Aloha — I’m Sterling.

I'm a nonprofit leader, community builder, and father of four dedicated to strengthening Hawai'i's families and institutions.

To me, leadership means caring for people, building trust, and leaving things better than you found them. Whether through public service, partnership, or mentorship, good leadership starts close to home — listening, serving, and helping others flourish.

Leadership & Service

I serve as Chair of the Hawai'i Community Development Authority, stewarding over $250 million in public assets and guiding planning for Kakaʻako, Kalaeloa, Heʻeia, and Pulehunui.

I also co-founded Housing Hawai‘i’s Future, a statewide movement empowering young leaders to tackle our housing crisis. I also helped craft the Maui Police Department’s 2023–2028 Strategic Plan, uniting a 400-person agency around shared goals and community trust.

These experiences taught me that lasting change happens when leaders convene partners, engage donors, and mobilize communities around a shared purpose. I believe in building institutions that last — grounded in purpose, shaped by people who love this place, and open to everyone who wants to make a difference.

Faith & Formation

Alongside my civic work, I lead Ediphai, a platform helping churches and ministries grow through better tools for learning, mentorship, and discipleship.

Faith and family guide everything I do. They remind me that leadership isn't about titles — it's about service, patience, and helping others grow with wisdom and grace.

Roots & Story

I grew up in Nu‘uanu near Foster Botanical Garden, raised by my mom. I attended Royal Elementary, Kawananakoa Middle, and Roosevelt High School. As a kid, I delivered the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and learned early what it meant to work hard and show up.

After graduating from UH Mānoa, I earned a master’s degree in education at Harvard, studying leadership, civic education, and nonprofit management. I returned home to teach performing arts at SEEQS, coach debate, and later lecture in communication at Hawai‘i Pacific University, where I was honored with the Golden Apple Award for Distinguished Teaching.

I’ve also written about leadership and civic life for Honolulu Civil Beat and Hawaii Business Magazine, with work recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Across every role — from classrooms to boardrooms, coaching to governance — one theme connects them all: helping people find their voice and use it for good.

If this story resonates, I'd love to connect. Whether you're thinking about leadership, faith, or the future of Hawaiʻi — let's talk story. The best is yet to come. 🤙🏻