New Junior Achievement of Hawaiʻi CEO to Start Nov. 1

Local partners should prepare for a change in organizational strategy as the new leader oversees statewide operations.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in People

New Junior Achievement of Hawaiʻi CEO to Start Nov. 1

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Junior Achievement of Hawaiʻi has appointed Burgandie Onekea as its new president and CEO. Effective Nov. 1, 2026, she will oversee the organization's statewide strategy, partnership development, and operational growth.

Why it matters

The leadership transition aims to leverage Onekea's experience in scaling nonprofit operations to expand educational programming and capacity across the state.

Burgandie Onekea brings 30 years of experience to her new role, following a career that included overseeing sevenfold growth in annual student experiences during her tenure in Orange County. Her appointment sets the stage for future programming capacity in the Hawaiʻi region.

The players

Burgandie Onekea

An experienced nonprofit executive with 30 years of leadership in regional and national organizations.

Junior Achievement of Hawaiʻi

A statewide nonprofit organization focused on youth education, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship programming.

The details

Onekea will assume responsibility for steering the organization’s fundraising, statewide programming, and strategic partnerships. Her previous leadership background includes executive roles at the American Cancer Society in Hawaiʻi and the Arthritis Foundation, providing a blend of local institutional knowledge and national nonprofit management experience.

Nov. 1, 2026: Burgandie Onekea begins her role as president and CEO.

Market Landscape

This appointment follows the established pattern of recruiting seasoned leaders from within the Junior Achievement network to steer local operations. It marks a transition from the prior executive leadership at Junior Achievement of Southern California to a focused statewide role in Hawaiʻi.

Operators and partners should monitor upcoming shifts in the organization’s outreach strategy and corporate partnership programs starting in November. Networking with the new leadership will be essential for businesses interested in aligning their community engagement or workforce development initiatives with the organization.

The takeaway

Organizations looking to scale impact often prioritize candidates with documented histories of institutional growth across multiple sectors. Reviewing the success metrics of an incoming CEO can provide valuable indicators for how your business should prioritize potential philanthropic or educational partnerships.