HAWAI’I HOMELESSNESS & HOUSING CONFERENCE

Kūkulu Kumuhana Award

Hawaiʻi Homelessness & Housing Conference

Kūkulu Kumuhana Award

Established in 2024

Kūkulu Kumuhana symbolizes the gathering and uniting of our ideas, wisdom, and experiences.

Established in 2024, the Kūkulu Kumuhana Award honors those who exemplify the Native Hawaiian approach to well-being, rooted in our cultural values, ancestral strengths, and the power of collective unity. Together, these form a strong foundation for the work we do and the communities we serve.

We invite you to nominate community leaders whose dedication, effort, and leadership remind us that collaboration and shared commitment are essential to addressing homelessness and creating lasting change in our community. Their hard work sets a powerful example for others to follow, and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments.

2026 recipients

Honolulu County

Castro Masaniai

Castro was honored for his heart for serving houseless individuals and for consistently going beyond what his role required. As leader of his outreach team, he gave his teammates the tools they needed to support people who could not yet help themselves.

Maui County

Maude Cumming

Maude was honored for more than 40 years of service helping people experiencing homelessness find stability, dignity, and a place to call home. She was recognized for seeing the person behind the circumstances and treating everyone with compassion, respect, and patience.

Kauaʻi County

Marlo Buccat

Marlo was honored as a dedicated advocate and case manager who consistently went above and beyond for clients and non-clients alike. A colleague who worked beside her in the field for two years described her as an amazing advocate they were grateful to have.

Hawaiʻi County

Keliʻi Swain-Hoʻomanawanui

Keliʻi was honored for leading outreach professionals across Hawaiʻi Island with compassion, humility, and a deep grounding in Hawaiian culture and values. Through monthly huakaʻi to wahi pana and steady mentorship, he reminded his team that outreach is about building relationships, restoring dignity, and honoring the people and places they serve.