CINDY ROBINSON MULLEN
Global ambassador for the END Fund, chair of the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle, and a leader within Queen’s Health Systems and North Hawaiʻi Hospice.
- What draws you to philanthropy work? It’s simple and empowering at the same time. Give what you can: $10, 10 minutes, or 10 “thinking of you” messages. I have the time, energy and resources to help others. All the money in the world couldn’t save my sick mother or heal me, but it can make a difference in someone else’s existence.
- If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self? Don’t take things so personally. The way people treat you is a reflection of their own emotional capacity or suffering. What can you do to help or avoid that issue? Sometimes it requires empathy, and sometimes it requires you to walk away.
MANU POWERS
Regent of Daughters of Hawaiʻi, entrepreneur and owner of Sea Quest Hawaiʻi.
- Do you have a favorite quote? “Unless someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” —Dr. Seuss.
- What's your most precious belonging? The majority of my life was spent with my mother, a fisherwoman and prison guard, who was the center of my universe. Her battle with cancer began in 2009. She put up a long and courageous fight. In 2014, while she was in hospice, her doctor mentioned that it was time to take off her bracelet. My mother’s Hawaiian bracelet belonged to her grandmother. It had a history of being worn by strong women, and their mana became a part of it. Taking her bracelet off and giving it to me meant I was receiving her mana. Two days later, she died in my arms as I kissed her and thanked her, the bracelet on my wrist.
VICTORIA MIKAELE
Co-director of Kamakani O Ka Moku ʻĀina.
- Which values shape your business? At the heart is an understanding of cultural redemption—the belief that God created every culture with unique beauty, purpose and a piece of his greater story.
- What person in history do you wish you could sit with? Queen Liliʻuokalani. As the last reigning monarch of Hawaiʻi, her life represents resilience during a painful chapter in our history. When everything seemed lost for her people, she remained steadfast in her identity, faith and responsibility. I would love to hear the untold stories, the quiet moments that shaped her strength and the prayers she whispered.
- What’s your most precious belonging? My lei hulu. A traditional Hawaiian feather lei. My husband and I both received one on our wedding day. It represents being intentionally woven together, strand by strand, in love. The circle of the lei has no beginning and no end, symbolizing covenant, unity and legacy.
CARRIE NICHOLSON
Vice president of sales and marketing, principal broker at Kohanaiki Realty and co-director of Hawaiʻi Fitness Foundation.
- How did you build a strong reputation within your market? Consistently and intentionally. In our market, trust is everything. People remember how you make them feel, how you handle challenges and whether you show up when it’s not easy. I’ve learned that reputation isn’t built in big moments—it’s built in small, daily disciplines like returning calls promptly, being transparent and leading with aloha.
- How do you find balance? Balance isn’t something you find—it’s something you practice. As women, we naturally carry a lot. I prioritize time with God, my husband, kids, friends and time outdoors. I protect my calendar intentionally. Creating healthy boundaries has been crucial in sustaining my energy and effectiveness. Balance is about staying aligned with your values and giving yourself grace in the process.
KOLBY MOSER
Emmy-winning film director and producer, entrepreneur and radio personality.
- Who inspires you? Besides my daughters, Hayley and Kaci, I’m inspired by Mary Kawena Pukui. The way she honored our kūpuna by documenting their wisdom is something I try to carry forward in my own work. And of course, she was born and raised in Kaʻū—home to many amazing mana wahine.
- What do you wish to leave for the generations to come? I hope to leave behind a collection of meaningful stories about our people, culture and history. So much has been taken from Hawaiʻi—our land, language and parts of our way of life. It’s our kuleana to keep documenting the stories of our traditions. I want future generations to have pride in being Hawaiian. If the work I do helps preserve a small piece of that, then I’ve done something worthwhile.
VIRGINIA HATCH-PIGOTT
Primary care physician and clinical trauma specialist. Founder and executive director of Whole Foundation, Foster Care & Adoption Center of Excellence in Hawaiʻi.
- How do you define community? Community is a place where your presence matters and your absence is noticed. A place where people show up for each other, and burdens are not private. Transactions are two-way. Real community includes conflict, repair and growth from it all.
- What needs in our community are you passionate about? I am most passionate about the hidden suffering of foster and adoptive children. They are offered disjointed and uncoordinated care that typically involves medication-only management. This leads to repeated placement breakdowns, resulting in a multiplication of trauma instead of healing. In addition, the foster parents and social workers are traumatized vicariously by witnessing all of this, leading to the attrition of great caregivers and child welfare workers. Our goal is to interrupt trauma biology early enough that destiny is not dictated by dysregulation.
COURTNEY SCHERER
Entrepreneur and Realtor with a background as an international model.
- You’re expecting your first daughter; what have you learned through pregnancy? To surrender. I've never done this before, and I can get nervous about performing perfectly. I remind myself that this is one of the most natural things a woman can do. My body is accomplishing a beautiful transformation, creating life and becoming a mother. At first, the physical changes took a toll on my mind. Growing up in the modeling industry, my weight was a determining factor in who I was and how much I worked. Watching my body grow was something I had to surrender to, and it's been a rewarding growth experience in self-love.
What is something that instantly makes you trust another woman? My favorite quote is, "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." When I see women supporting each other, it instantly draws me toward them. If one wins, we all win.