Climate Activist, Social Entrepreneur, & UN Advisor
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Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa is a Caribbean and Japanese American social entrepreneur and activist reshaping how the world learns about climate change.
He is the Executive Director and a founding director of Climate Cardinals, a professionally staffed global movement mobilizing 10,000+ volunteers in 145 countries to break language and information barriers in the climate movement.
Raised in an intergenerational household of activists, he began advocacy work at 14 and was shaped early on by witnessing Hurricane Sandy’s unequal impact on marginalized communities across the New York Metro Area.
His work has appeared in Forbes, ABC News, and the Kelly Clarkson Show, and media outlets in Uzbekistan, North Macedonia, and Nigeria.
Hikaru advises partners including the United Nations, AFS Intercultural Programs, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and Veolia, the world’s largest environmental services company, and has spoken for Harvard, Google, and the United Nations.
Rooted in Purpose, Driven by Impact
Shaped by his roots and driven by a vision for a more equitable future, Hikaru is the Executive Director of Climate Cardinals, one of the world’s largest youth-led climate organizations, and a trusted advisor to the UN.
His mission is to cultivate hope, empower the next generation, and build a sustainable future for all.
Mobilizing 16,000 volunteers across 134 countries
Hikaru developed Climate Cardinals’ signature translation program in partnership with Translators Without Borders and Google Cloud.
In 2023, Climate Cardinals became one of the first youth-led organizations to secure six-figure funding from Google’s philanthropic arm.
Be a part of the change and support Climate Cardinals.
