit down with Dawn Lippert, founder and CEO of Elemental Impact, to discuss climate innovation, investment, and the role Hawaiʻi can play in developing solutions for a rapidly changing planet. Dawn shares how Elemental works with entrepreneurs building climate and energy technologies, combining investment with hands on support to help companies navigate capital, workforce development, policy, and community relationships. The conversation highlights how the organization has helped generate billions in follow on funding and thousands of jobs while recycling investment returns back into nonprofit climate work. Ashley, Wren, and Dawn also explore the tension between development and environmental protection, and the importance of earning community trust when building new energy and infrastructure projects. Dawn reflects on Hawaiʻi as a place where global climate solutions can be incubated through strong relationships with local communities. The discussion closes with a sense of urgency and optimism, emphasizing that technological innovation, community partnership, and entrepreneurial energy can all play a role in addressing climate change. Socials: @dawnhawaii | Elemental Impact | Linkedin Show Notes: Elemental Impact Earthshot Ventures  Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe

  6. Jun 8

    Chenoa Farnsworth

    Ashley and Wren sit down with investor and entrepreneur Chenoa Farnsworth to explore innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of Hawaiʻi’s economy. Chenoa shares how her work with Blue Startups helps mentor and invest in Hawaiʻi-based entrepreneurs, particularly in ocean and climate technology. The conversation looks at how incubators support founders through mentorship, training, and investor networks while helping local companies scale beyond the islands. Ashley, Wren, and Chenoa also discuss the broader vision behind this work, including the need to diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy beyond tourism and the military. Chenoa reflects on the importance of building companies that create meaningful local jobs, encouraging kamaʻāina talent to return home, and supporting women entrepreneurs who remain underrepresented in venture capital. The episode highlights a growing movement toward businesses that balance financial return with community impact while strengthening Hawaiʻi’s long term economic resilience. Socials: @cfarnswo | @bluestartups | Linkedin Show Notes: Blue StartupsHawaii Angels Investment NetworkEast Meets West  Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe

  7. Jun 1

    Claire Sullivan

    Ashley and Wren sit down with Claire Sullivan to talk about the evolution of Hawaiʻi’s local food movement and the systems needed to support farmers and communities. Claire shares her journey from working in corporate communications at Maui Land & Pine to becoming deeply involved in the local food ecosystem through Whole Foods and later Farm Link Hawaiʻi. She reflects on how early efforts to scale local agriculture through retail partnerships helped open opportunities for small producers across the islands. Ashley and Wren explore Claire’s experience supporting local farms through both relational and market-based approaches, highlighting stories from producers like MAʻO Organic Farms and the challenges farmers face in accessing markets. The conversation also touches on broader food system barriers, from supply chain limitations to policy gaps. Claire explains how Farm Link’s model aims to connect farmers directly with consumers while expanding access through SNAP EBT and DaBux programs, illustrating how a more resilient and equitable local food economy can take shape in Hawaiʻi. Socials:  @clairefarrissullivan | @farmlinkhawaii | @hoiliilimarket | Linkedin Show Notes:  ⁠FarmLink HawaiiMA’O Organic FarmsHōʻiliʻili Market & Deli Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe

  8. May 25

    Liza Gill

    Ashley and Wren sit down with Liza Gill of the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights to discuss immigration, belonging, and the realities facing immigrant communities across the islands. Liza explains how HICIR works to build power for the nearly 20 percent of Hawaiʻi residents who are foreign born through coalition building, policy advocacy, and efforts to expand access to legal counsel. The conversation explores the recent rise in immigration detention in Hawaiʻi, the fear and uncertainty many families are experiencing, and the civil nature of immigration law that often leaves people navigating the system without representation. Ashley and Wren also speak with Liza about what solidarity and belonging mean in a place shaped by generations of migration. Drawing from her own experiences and the communities she works alongside, Liza reflects on the dignity of immigrant workers, the importance of joy and community organizing, and the role Hawaiʻi can play in imagining a more inclusive future. The discussion closes with a vision for a society where immigrants are fully supported to live, work, and contribute as whole people within the communities they help sustain. Socials:  @lizajeanryan | @hi_cir | LinkedIn Show Notes:  Hawai'i Coalition for Immigrant RightsKōlea PodcastThe Compacts of Free Association Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

PILALI: A podcast by Funder Hui. Weaving trust and impact into our future. Pilali is a storytelling podcast rooted in Hawaiʻi, lifting up the vital role nonprofits play in our communities, while celebrating the kind of philanthropy that actually stick. Through conversations with grassroots leaders, community changemakers, and their funding partners, Pilali explores what it looks like when giving is reimagined. We dig into the relationships, the risks, and the reciprocity that make lasting community impact possible.

Information

  • Creator
    Pilali Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Pilali Podcast
  • Show Website
    Pilali Podcast

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