Search Results

OUR TEAM Matthew Johnson Executive Director Matthew Johnson has been appointed its new ED, effective Feb. 1st, 2024. Read More Avemaia I. A’asa, Jr. CBI Program Manager A dedicated staff member of the PGC team. Read More Kalesita Anitema Disaster Case Manager Supervisor Leads wildfire recovery team supporting LEP survivors. Read More Svitlana Gurianova Accounting Manager Finance professional dedicated to transparent, impactful leadership. Read More Than Htut Aye Senior Case Manager Mr. Than has been a dedicated member of the PGC since 2004. Read More Bonarath Bory Agricultural Program Director Bonarath Bory, known as Bo, was born in Cambodia. Read More Carmen Lee HLB Program Coordinator Carmen’s native language is English and speaks conversational Cantonese. Read More Nadezhda Gotovtseva Accounting Specialist Supporting financial operations and grant management Read More Mayra Martins Deputy Director of SEP Leads Social Enterprise Programs empowering communities. Read More Nicole Kealoha Maui IRC Manager Supports Maui immigrants through legal immigration services. Read More Linda Lee HLB Specialist Supports language access across Hawai‘i, connecting communities. Read More Board of Directors 2025-2026 Darrin Sato President Kalihi-Palama Health Center Chief Operations Officer Joseph Adriano Treasurer Chief Financial Officer, Waimanalo Health Center, Shana Palmieri Vice President Chief Clinical Officer & CoFounder at XFERALL Instructor at Federal Employment Legal Training Group Vincent Kimura Member University of Hawaii Community College VACANT Secretary George Yarbrough Member Associate Director, Entrepreneurship Programs University of Hawai‘i, Office of Innovation & Commercialization Gay Sibonga Member Chief Operating Officer, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (MEO) – Wailuku, HI Nicole Chatterson Member Senior Consultant, VEIC Helen Petrovitch Member Scientific Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System and VA Central California Health Care System James Soukamneuth Senior Advisor Chemonics International Barrett Gady Member VP, Senior Quantitative Analyst, Bank of America

VOLUNTEER Volunteering With Pacific Gateway Center Make a Difference. Empower Lives. Build a Stronger Community. At Pacific Gateway Center, volunteers are the heart of our mission. Whether you are passionate about supporting immigrants and refugees, providing immigration legal assistance, teaching English, mentoring small business owners, lending a helping hand at our farms and community kitchens, Nā Kūpuna Makamae Center, assisting with admin work in the office, newsletter production, our social media platforms, interpreting a meeting, translating a document, digitizing stories of our clients, or helping with crowdfunding/fundraising your time and skills can create lasting change. By volunteering with us, you will not only make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve but also become part of a diverse and compassionate community dedicated to empowerment and inclusion. Whether you can commit a few hours a week or participate in one-time projects, we have opportunities that fit your schedule and interests. Join us in transforming lives for uprooted people and building a more inclusive Hawaii! Click below to sign up and start your volunteer journey today. BECOME A VOLUNEER “As someone who hopes to one day be in a position to help others, I think it’s important to understand and experience the efforts local organizations in my community are making for the betterment of our people. Despite the vast diversity we see in Hawaii, there are numerous amounts of people who are under represented and whose voices go unheard in our society. However, volunteering has enabled me to experience and participate in the change that Pacific Gateway Center strives to make for the marginalized communities in Hawaii. At PGC, I'm able to actively contribute by creating marketing flyers, perform office operations, conduct field and market research, and interact with people by answering phones. Overall, volunteering at PGC has been a great experience for me because of the variety of work I'm able to do, and each day I am constantly challenged and encouraged to be an agent for social change.” Anjali Cash St. Andrew’s Priory, Class of 2020 “I volunteered at Pacific Gateway Center because I really admired their mission as a non-profit. Their goal is to provide immigrants/refugees with basic necessities to survive, and to help them become independent for themselves and their families. Working with PGC taught me how to deal with people and how to adapt to an office environment which will ultimately help me in the future. What I really like as a volunteer is that I am able to have some sort of part in their mission. Although it may be a slight impact, I like knowing that I have done something to help. I am able to achieve this by helping to market their work and doing basic office work. Overall, I enjoyed volunteering with Pacific Gateway Center and it was a new experience for me.” Maria Quadri University Laboratory School, Class of 2021

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (ED) Community Development Through Social Entrepreneurship Our Social Enterprise Program (SEP) provides technical, social, and monetary support for entrepreneurial ventures creating jobs for vulnerable populations and revitalizing the community. Culinary Business Incubator PGC Farms in Kunia Ka Mea Kanu - The Cultivars Community Development Through Social Entrepreneurship Our Social Enterprise Program (SEP) provides technical, social, and monetary support for entrepreneurial ventures creating jobs for vulnerable populations and revitalizing the community. What is a Social Enterprise? A social enterprise is a business venture that gives back to the community. Nonprofit Organizations or For-Profit Organizations that are social enterprises blend sound business practices with social impact to develop with aloha. What does the program provide for me? The Social Enterprise Program recognizes that an entrepreneurial venture faces unique challenges beyond the bottom line. That's why the program provides "wrap around" services to find solutions to obstacles you and your organization may face. Capital - Often resources like facilities, equipment, and funding are difficult for small businesses to acquire when starting out or looking to scale. PGC-SEP has direct access to these resources or can facilitate acquiring them. For example, a commercial kitchen is available for a food truck start-up or microloans are available for up to $15,000. Education & Training - Experts in the industry provide one-on-one coaching for whatever your organization needs. Whether it is drafting a business plan or understanding market research, special classes are tailored to your specific business needs in the areas of taxes, legal issues, marketing, and more. Wrap Around Services - Real life challenges to running a venture need real life solutions. The Social Enterprise Program provides access to childcare, transportation assistance, language access support, and more. We have curated a strong network of local service providers that can address the diverse needs of our clients. For example, American Savings Bank offers a wide range of financial education resources free of charge to our local entrepreneurs.