Henry Kinimaka

The Henry Kinimaka Award was established by Kathryn Henry Kinimaka in loving memory of her wife, Lisa Kinimaka. Kathryn and Lisa both started their careers from the humblest of beginnings. Lisa got her start reading meters for a utility company — an entry-level role that put her squarely in the world of field operations and skilled labor. Kathryn began as a telecom and data technician, working hands-on in the trades. Neither followed a traditional path, and neither needed to. Through grit, passion, and an unwavering belief in the value of hard work, both went on to build highly successful careers that far exceeded what anyone might have predicted from where they started.

Kathryn’s early days were spent in a hard hat and tool belt, pulling cable, terminating connections, and doing the physical, unglamorous work that keeps the world connected. She knows firsthand what it means to be the sole woman showing up on a job site, earning respect through the quality of her work, and proving every day that she belonged. That experience never left her — it shaped everything that followed and fuels her commitment to opening doors for the next generation of young women willing to do the same.

Their shared journey is at the heart of this award. Lisa’s story is proof that sometimes the most unassuming starting point — a route, a clipboard, a willingness to show up — can be the on-ramp to something extraordinary. College isn’t the only path to a meaningful, rewarding career. Some of the most fulfilling professional lives begin by stepping into the work, finding what you love, and building from there.

The Henry Kinimaka Award is dedicated to encouraging young women to pursue their ambitions with confidence, knowing they can soar from anywhere. It is both a tribute to Lisa’s enduring legacy and an investment in the next generation of women who are ready to build something extraordinary — starting exactly where they are.”