HUGS Announces New Board President Joseph Castaneda

March 5, 2026

HONOLULU, HI – HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support) announced that Board member Joe Castaneda has been elected as the new President of its Board of Directors.

Castaneda is a Principal Broker with REMAX Hawaii West Oahu and has been an active leader within the HUGS community for several years. He previously served as President of HIP (HUGS Island Professionals), an advisory committee under the HUGS Board of Directors that engages emerging community leaders in support of the organization’s mission. Castaneda has been a member of the HUGS Board of Directors since 2024.

In addition to his service with HUGS, Castaneda is actively involved with professional organizations including the National Association of Realtors, Hawaii Association of Realtors, the Honolulu Board of Realtors and the Hawaii Residential Real Estate Council.

“I am deeply honored to step into this role and continue building on the incredible work HUGS provides to families across Hawaiʻi,” said Castaneda. “Every day, we see the strength and resilience of the families we serve. Our board is fully committed to expanding our impact, strengthening our programs, and ensuring that no family with children facing a serious illness feels alone in their journey.”

“We are excited to welcome Joe as our new Board President,” said Maureen Purington, Executive Director of HUGS. “His leadership experience, strong community connections, and genuine passion for our mission bring invaluable perspective to our Board. We are confident his guidance will help HUGS continue to grow and support even more families across Hawaiʻi.”

Media Contact:
Alex Wereszczynskyj
alex@hugshawaii.org