Cherilyn Shiinoki, M.Ed.
Executive Director
Family Hui Hawaii
Cherilyn Shiinoki, M.Ed. is a Mentor Hawaii Cohort 10 mentor. Learn more about the program here.
About Cherilyn
Cherilyn Shiinoki has been the Executive Director of Family Hui Hawaii, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit family strengthening agency since its incorporation in 2012. Cherilyn believes that families are the first and most enduring teachers of their children. She finds joy and inspiration in being mom to 3 boys, now age 25, 22, and 17, having grown alongside them in her own parenting journey. Cherilyn has worked in various capacities in preschool, parenting programs, and children’s ministry. She holds a Masterʻs of Education in Early Childhood Education and has been recognized for her leadership roles at the 2022 Women Who Mean Business awards and the Chaminade University & American Savings Bank 2020 Non-profit Business Plan Competition. Prior to her work in family support, Cherilyn worked in retail and business management for 20 years and helped to open the Neiman Marcus store at Ala Moana.
Cherilyn is an active participant in many community-led efforts to improve the outcomes for families and keiki. For many years, she served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Infant Mental Health Hawaii and the Hawaii State Early Learning Board. At Family Hui Hawaii, she brings her private sector business experience and commitment to keiki together to make the parenting journey a little easier for all.
Question and Answer with Cherilyn
What is your preferred communication style when mentoring (in-person, video conference, phone, informal check-ins, structured meetings, etc.)?
In-Person Meeting, Video-Conference
Why do you want to become a mentor in this program?
I am interested in mentorship because there have been many people in my life who have supported me in my own professional career. I truly appreciate the time, knowledge, and their willingness to listen to where I was at, what I was struggling with, and their guidance. I hope to do the same for others.
What specific skills, knowledge or experience can you share with your mentee?
I have been with Family Hui Hawaii since the beginning – essentially going through the process of starting and growing a small business, in particular, a non-profit business. We started with 2 independent contractors and now have grown to be a well established and respected agency across the state with 14 employees that serves over 2500 individuals each year. The learning curve in this journey of non-profit was very steep. Not only did we need to develop the programming and service aspects of the non-profit, we also had to build the foundation; the operational systems and financial resources to support the programming. Many of the lessons are applicable to all forms of business.
What are your expectations for a mentor-mentee relationship?
I expect that the mentor-mentee relationship is mutually rewarding. I am looking forward to learning from the mentee as well as through reflection on my own experience as a mentor.
How do you approach problem-solving and conflict resolution?
With a respectful, listening ear and an open heart. I have an inclusive management style and lean on the relationships that have been developed in both problem solving and conflict resolution. I believe most conflicts are from misunderstandings so once those misunderstandings are discussed, apologies if necessary are given, problems can be solved, and relationships actually become stronger.
How do you envision success for your mentee, and how will you measure it during the program?
I think this would depend on the goal(s) of the mentee. It would be helpful to know what the mentee hopes to get out of the time spent together. If the goals are very different, the mentor/mentee may not be a good match. My hope is that there is open communication between the mentor and mentee. I would ask the mentee frequently if the meetings/relationship is helpful and in alignment with their goals.
