YMCA of Honolulu

Seeking an exceptional VP of People and Culture to work with an amazing team of servant leaders!

We’re proud to congratulate our very own Kerri Bosworth Van Duyne, Vice President of Development at YMCA of Honolulu, on her well-deserved recognition as a Pacific Business News 2026 Women Who Mean Business honoree. Through her leadership, Kerri has provided strategic collaboration to bring together business leaders, government agencies and volunteers to align goals and secure resources. This approach helped the Y to secure $11.5 million in government funding in fiscal year 2024 and $12 million through the Catalyst for Community Campaign for youth mental health, wellness services and a community hub with affordable and workforce housing We’re honored to celebrate Kerri and grateful to have her as part of our YMCA ʻohana. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eMcK-BWu #YMCAHonolulu #communityimpact #leadership

YMCA leaders, students, and community partners gathered at the Hawaii State Capitol yesterday as Governor Josh Green proclaimed March 12, 2026, YMCA Day in Hawaii, recognizing the YMCA’s 175 years of strengthening communities and supporting youth and families across the nation. The YMCA was recognized in both the House of Representatives Chambers and Senate Chambers, and the group spent time visiting Senators and Representatives in their offices. It was a meaningful day celebrating the YMCA’s impact and the continued commitment to building stronger communities across Hawaii. 🌟

In December, we announced a transformational $1 million gift from Nan, Inc. to support the reimagined Nu’uanu YMCA. The donation honors decades of global humanitarian partnership by Don Anderson, former YMCA of Honolulu President & CEO, whose leadership has shaped generations of youth both locally and throughout the Pacific. Once complete, the Nuʻuanu Y’s new gym will carry Anderson’s name. This is a powerful, full-circle moment in the 25-year friendship between Nan, Inc. founder Nan Chul Shin and Anderson – a relationship built on shared values of service, humility, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening communities here and abroad. The $1 million gift will support the revitalization of the Nuʻuanu YMCA, ensuring the newly named gym becomes a vibrant space for health, connection, and community. Learn more about this transformational gift here: bit.ly/nuuanu-y-reimagined

We're excited to share that Walter Thoemmes III has been selected as the YMCA of Honolulu's next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 3, 2026. Thoemmes was selected following a comprehensive national search that drew more than 340 applicants. He brings 31 years of operational and strategic leadership experience at Kamehameha Schools, including over the past decade leading commercial real estate development and master community planning efforts across Hawaiʻi. Thoemmes will succeed Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Lisa Ontai, who has served in the role since July 2025. We congratulate Walter with gratitude and look forward to what's ahead.

Last year, we announced a generous $300,000 gift from Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, made possible with matching funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Member Impact Fund. This investment will support the creation of a new Intergenerational Room at the reimagined Nuʻuanu YMCA, a welcoming space where keiki can play after school, teens can grow into leaders, kūpuna can connect during the day, and families can thrive together across generations. Combined with affordable housing, it ensures the Y remains a vital community hub where everyone can live, learn, and grow. This $300,000 gift brings the partnership full circle, honoring the YMCA of Honolulu’s role in the movement’s beginnings while investing in a space that will strengthen connections across generations. Learn more about this transformational gift here: bit.ly/nuuanu-y-reimagined

We’re excited to announce a generous $425,000 combined donation from the Central Pacific Bank Foundation, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, and Central Pacific Bank Chairman, President, and CEO Arnold Martines and his wife, Thuy, to support the reimagined Nuʻuanu YMCA. The $425,000 donation comprises a $250,000 grant from the Central Pacific Bank Foundation, a $75,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Member Impact Fund, and a $100,000 personal donation from Arnold and Thuy Martines. This donation will fund the creation of the Central Pacific Bank Foundation Community Room at the new, reimagined Nu‘uanu YMCA. This community space will serve as a welcoming hub where neighbors, nonprofits, community organizations, and changemakers can come together to learn, collaborate, and strengthen the fabric of Hawaii.

Today, the YMCA of Honolulu announced a transformational $3 million gift from the David C. Ai Charitable Trust to support the reimagining of the Nuʻuanu YMCA and the naming of the Nuʻuanu YMCA in honor of the Ai family and their legacy of service. At the press conference, remarks were shared by Lisa Ontai, Interim President and CEO of the YMCA of Honolulu; Andrew Rosen, representing the YMCA of Honolulu Board of Directors; and Steven Ai, Trustee of the David C. Ai Charitable Trust. Together, they highlighted the YMCA’s deep community roots and the Ai family’s enduring legacy of service, beginning with co-founder Chung Kun Ai, who in 1917 helped establish original Nu’uanu Y - the world’s first racially integrated YMCA. #YMCAHonolulu #DavidCAiCharitableTrust #NuuanuYMCA

The YMCA of Honolulu is pleased to announce a transformative $5 million donation from The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, making it the largest single private contribution in the organization’s history. For years, the YMCA has envisioned a reimagined Nuuanu YMCA as an inclusive, welcoming space where youth, kūpuna, families, and individuals can connect, stay active, build resilience, and thrive. A place that not only serves people within its walls but also acts as a central hub, expanding outreach into surrounding neighborhoods and communities. With this foundational gift from The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, the YMCA can now begin the planning process, which includes engaging partners, donors, and community members to help bring this vision to life.

We’re excited to share that Greg Waibel, who has served as President & CEO of the YMCA of Honolulu since 2021, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of YMCA of the USA. This national role is a reflection of his 20-year career with the YMCA and the lasting impact he’s made across Hawaii — from guiding our post-pandemic recovery to expanding programs and partnerships that now reach 115+ community sites statewide. Stepping into the role of Interim President & CEO, Lisa Ontai brings over 34 years of experience in strategic leadership, communications, and community engagement. She has served as the YMCA’s Vice President of Marketing and Mission Advancement since 2012, playing a vital role in expanding access to programs, guiding our organization through the pandemic, and advancing our mission to serve keiki, kupuna, and families across Hawaii. Lisa has the full support of our YMCA of Honolulu Association Board of Directors and will provide the stability and continued momentum to lead us forward. We celebrate Greg’s next chapter and welcome Lisa’s leadership with gratitude and great anticipation for what’s ahead. #YMCAHonolulu #YMCA