Fellows mentioned in this story: Elisia Flores

From Chaminade University News:

After finishing his degree at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, John Leong had three options: to accept a job offer in New York City, to enter seminary school or to return to Hawai‘i. He chose the latter, deciding that he wanted to come home to lead conservation efforts. And that was 25 years ago.

As the guest speaker of the Provost Speakers Series, Leong shared his arduous journey that started when he and his wife, Julianna, established Pono Pacific in 2000. The company had a sole mission to assist conservation managers and landowners with the monumental task of protecting Hawai‘i’s natural resources. It would eventually lead him to co-find Kupu, now one of the most impactful environmental leadership organizations in the Pacific.

“My call to return to Hawai‘i was strong,” Leong said. “If you’re created to do something, and if you don’t follow that calling, the world loses out.”

Continue reading at chaminade.edu.