The Executive Director is a dynamic leader with strategic vision, experience in nonprofit advocacy, and a strong commitment to social and economic justice in Hawai‘i.

The Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice is seeking an Executive Director with a passion for justice, a commitment to equity, and a deep, abiding love for Hawai‘i and its people. The new Executive Director will lead the organization in its mission of advocating for economic justice for and with Hawai‘i’s people, helping support a thriving Hawai‘i that reflects Hawai‘i’s deep cultural values of social responsibility and care for community, people and place.

ABOUT HAWAI‘I APPLESEED

Hawai‘i Appleseed (HA) is committed to a more socially and economically just Hawai‘i, where everyone has enough to live happy, healthy and creative lives. We change systems to address inequity and foster greater opportunity by conducting data analysis and research to address income inequality, educating policymakers and the public, engaging in collaborative problem solving and coalition building, and advocating for policy and systems change.

The work of Hawai‘i Appleseed is in service to Hawai‘i and its people. The issues we work on—housing, food, wages, transportation, state budget and taxation, and racial and indigenous equity—are important because they ensure people have access to shelter, sustenance, and the means to survive and thrive individually and collectively.

Working alongside our partners, we’ve helped secure meaningful change for our community:

• Minimum wage increases that will lift incomes by $1 billion annually
• Tax credits for low-income families exceeding $80 million annually
• Hundreds of millions in increased funding for development and improvements of affordable housing
• Millions of dollars in increases for food subsidies for Hawai‘i keiki

We are striving to align our work with Hawai‘i’s deep cultural values of social responsibility and care for community, people and place. We believe our efforts toward positive change require the knowledge and expertise of the people that have first-hand experience and live with the adverse consequences of our flawed systems. Hawai‘i Appleseed is focused on doing more to integrate into our organization and our work the people affected by the issues we work on. We are searching for an Executive Director who can lead HA and its 12 staff to be the change we seek, both in the way we behave as an organization, and in our advocacy for societal change in Hawai‘i.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibilities of the Executive Director are:

• Building relationships with funders, community leaders, partners, and decision makers that will help HA to advance its mission;
• Leading the evolution and top-level implementation of HA’s strategic plan;
• Building a healthy, effective, and pono culture at Hawai‘i Appleseed;
• Ensuring HA’s financial stability, working closely with HA’s Development Director on development and fundraising;
• Provide supervision and oversight of HA personnel, staff, consultants and key vendors;
• Serving as a spokesperson for the organization with the press and the public.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

The right candidate will have the following strengths and qualifications:

• A passion for justice, a commitment to equity, and a deep, abiding love for Hawai‘i and its people;
• A clear vision for a thriving Hawai‘i that reflects Hawai‘i’s deep cultural values of social responsibility and care for community, people and place;
• Excellence in leadership and management, with a demonstrated ability to effectively guide; teams toward achieving organizational goals and upholding and promoting HA’s core values;
• Terrific interpersonal skills and a strong desire to connect and build relationships with all kinds of people;
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing;
• An understanding of Hawai‘i’s unique social, political, cultural, and systemic issues that affect policy and the well-being of marginalized communities.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, within the range of $130,000 to $160,000. The position also provides comprehensive benefits including health care, paid holidays and personal leave and a 401(k) plan.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit the following, addressed to Hawaii Appleseed Search Committee, c/o Inkinen Executive Search, via email to by December 16, 2024 (subject to change):

• Cover Letter expressing the reason for your interest in Hawaii Appleseed and how your skills and experiences match the Executive Director role.
• Resume or CV

For detailed information, please visit