HCAP WEEKLY May 12, 2025

HCAP Executive Director, Robert Piper, Named as a Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce 48th Annual Ōʻō Awards Honoree

Photo Source: Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce

The Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce (NHCC) will be recognizing Native Hawaiian leaders who have made significant contributions to their heritage and the community during the 48th Annual Ōʻō Awards that will be taking place on October 17, 2025. Some of the past recipients include Kane S. Fernandez, D.G. Andy Anderson, Kenneth Brown, Richard Lyman, Oswald Stender, and Senator Daniel K. Akaka.

Among this year’s list of Ōʻō Award Honorees, HCAP Executive Director/CEO, Robert Piper, will be recognized for his contributions, not only as the head of HCAP, but also for his long and active record as a community volunteer and leader serving on the governing boards of HCAP, the National Community Action Foundation, the Region IX Western States Community Action Association, the Hawaii Community Action Programs Directors Association, the Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation, the Oahu Workforce Investment Board, PHOCUSED (Protecting Hawaii’s Ohana, Children, Under-served, Elderly, and Disabled), the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the High Technology Development Corporation, the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Committee on Delivery of Legal Services to the Public, the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, and Ōlelo Community Media. Robert was an East-West Center/Kamehameha Schools Fellow at the East-West Center and was recognized by the Hawaii Business Magazine’s Twenty for the Next Twenty honors program in 2011 as one of 20 people whose talents, past accomplishments and potential set them apart as emerging leaders of Hawaii over the next two decades. Robert was chosen as a 2011-2012 Fellow of The Weinberg Fellows Program, a select management enhancement program of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation for chief executives of non-profit organizations. Robert is continually honored by Hawaii Business Magazine’s inclusion of him in its annual Black Book listing of Hawaii’s top business executives and community leaders.

Robert Piper’s involvement in public services expands further and includes his roles as a former business attorney, banker, deputy director of the State Department of Budget and Finance and as chief of staff to the lieutenant governor.

Click here to read more about the 2025 ʻŌʻō Awards.

Hawaiian Electric Company’s Generous Donation to Central District Service Center’s 2025 Toiletry Drive

The HCAP Central District Service Center had the pleasure of working with Joanna Markle, Customer Ombudsman of Hawaiian Electric. Joanna Markle has been a valued HCAP Board of Directors member for over seven years. In early April, Joanna was excited to share that Hawaiian Electric was gearing up for the 2025 Toiletry Drive at Central District Service Center, organized by their Revenue Management and Customer Ombudsman teams.

The Hawaiian Electric team’s goal was to collect essential toiletry items such as shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, laundry detergent, and more in partnership with HCAP to provide to those in need. For two weeks, their team collected hygiene products and on Monday, May 5th, Joanna and David Tokuda, HECO Revenue Management Credit Specialist, delivered all that their team collected to the Central District Service Center.

Central’s staff was happy to receive such a thoughtful donation and overwhelmed with the team’s kindness and generosity. The hygiene products will go to help support families and individuals in the community who need help with hygiene products that most take for granted. This is a great example of how a small group of caring people can make an enormous impact in the community.

Click here to learn more about HCAP’s programs and services.

Wraparound Services Assist Single Mother Obtain Employment

Roslina is a single mother with a teenage son and she was out of work for a long period of time due to a foot injury. As a result of this, Roslina fell behind on rent, bill payments and ended with her electricity being turned off. She reached out to Palama settlement for assistance and was referred to HCAP’s Kalihi-Palama District Service Center.

Kalihi-Palama staff worked with Roslina through her intake into HCAP’s Hawai’i Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP) for Energy Crisis Intervention services. While going through the intake process, the Kalihi-Palama staff discussed with Roslina about how the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program would be beneficial for helping her with getting back into the workforce.

With English being her second language, it was harder for her to initially seek assistance, to apply for jobs and to replace the documents she had lost. Fortunately, one of the Kalihi-Palama staff members spoke her primary language, Chuukese, which made it easier to communicate and understand her needs.

Along with Roslina being eligible for the ECS program, staff were able to assist her with obtaining her passport, applying for SNAP benefits, helping her with job applications, and providing her with a HOLO card and hygiene products. Using her new HOLO card, Roslina was able to attend her job interviews, pick up her passport and attend her job tour.

Roslina was hired full-time at HPC foods with a starting wage of $18/hour and will start her first day towards the end of May. Staff were also able to assist her with getting work clothes once she was hired. After securing her job, Roslina stopped by the Kalihi-Palama office to express her gratitude, “I am grateful for all your help, God will bless you all for your kind hearts.”

Click here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.