By Sanoe Marfil
As we celebrate INPEACE’s 31st anniversary, I am honored to share an exciting new chapter in our journey—a place we can call home. INPEACE recently acquired a 15,000-square-foot building in Nānākuli, which we are transforming into the INPEACE Community Hub at Nānāikeola.
INPEACE was envisioned by three extraordinary women—Alice Kawakami, Kathryn Au, and Sherlyn Franklin Goo—whose work focused on improving educational opportunities for underserved communities in Hawaiʻi. They founded INPEACE in 1994 with a mission to support individuals in pursuing education degrees. That mission took shape in 1996 through our first program, Ka Lama o Ke Kaiāulu, providing college assistance, mentorship, and professional training to build diversity in the teaching profession and ensure culturally relevant role models for students.
In 1999, alongside parent and community member Michelle Mahuka, INPEACE established Keiki Steps, a free Hawaiian culture-based, family-child interactive Pre-K program designed to address school readiness in high-poverty communities. Over the years, we have continued to grow, developing programs based on community needs and expanding our reach across Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island.
Now, as CEO, I am honored to carry this vision forward. My journey with INPEACE began 18 years ago as a young mother with my 1-year-old daughter when we enrolled in Keiki Steps. Inspired by my daughter, I became deeply involved, volunteering and engaging with the curriculum which has shaped my commitment to this work. Today, I am proud of the impact INPEACE creates in the lives of the people we serve and feel a deep responsibility to give back to the communities that once gave so much to me.
Our new home, Nānāikeola, is inspired by the legacy of kupuna leader Aunty Agnes Cope, a devoted advocate for Native Hawaiian health and culture. Nānāikeola will uplift community wellbeing, address educational gaps, revitalize Hawaiian culture, bridge economic divides, and foster community development. It will be a place where families, educators, and entrepreneurs can access the support they need in a welcoming, centralized space.
We are excited to begin operations in April 2025 while simultaneously making this space our own. To bring this vision to life, we are seeking financial support for critical renovations that will transform this building into a thriving center where our programs can flourish, our staff can thrive, and our community can grow together.
Nānāikeola is more than just a name – it reflects our commitment to strengthening our lāhui by “looking to life.” Mahalo nui to our community for making this vision a reality.
For more information or to support this initiative visit inpeace.org.
Sanoe Marfil is the CEO of INPEACE and a dedicated servant leader. She serves as a commissioner for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and as president of the Nānāikapono Hawaiian Civic Club. Currently pursuing a doctorate in education at Fielding Graduate School, Sanoe focuses on the intersection of genealogy and leadership while raising her three daughters alongside her husband Byron Jr., instilling the values of Hawaiian culture to guide their future growth as active community members.
