2025 Give Big Hawai‘i: HDS Foundation

(Partner Content) The HDS Foundation was established by Hawaii Dental Service (HDS), to improve the oral health of Hawai‘i’s communities through oral health initiatives and grants to local nonprofits that provide oral health education, work to prevent oral disease, and increase access to dental care for underserved populations.

November 1, 2025

HONOLULU Branded Content Team,

Hds Foundation Honolulu Mag Nov 2025 Give Back Hawaii

Mission

The HDS Foundation was established by Hawaii Dental Service (HDS), to improve the oral health of Hawai‘i’s communities through oral health initiatives and grants to local nonprofits that provide oral health education, work to prevent oral disease, and increase access to dental care for underserved populations.

Key Services Provided

As Hawai‘i’s first and leading not-for-profit dental benefits provider, HDS serves over a million residents across Hawai‘i, Guam, and Saipan. The HDS Foundation supports community oral health through key initiatives such as Smile Makers, Dentist by One, Seal Away Decay, and Kupuna Smiles. Over the past decade, it has invested more than $17 million in grants to expand access to care, particularly for underserved populations.

In 2024 alone, the HDS Foundation provided over $2.3 million to 14 nonprofits for oral health education, disease prevention, workforce development, and dental care access. It also awarded $15,849 in Smile Fund grants to six nonprofits, $113,000 in scholarships to Hawai‘i residents pursuing dental careers, and more than $250,000 in matching gifts to the state’s loan repayment program specifically for dentists and dental hygienists. The HDS Foundation collaborates with partners through the Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition to advance statewide oral health initiatives.

Events and Opportunities

More community partners are needed across our islands to help elevate the importance of good oral health. The HDS Foundation encourages local nonprofit organizations to apply for grants to support the development of oral health programs or projects that target our underserved communities statewide. Grant submission deadlines are on Dec. 15 and June 15 annually.

HDS Foundation will consider programs and projects that promote:

• Oral health education
• Prevention of oral disease
• Access to dental care by underserved populations

Leadership

HDS FOUNDATION BOARD OFFICERS

Emi Eno Orikasa, DDS, Chair and President
Allison Tran, DDS, Vice Chair
Diane S.L. Paloma, PhD, Vice President
Quin Ogawa, Treasurer
Shere Saneishi-Kim, Secretary

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE (HDS)

Diane S.L. Paloma, PhD, President and CEO