Our Board of Directors is made up of Native Hawaiian leaders whose lived experience, cultural grounding, and professional expertise guide our work with integrity. Supported by a diverse and dedicated team, HPF’s leadership reflects the ecosystem we seek to build: one where guidance is intergenerational, power is shared, and purpose is always greater than profit.
Board of Directors
Edwin A. "Skip" Vincent
Chairman & Founder
Edwin “Skip” Vincent retired in 2010 with the distinguished rank of Brigadier General, concluding a remarkable 37-year career in the Hawai‘i Air National Guard. Throughout his service, Skip completed five combat tours and held prominent leadership positions at the Pentagon, Hawai‘i State Headquarters, and in the field. These experiences shaped his unwavering commitment to fostering collaboration over conflict, emphasizing relationship-building and capacity development as core strategies for achieving meaningful outcomes.
Following thoughtful reflection and guided by his faith, Skip founded the Hawai‘i Pacific Foundation (HPF), a Native Hawaiian Organization dedicated to addressing the needs of disadvantaged Native Hawaiian communities. Through HPF, he leverages his leadership expertise to champion initiatives that foster enduring partnerships to advance culturally rooted, sustainable solutions for lasting impact. As HPF’s founder and Chairman of the Board, Skip plays a pivotal role in directing and mediating Board actions, ensuring alignment with the organization’s priorities and governance principles.
Additionally, he oversees financial planning and reporting to support HPF’s nonprofit mission and fulfill its congressionally mandated objectives.
Walt Kaneakua
Vice Chairman
Dr. Walt Kaneakua, a retired Air Force Colonel with 27 years of active-duty service in both the US Air Force and the Hawai’i National Guard, serves as Vice Chairman of the Foundation. Dr. Kaneakua oversees the Strategic Planning Committee and part of HPF’s charitable giving portfolio, while also serving as a voting member on the Board of Directors.
Born and raised on the mainland and in Europe, Walt returned to Hawaiʻi for his education, attending the Kamehameha Schools and earning his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa. He earned a master’s degree and doctorate in management, as well as master’s degrees in economics, and national strategy. He teaches as an adjunct professor at Pacific Rim Christian University and the U.S. Naval War College at Pearl Harbor. With a diverse career spanning military, governmental, and educational sectors, Kaneakua brings a wealth of experience for community building. Following his military career, he flew as a Captain for Aloha Airlines before serving as a Senate staffer for the late Senator Dan Inouye. He continued his congressional staff roles for Senator Mazie Hirono and as the District Director for Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Walt serves on the Hawaiian Homes Commission, the Board of Governors for Shriner’s Hospital for Children, as well as a Director for the Hawaiʻi Development Corporation.
Jeanine DeFries
President & CEO, Board Secretary
With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, Jeanine DeFries brings a deep commitment to operational excellence, strategic vision, team development, and community impact. As President and CEO of the Hawai‘i Pacific Foundation (HPF), a Native Hawaiian Organization and 501(c)(3) nonprofit, she leads the foundation’s efforts to enrich Native Hawaiian communities through education, workforce development, economic stability, and cultural preservation.
Jeanine’s professional journey spans diverse industries, including corporate operations, procurement, and governance. Her experience includes managing multimillion-dollar inventories, implementing enterprise-wide policies and programs, and fostering strategic partnerships. Prior to joining HPF, she held leadership roles at Hawaiian Host Group and Beauty Systems Group, where she demonstrated expertise in procurement, change management, and organizational strategy.
A graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with a BA in Hawaiian Studies, Jeanine integrates her cultural knowledge with professional acumen to create innovative solutions that address the unique challenges of the communities she serves.
As the senior corporate executive of HPF, Jeanine oversees day-to-day operations, implements strategic initiatives, and ensures alignment with the foundation’s congressionally mandated mission. She works to foster strategic partnerships, leverage resources, and drive sustainable growth to maximize HPF’s community impact.
In addition to her role as CEO, Jeanine serves as Board Secretary of HPF, contributing to governance and strategic decision-making as a voting member of the Board of Directors. She upholds HPF’s values of connections, partnerships, and community resilience, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment with organizational priorities.
Jeanine’s career reflects a passion for creating spaces where others can connect, collaborate, and thrive, building pathways for a stronger and more vibrant Native Hawaiian future
Debbi Eleneki
Director
In her nearly 32 years of dedicated service in the Honolulu Fire Department, Debbi Eleneki demonstrated unparalleled leadership qualities, uniquely refined management skills, strong communication skills and a relentless effort to strive for both personal and departmental excellence.
Throughout her journey as HFD’s First Female Fire Fighter to First Female Fire Captain and retiring as HFD’s First Female Battalion Chief, Debbi has also been recognized as a Women’s History Month Honoree, Mayor appointed member of the Honolulu County Committee on the Status of Women, HFD Uniformed Employee of the Year and as a Keynote Speaker for the Organization of Women Leaders.
She is currently a mentor and serves as a Board of Director for Kūkolu, a non-profit organization birthed out of aloha lāhui, love for the collective Hawaiian society – its history, culture, people and potential. She also serves as a Fire Commissioner, leveraging her years of experience to bring value to the Honolulu Fire Department and our community.
