Pete was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. He graduated from St. Peter’s College and New York University graduate school before entering the US Army as an intelligence officer in 1965. Pete’s 28 year military career brought him to Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, and the Pentagon, and culminated with a post as defense attaché at the US embassy in Austria before he retired in 1993. Pete then worked for an international peacekeeping organization headquartered in Vienna, before coming to the big island in 1997.  He then took up a career in community service, and was elected to serve four terms on the Hawaiʻi County Council, including one term as Council Chair. Recognizing the need for affordable housing, Pete founded the affordable housing land trust, Hale O Hawaiʻi, where he served as Board Chair. He was a board member for Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center for fourteen years, and was the West Hawaiʻi Vicariate stewardship representative for five years. Pete also served for a short stint on the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents, and has participated in a variety of other community and church related activities.  He assumed his duties as Board President of Hope Services Hawaiʻi in March 2023.  

Charlene Iboshi was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i. Iboshi graduated from Hilo High School, University of Hawai‘I and University of Puget Sound Law School. She worked in King County Washington as deputy prosecuting attorney. In 1980, Iboshi was appointed as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Hawai‘I County, later was appointed First Deputy, and in 2011 was appointed Prosecuting Attorney.

Michael Stimson graduated from Hueneme High School in Southern California with honors and attended college at San Diego State University, where he majored in Psychology.  He started in banking while in college in 1994, and in 2010 joined Central Pacific Bank, where he worked his way up to the position as Branch Manager II.  Michael is a recent recipient of CPB’s John Dean Core Values Award for his unquestioned commitment towards service excellence, both internally and externally.  Along with his team, Michael qualified for Kulia I Ka Nuʻu performance recognition in Q4 of 2020/ Q1 2021, helping Hilo to grow total deposit footings by over $13.6 million.  Michael was also one of the key leaders in Paycheck Protection Program closings during the first rounds of funding, as he and his team helped dozens of small businesses in East Hawaiʻi during a critical time.  Active in the community, Michael volunteers for Junior Achievement, is a Director for the Hawaii Island AJA Veteran’s Legacy Association, and was formerly a State Representative for Big Brothers, Big Sisters Hawaiʻi. Michael now owns and manages Pineapples Restaurant in downtown Hilo, a beloved local eatery known for its fresh island cuisine.

Father Robert Stark has worked for social justice in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean for more than 30 years, and is currently the Director of the Office for Social Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. Prior to his appointment in Hawaii, Father Stark headed the New Mexico Community foundation for nine years, serving primarily immigrant and Native American families. He also led the Policy Alternatives on Central American and the Caribbean, a non-governmental multinational organization. Ordained in 1977, Fr. Stark has a masters and doctorate degree in social ethics from the University of Chicago. He has also served as a parish priest and was formerly the parochial vicar of Malia Puka O Kalani Parish in Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi.

David Kurohara was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi and graduated from UH Mānoa with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. After graduating from college, Kurohara worked at his family’s clothing retail business as a buyer/manager, then HPM Building Supply in Purchasing / Marketing, and currently works at Hawaiian Electric in Government and Community Affairs.  Kurohara recently retired as Chief Volunteer Officer (board chair) from the Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA (2016 – 2021); current Director on Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council (VP); Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi (Chair / Hawaiʻi Island); Hawaii Care Choices (Treasurer). He also serves on both Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce and Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committees.  David enjoys fishing, golf and traveling in his spare time.

Laurie Higashi was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. She graduated from Hilo High School and earned a BA in journalism and mass communication from Drake University. After living in the San Francisco Bay Area for 25 years, she returned home to Hilo in 2017 to be closer to her family and pursue a career in real estate. Laurie has filled multiple positions on the board for the Zonta Club of Hilo, a service organization that works to better the lives of women and girls, and served on the board of Hawaii Island Realtors. She is also a member of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and the Japanese Community Association of Hawaii. 

Dean Au was born and raised in Manoa Valley, island of Oʻahu. He graduated from Maryknoll High School in 1993. He has 24 plus years of experience in the Construction Industry as a Carpenter and General Contractor. He has volunteered his time and construction expertise to help many non profit organizations on the Big Island, most recently Hawai’i island Food Basket and Saint Joseph Schools/Church. He is currently the Hilo Field Representative for the Hawai’i Regional Council of Carpenters.

Renee Rivera was born and raised on Kaua’i and is a Kanaka Survivor of Homelessness, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Substance Use Addiction, and Sex and Drug trafficking. These challenging events allow her to utilize her lived experience to provide support to those with similar experiences. Renee co-founded a non profit agency in 2022 that allows her to further execute her passion for helping to give back and offer safe spaces for women within her community. Renee graduated with her GED at the age of 37 then continued to Hawai’i Community College and obtained her AA in Liberal Arts and Human Services certificate and continued with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from University of Hawai’i Hilo, and a Masters Degree in Social Work from University of Hawai’i, Manoa. She teaches Human Services, Interdisciplinary Skills, Sociology, and Psychology at Hawai’i Community College. She also serves on the Hawai’i Island Service Area Board on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Hawai’i Island United Way Emergency Food and Shelter Board. As a Kanaka, Renee embraces her culture and continues to grow through the guidance of her kupuna and carry the light in her as she works with others. Of all her accomplishments thus far, the greatest is her family, and she believes her most treasured contribution to society are her children who carry on the values of  humility, hard work, and love for humanity she instilled in them.