John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas spent one of his first days as executive director of Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Center, or HCAN, outside tending a loʻi on the East Side of Oʻahu with his staff. Not too long after, he was spotted at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on the opening day of the 2026 legislative session.
“I’m so fortunate to work with such kind, wonderful and smart people. I’m here to learn a lot and to support this organization with 30 years of history,” he told Aloha State Daily. “Something I bring is methodical thinking; we must be diligent about conversing with parents, so the bills we’re pushing through align with their values for their children. It’s important to me to make sure that link is clearly established and that their voices are amplified.”
A Maya Indian from Guatemala and civil war survivor, Chaisson-Cárdenas immigrated to the U.S. when he was in intermediate school. He says one pivotal moment growing up set him on his career path in social work, youth development, education and policy.
“Back in Guatemala, I was about 9 or 10 years old when my aunt, who was like my second mother, would take me out with her as she worked on her master’s thesis about the brains of children under malnutrition. And I saw a child whose pigmentation had become almost transparent. I recognized for the first time that that child was going to die.
“It solidified what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”
Prior to joining HCAN, Chaisson-Cárdenas was vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at Connecticut State Community College. Sharing some of his previous experience, he co-authored a book “4-H: A DEI Love Story – How Positive Youth Development Became a Battleground.”
He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to the role, spanning sectors such as DEI and civil rights, research, family-centered practice and more.
Before moving to Hawaiʻi with wife, Angelica, Chaisson-Cárdenas approached the job with a sense of responsibility. He sought out Hawaiians living in the diaspora, and has even invited one individual back to the Islands to do some work with HCAN in storytelling.
“I learned how many Native Hawaiians want to come back to the state but are finding affordability an issue,” he said. “Every time we lose a child here to other places, we’re losing future workers.”
Now in its 30th year, HCAN remains focused on keeping Hawaiʻi a great place to raise kids, he said, adding, as well as informing and equipping parents. Under his leadership, the organization will continue to build up research and data and expand community partnerships.
“I just want to express gratitude to HCAN parents and partners who have truly showed me the meaning of aloha and moved it from a phrase to something real.”
HCAN Speaks!, the advocacy arm of HCAN, is prioritizing the following measures this year:
- Bills that align with Hawaiʻi Keiki Caucus: Mental Health Digital Platforms (HB1562/SB2679); E-bike Regulations (HB1564/SB2680); Legal Counsel for Foster Youth (HB1565/SB2678); and Banning Flavored Nicotine (HB1563/SB2681)
- Bills carried over from last session such as Paid Family and Medical Leave, Early Childhood Apprenticeship Grants, Free School Meals for Charter Students, and more.
View the full agenda here.
3 fun facts about Chaisson-Cárdenas
- As an Indigenous Guatemalan, he’s been pleasantly surprised by the similarities in culture with Native Hawaiians. He loves the people and this place.
- He is an avid reader! His latest haul was from Native Books Hawaiʻi in Chinatown.
- His wife Angelica is trained in early childhood policy and child welfare; the pair met at a national conference on the topic. They are “empty nesters” with one daughter in college at his alma mater the University of Iowa, and their two pets, a cat and a dog, which joined them this week in the Aloha State.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
