Submitted by the Abigail Kawānanakoa Foundation
For generations, decisions affecting Native Hawaiian communities have often been made far from Hawaiʻi and without Native Hawaiian voices at the table. The Abigail K.K. Kawānanakoa Foundation hopes to help change that through the Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Fellows Program, an initiative preparing emerging Native Hawaiian leaders for careers in public service and policy leadership.
Now nearing the completion of its inaugural year, the program places Native Hawaiian fellows in congressional offices in Washington, D.C., where they gain firsthand experience in federal policymaking while bringing their own perspectives, values, and cultural grounding into the work of governance.
“For me, the most meaningful aspect of being a Kūhiō Fellow, has been the ability to be in the same rooms as community leaders and organizations that I looked up to as a child. Working together in partnerships to push forth meaningful legislation is something I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do, and it’s been an honor to work and learn alongside the leaders shaping Hawaiʻi’s future,” said fellow Kalaʻi Anderson.
Since arriving in Washington in August 2025, the inaugural fellows have worked across Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation supporting legislative research, constituent services, communications, and policy development. Beyond Capitol Hill, fellows participate in professional development, mentorship, and shared living at Hale Kaulike, the Foundation’s Capitol Hill residence.
The program draws inspiration from Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, whose service as Hawaiʻi’s delegate to Congress demonstrated the importance of Native Hawaiian representation at the federal level. Best known for championing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, Prince Kūhiō understood that meaningful change requires Native Hawaiian voices inside the rooms where decisions are made.
“As I seek to serve the communities that helped raise me, this fellowship has given me the opportunity to better understand the many layers of governance and the interconnected ways decisions at the federal level influence – and are influenced – by state and local currents. I hope to carry this knowledge back home to uplift my lāhui and community,” said fellow Josh Worth.
As part of the program, each fellow completed a capstone project reflecting issues impacting the lāhui today. Topics included environmental stewardship, access to federal funding for Native Hawaiian organizations, pathways to expungement for individuals with nonviolent criminal convictions, and a children’s book centered on Native Hawaiian health and wellness practices.
For the Foundation, the fellowship represents a long-term investment in Native Hawaiian leadership and civic capacity.
“These fellows are gaining experiences and relationships that will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” said Foundation Director Jan Dill. “Just as importantly, they are demonstrating that Native Hawaiians are prepared to lead at every level.”
The Foundation recently selected its second cohort of fellows, who will begin their placements in Washington this August, continuing Prince Kūhiō’s legacy for a new generation.
