Cheryl Kauhane Lupenui and the new YWCA
The YWCA has been fighting sexism and racism for more than 150 years, and now Cheryl Kauhane Lupenui is working to make the Y-Dub in Hawaii more relevant to modern women than ever, with a goal of adding 3,500 new members by 2010. The Oct. 23 Downtown Decadence event at the Richards Street YWCA is a fun way to check it out
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Energetic Cheryl Kauhane Lupenui Is Transforming The YWCA To Fit Modern Times
Aside from her impressive resume, her ambitious nature and her love-for-life attitude, after interviewing Cheryl Kauhane Lupenui, I’m positive that it was her interview that sealed the deal when she was hired as president and CEO of YWCA almost eight years ago at just 35 years old.
Eloquent, intelligent, sincere and never faltering, nearly everything she said was not only a great answer, but a writer’s dream - perfect quotes, engaging and to the point.
Now the task of turning that amazing interview into a comparable story.
So here you have a young woman heading a nonprofit organization that has been breaking down the barriers of racism and sexism for more than 150 years. Would you know that in Webster’s Dictionary the alternate definition of “woman” after female human being is a female servant, a wife, a sweetheart or mistress?
Now if that’s not reason enough for every woman to run out and join an organization that strives to create opportunities for women’s growth and leadership, events such as Thursday’s (Oct. 23) Downtown Decadence make it impossible to resist.
Open to everyone, Downtown Decadence is an annual YWCA fundraiser that promises to be a fabulous evening of pampering and fun. Happening at the organization’s central headquarters, Laniakea on Richards Street, the event will include food from some of the best restaurants, massages, facials and shopping. But most importantly it’s a time to spend connecting and celebrating with friends and acquaintances - boas included.
“We really strive to engage women and to let them know that we are here to serve our members and really be relevant for women in all the things that we do, as we try to balance our work, our family, our community and our own self-care,” says Lupenui. “That’s why I think Downtown Decadence is so fun because it’s our chance for all the hard work we do as women to really come together and enjoy ourselves, but for a good cause. Otherwise we’d feel guilty and we couldn’t do it.”
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Some of the beauty contributors at this year’s event are Chop Salon, Moku Ola Hawaiian Healing Center, Paul Brown Institute of Beauty, Remington School of Massage, Heisei International Institute of Massage, Kissa Hair Salon, Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy, Marsha Nadalin Salon & Spa, Mary Kay Cosmetics and others.
“We always encourage women (and men, if they’d like) to come with their friends,” adds Lupenui. “We have many bosses who give this as a gift to their employees because it’s such a fun occasion. What is exciting about it is it’s very wholesome, clean fun. We want to pamper women when they come, so we have invited the wonderful salons in the area, so there’s beauty stations throughout the whole building. You can get massages, manicures, your hair done. But there’s also food, new products, a chocolate fountain, Hokulani does their mini cupcakes. What’s nice is you can really let you hair down, or put it up as the case may be.”
All proceeds from the event benefit the YWCA. The monies raised help the organization fund programs and services such as the many enrichment classes, the fitness club, childcare center, Dress for Success (a nationwide program that helps provide career attire for low-income women), Ways To Work (a loan program for working parents) and much more.
“We never want money to be a barrier for women,” says the 43-year-old. “We as women share a common bond, trying to be healthy, trying to take care of our family, do a good job at work and all those things - and that’s regardless of what you make and don’t make. So we really turn to our community to help those who can’t pay to be there. We don’t want to limit anyone’s opportunities. Personal contributions and these fundraisers are what help us to be able to bring more women across all backgrounds into our organization.”
Annual membership is just $50. Currently the YWCA Oahu has about 2,500 members. As Lupenui explains, the goal is to increase membership to 6,000 members by 2010.
“We are really revitalizing the YWCA, really telling a whole new story,” says Lupenui. “Not just of our past because we have a glorious past and a legacy that is so strong, but more importantly one of the future. It’s a time to help support our women.”
The YWCA is currently undergoing an outward and inward makeover, with the first phase of three phases almost wrapped up. The first phase is roughly a $5.8 million renovation of what plans to be a total $12-million project. For the first phase, the main focus is the building’s ground floor, which includes renovating the kitchen, the dining area and the conference room.
“We want to bring back all the architectural glory to this building,” says Lupenui. “It got a lit-
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