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Nonprofit Leader of the Year 2024: John Leong, CEO of Kupu
November 1, 2024

Fellows mentioned in this story: John Leong

From Hawai‘i Business Magazine:

After graduating in 2000 from the Wharton School – one of the nation’s top business programs– John Leong could have easily taken the path to becoming a Wall Street financial analyst or hedge fund manager.

Instead, he came back to Hawai‘i and pulled weeds in Kawainui, the marsh in Windward O‘ahu.

He co-founded Pono Pacific Land Management with his wife, Julianna Rapu Leong. Pono Pacific blends conservation services with revenue-generating projects focused on renewable energy, local food production, reforestation and more. John Leong is currently chairman and CEO at Pono Pacific; Julianna Rapu Leong handles business development and project management.

In 2007, they co-founded the Honolulu-based nonprofit Kupu, alongside friend Matthew Bauer, who serves as Kupu’s COO. Kupu fosters climate stewardship and leadership among young people through environmental education programs, paid experiences, on-the-job training in sustainabilityfocused professions and more.

Continue reading at HawaiiBusiness.com.


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KĀKOU: Hawaiʻi’s Town Hall – The State of Aloha
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PBS Hawai‘i — PBS Hawai‘i has invited people from across the state to join us for KĀKOU: Hawai‘i’s Town Hall to discuss The State of Aloha.

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