Omidyar Fellows Calls on Visionary Leaders to Serve Hawaiʻi

The Hawai‘i Leadership Forum is now accepting applications for the tenth cohort of its Omidyar Fellows program. Rooted in an enduring commitment, the program provisions leaders with the learning environment, relationships, and resources to lead with purpose, mobilize communities, and amplify positive change across the islands.

“Now more than ever, Hawai‘i needs visionary leaders who are rooted in local values, willing to courageously step forward, able to engage with empathy, and committed to working with and for others,” said AJ Halagao, president of Hawai‘i Leadership Forum. 

Cohort X will begin its 18-month program in October 2025, engaging Fellows in monthly sessions, overnight retreats, and talk story sessions with community, business, and government leaders. A new addition to the curriculum, the Immersive Huakaʻi, will invite Fellows to design a personal experience that aligns their intentions with their impact. 

AJ Halagao, President, Hawai‘i Leadership Forum and Cheryl Ka‘uhane Lupenui, Omidyar Fellows Cohort X Lead

“Some people will hear the kāhea (call)—be it from our ancestors, our kuleana, and this opportunity,” said Cheryl Kaʻuhane Lupenui, Omidyar Fellows Cohort X lead. “This experience allows those who hear it to best answer the call provisioned by community.” 

After completing the core curriculum, Fellows will co-create a practicum and transition into the Forum of Fellows, joining an active network of 131 leaders committed to strengthening Hawai‘i through long-term collaboration and systems-level impact. 

Omidyar Fellows Summit 2018

The program welcomes applicants from the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors. Individuals will be selected based on their demonstration of courage, commitment, and impact as a leader; experience as a disrupter and catalyst for transformation; and ability to articulate their kuleana for Hawaiʻi.  

Interested applicants can review materials and submit their application at www.omidyarfellows.org/apply. Those who apply by the early submission cutoff of 12:00 Noon HST on Monday, June 23 will receive an email confirming receipt of their application materials and a list of any missing items. The final application deadline is 12:00 Noon HST on Monday, June 30. 

Hawai‘i Leadership Forum is also hosting an online informational session for applicants on Monday, June 2 at 12:00 Noon HST. Register for the session at www.omidyarfellows.org/apply; a recording will be available on June 3.