Hawaiʻi Appleseed welcomes Will White as its new Executive Director
HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — On April 3, 2025, Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice announced the appointment of Will White as its new Executive Director. White’s selection follows an extensive, national search process conducted by the organization’s board of directors in partnership with Inkinen Executive Search.
White brings extensive experience in advocacy, policy, and community engagement to the role. His background includes coalition-building and campaigning for systemic change, which aligns with Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s mission to promote economic and social justice across the islands.
“Will White is a visionary leader whose deep commitment to justice and equity aligns perfectly with Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s mission,” said Kanoe Enos, Hawaiʻi Appleseed board president. “His ability to bring people together, center community voices, and drive meaningful policy change makes him the ideal leader to guide our organization forward. We are confident that under Will’s leadership, Hawaiʻi Appleseed will continue to be a transformative force in building a more just and equitable future for all who call these islands home.”
A graduate of Kamehameha Schools and proud son of Kalihi Valley, White spent two decades on the U.S. continent working as a community organizer and policy advocate, first in New York City and then in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For seven years, White served as the Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs at United Way Bay Area, where he worked to increase the minimum wage, improve access to healthcare for undocumented immigrants, and expand tax credits for working families.
After returning home to Hawaiʻi in 2021, White had the opportunity to serve in the Hawaiʻi State Office of the Governor and the State Department of Budget and Finance under Governor David Ige, before joining Hawai’i Appleseed and serving as its deputy director.
White holds a bachelor’s degree in history from New York University and a master’s in urban policy analysis and management from The New School.
