Leaders from the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors are welcome to apply with an early application deadline of 12 noon HST on February 28, and a final application deadline of 12 noon HST on March 6. Individuals will be selected based on their accomplishments, motivation, and ability to catalyze positive change in Hawai‘i. Candidates can apply online at www.omidyarfellows.org/apply.

“Hawai‘i needs thoughtful and empowered leaders who have what it takes to create hope and meet the critical needs of the moment, now more than ever,” said AJ Halagao, president of Hawai‘i Leadership Forum. “As an Omidyar Fellow myself, I am thrilled to bring back this opportunity to challenge and engage the brightest minds in our community and to drive impact.”

Cohort IX of the Omidyar Fellows program will undergo nine months of curriculum beginning September 2024, which includes monthly sessions; coaching and mentoring; conversations with community, business, and government leaders; and more. At the end of the curriculum phase, Cohort IX will join an active network of 115 Fellows in the Forum of Fellows.

Additionally, HLF will launch its new Leaders Lab initiative, a more accessible way for individuals to engage in leadership development as an avenue for societal change. Leaders Lab is a one-day intensive experience that will help identify and build leadership skills to meet the challenges of today and make progress in our professional and civic commitments for the betterment of Hawai‘i.

Each Leaders Lab will have about 20 participants, and will be organized into five groups:

• Educators and academic leaders (June)
• Health, science, and technology leaders (July)
• Community organizers and nonprofit leaders (August)
• Entrepreneurs, business, and labor leaders (October)
• Public officials and government leaders (November)

The deadline to apply for Leaders Lab is 12 noon HST on February 21. Candidates can apply online at www.hawaiileadershipforum.org/leaders-lab.

For those interested in Omidyar Fellows Cohort IX and Leaders Lab, HLF will host the following informational sessions:

• January 22 – Virtual
• January 23 – In Person, Hilo
• January 24 – In Person, Kauaʻi
• January 25 – In Person, Oʻahu
• January 26 – In Person, Maui

 To register for these sessions and for more information, visit www.hawaiileadershipforum.org.

About Hawai‘i Leadership Forum

The Hawai‘i Leadership Forum (HLF) is dedicated to broad and durable improvements across Hawaiʻi. A part of The Omidyar Group, HLF receives funding from the Omidyar ‘Ohana Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.

About Omidyar Fellows

HLF’s cornerstone program, Omidyar Fellows, seeks to enhance connections among leaders and improve their capabilities and desires to mobilize communities and organizations to pursue durable change. Omidyar Fellows believes that effective leadership is essential to developing a community of engaged citizens and creating a more resilient Hawaiʻi. Leaders help make sense of our current reality, provide a vision for what is possible, build relationships, and address sticky, complex problems. The Omidyar Fellows program is dedicated to making positive movement on Hawai‘i’s most pressing issues.