Hale Kipa is pleased to announce the appointment of Venus Kauʻiokawēkiu Rosete-Medeiros as President & CEO. The Hawai‘i nonprofit organization, which has served at-risk youth and their families for more than 50 years, conducted a search for a new CEO this fall after longtime CEO Punky Pletan-Cross announced his retirement.

Rosete-Medeiros has more than 35 years of experience serving youth and families in Hawai’i. Her extensive background includes work with nonprofit organizations, as well as private and public school systems.

Most recently she served as Kamehameha Schools’ community strategist and regional director for Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i, in which she oversaw community investments, public and private collaborations and Hawaiian cultural-based educational programs. She also founded and served as the executive director of the nonprofit organization Neighborhood Place on Maui from 2004-2011.

“Venus has extensive expertise in the areas that guide Hale Kipa’s mission to best serve Hawai‘i’s youth and their families,” said Scott Seu, Hale Kipa’s Board Chair. “Moreover, her heart and collaborative spirit fit Hale Kipa’s culture, and I’m excited to see her strong leadership in the years ahead.”

As an active child, family, community advocate and social justice leader, Rosete-Medeiros has developed several community grassroots programs and initiatives. This includes the Kamalama Parenting Curriculum based on traditional Hawaiian values that is being facilitated by organizations throughout Hawaiʻi.

She holds an MPA from Madison University in Gulfport, Miss. She was born and raised on Maui, and graduated from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama on O‘ahu.