YWCA Launches ‘Building a Bright Future’ Capital Campaign; New Preschool Facility is Phase 1

HILO, HI (September 27, 2024)—YWCA of Hawaii Island has launched an ambitious capital campaign that will transform its historic 1.4-acre campus in downtown Hilo and position the organization to serve the women, children and families of Hawaii County for the next century and beyond.

Conceptualized at the organization’s 100^th anniversary in 2019, “Building a Bright Future for our Keiki, Families & Community” is a $21 million campaign to enhance and consolidate YWCA’s three core programs—YWCA Preschool, Healthy Families and Sexual Assault Support Services—onto its fully-owned campus at 145 Ululani St.

Plans call for a new preschool, a reimagined multipurpose building, and a small housing complex featuring 10 units for the community’s most vulnerable women and families. It will be funded and built in three phases.

Phase I, the $6 million YWCA Preschool project, is underway now. Replacing the current structure built in 1926 and repurposing unused acreage from a former swimming complex, YWCA will create a modern early childhood education campus featuring four dedicated classrooms for children ages 2 to 5, shaded outdoor play areas, covered walkways and a commercial kitchen to support an expanded meal service and nutrition education capabilities.

Currently at capacity with 90 students and a full waitlist, YWCA Preschool shines as one of the only fully licensed, nationally accredited developmental preschools on Hawai‘i Island open to any child, regardless of income or ethnicity. The new campus will allow YWCA to expand enrollment by 45 percent to 130 children. Project architect Fleming & Associates anticipates a completion date of summer 2026.

At a reception hosted by the Building a Bright Future Campaign Leadership Committee at Na Leo TV studios in Hilo Thursday evening, Committee Chair Senator Herbert M. “Tim” Richards, III, DVM, announced that the campaign has raised $2.8 million to date, nearly 50 percent of the Phase 1 budget. Fifty community leaders, including Senator Lorraine Inouye, Representative Chris Todd and County Councilperson Jenn Kagiwada were on hand for the project launch and sneak preview of Na Leo TV’s “Nonprofit Chronicles featuring YWCA of Hawaii Island,” which will air starting Friday October 4.

The Building a Bright Future Campaign Leadership Committee includes: Linda Clifford, Community Volunteer; Cary Boeddeker Egan, President, The Waikoloa Foundation; Ashley Lehualani Kierkiewicz, Councilperson, County of Hawaii; Sue Lee Loy, Councilperson, County of Hawaii, Representative-Elect, State of Hawaii; Jennifer Zelko Schlueter, Director, Government and Community Relations, HELCO; Toby Taniguchi, President, KTA; Sandra Tokuuke, Vice President/Senior Relationship Manager, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; and Ross Wilson, Jr., Principal, Current Events.

About YWCA of Hawaii Island

Established in 1919, YWCA of Hawaii Island is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

YWCA of Hawaii Island is part of YWCA USA, the oldest and largest national women’s organization with the mission of empowering women and eliminating racism. Nationally, the YWCA represents 2 million women, girls and their families in the US each year. Globally, YWCA USA is a member of World YWCA, which has affiliates in over 100 countries that serve 25 million women and girls worldwide.

YWCA of Hawaii Island is headquartered at 145 Ululani St. in Hilo. Telephone: (808) 935-7141; on the web at www.ywcahawaiiisland.org.