AFP Aloha Chapter

🌟 Honoring Rear Admiral Alma Grocki (Ret.) — Outstanding Volunteer in Philanthropy 🌟
In 1977, Alma Grocki made history as the first woman from Hawai‘i to enter the U.S. Naval Academy. Nearly four decades later, she retired as a two-star admiral — and her legacy of leadership continues to shine far beyond her military service. ⚓️✨
Since retiring, Grocki has served on the boards of Pacific Historic Parks, the USS Battleship Missouri Memorial, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and the Ke‘ehi Lagoon Memorial, among others. Her spirit of giving extends beyond military causes — she regularly donates her handcrafted gemstone jewelry to charity auctions across Hawai‘i.
One organization especially close to her heart is Assets School, where her generosity and advocacy have inspired others to give their time, talent, and treasure. 💛

While still a sophomore at Punahou, Kyla Nakashima noticed that many public high schools offered mentorship programs for elementary students — but few private schools did. Wanting to change that, she and a few friends launched a mentoring program for students at Lincoln Elementary School.

What started small soon grew: within a year, there were 24 mentors, and this past year, 44! 🙌

Nakashima trained each high school mentor and paired them with elementary students for weekly after-school sessions filled with conversation, activities, and games.

Although she graduated with Punahou’s Class of 2025, her legacy continues. Before heading to college, Nakashima trained a new team of leaders to keep the program going — fully funded through community donations.

Now in college, Nakashima continues to serve her community through youth-focused projects and service work. We are excited to recognize Kyla Nakashima as the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy!

Today, we spotlight our Outstanding Professional Fundraiser, Jung Song! She joined the East-West Center in 2022, leading the office of development as their Chief Development Officer. During her tenure, the center’s fundraising increased from $668,000 in 2022 to $2.82 million in 2024, a 322% increase.
“Jung’s strong listening skills and direct communication style are assets in connecting with donors and understanding what motivates their philanthropic investments,” says AJ Halagao, president of the Hawai‘i Leadership Forum.
Song began her career with community service and international relief organizations, and has worked as a fundraising professional for over 23 years.

Early bird gets the worm! Today is the LAST DAY for early bird ticket sales AND group sales. 🎟️ Join us on Friday, November 14th at the Sheraton Waikiki for a day of inspiration, learning, and connection. ⭐️ Register now before prices go up at midnight!

Don’t miss this opportunity to secure the best possible rate for Hawaii’s must-attend event for fundraising and nonprofit professionals.

Register yourself and your team today to lock in the lowest price!

Preview of the November 2025 Nonprofit issue! 🤩 The National Philanthropy Day insert is included highlighting the many heros who serve and support our community through their philanthropic efforts. Will be celebrating them on November 14 at the annual conference and awards luncheon. Registration link in bio. Mahalo to Hawaii Business Magazine for partnering with the AFP Aloha Chapter! 🌺