By: Amanda Corby Noguchi

Those different skies had been literal as well as figurative. Most of us recently returned from our journeys, each carrying the question we’d asked ourselves while away: How can we have the most impact in Hawaiʻi? Our journeys had taken wildly different paths near and far—many completed with stories to tell, others still anxiously unfolding—but together we discovered something profound.

At the heart of our exploration, or anticipation of those to come, were three soulful questions: What do we need to remember? What do we need to hold on to? What must we let go of? These shaped our individual quests and became the foundation for our collective reflection as we re-entered our fast-paced lives.

As it always does, Bill Coy and Cheryl Lupenui Ka’uhane’s gentle guidance created grace while holding sacred space for vulnerability and discovery. Bill has this incredible way of honoring how multiple truths, no matter how messy or complicated, can coexist and flourish. Cheryl reminds us the answers are there if we can just quiet ourselves enough to listen. What if we just lived in our breath?

We committed to continuing this beautiful mess of pilina building and collective wayfinding. This simple monthly ritual of togetherness reminds us that our strength lies in honoring different viewpoints while maintaining unity of purpose—no small feat in today’s world.

Our day of complex emotions and eagerness for action were woven together when Yunji de Nies closed our sharing circle with John Roedel’s powerful poem, “My Brain and Heart Divorced,” about living life in our lungs, focusing on breath and today. The poem’s message has become my daily heart medicine, and as another Fellow Sabrina Nasir reminds us: “Be where you are.”

Among our takeaways, one truth emerged with unanimous clarity: our collective narratives are infinitely stronger than any individual story. While we each bring unique perspectives and sometimes conflicting beliefs, our power multiplies when we fly together (nod to Fellow Rich Matsui’s geese visualization). I often find myself in complete awe that I have the privilege to stand alongside these 15 amazing humans. To trust this deeply, this fast, still makes my heart do little somersaults.

We were also treated to an intimate session with the man, the myth, the legend—Kelvin Taketa. Learning about the program’s origins and the Omidyar family’s unwavering dedication reminded us that our kuleana is both privilege and responsibility. Their investment in Hawaiʻi, in us, and HLF’s commitment to our forever-connected network embodies the long-term thinking necessary for meaningful change. It gives me HOPE when honestly, I sometimes find it is lost.

In this world that currently feels overwhelmed by crisis and fear, our monthly gatherings are like hope dispensaries, and I’m an addict. Kelvin’s wisdom, the Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum Staff’s endless talent and commitment, and our cohort’s deep connection create an unshakeable foundation for optimism. Hope that today’s unthinkable challenges will catalyze the innovation our world desperately needs. Faith that in the greatest crisis we find our truest selves. Trust that together we’re strong enough to weather any storm. We have the privilege and responsibility to bring this gift back to our communities.

What stays with me most is that our collective determination remains unshakeable. We fly farther together than we ever could apart—we’re not just stronger, we’re unstoppable. And when we scatter again to our different skies, we’ll carry the shared strength of Cloud 9 with us until we return home once more.