Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa

Executive Director, Climate Cardinals

Hikaru’s Story

Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa is the Executive Director of Climate Cardinals, one of the world’s largest youth-led climate organizations, and a trusted advisor to the United Nations. With a mission to cultivate hope and empower the next generation, Hikaru dedicates his work to building a sustainable future for all.

Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, in a family that valued hard work, curiosity, and community. Descended from labor activists, civil servants, and small business owners, his family taught him empathy, resilience, and the importance of working together to create change. His mother, a Guyanese American civil servant who immigrated to the U.S. at age nine and was the first in her family to attend college, and his father, a Japanese immigrant, geochemist, and Aikido instructor, inspired him with their dedication to learning and service.

Hikaru’s hometown of Maplewood, New Jersey—a community known for its creativity, advocacy, and cultural icons like Lauryn Hill, SZA, and Ibtihaj Muhammad—shaped his outlook. As a child, Hikaru felt most connected to reading and writing fantasy and science fiction, where stories of new worlds and possibilities sparked his imagination. Growing up in a community with a strong commitment to social change, he joined his family at local events advocating for justice and encouraging voter participation. Over time, these experiences taught him that creativity wasn’t limited to storytelling—it could also be a powerful tool to imagine a better future and fight for it.

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy left an indelible mark on Hikaru’s life. The storm’s devastation exposed systemic inequities, deepening his understanding of how vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by climate crises. Determined to make a difference, he began exploring solutions that could reach everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

As a high school student, Hikaru was awarded a prestigious U.S. State Department scholarship to spend a year in Skopje, North Macedonia. Immersed in a dynamic city with active youth movements, Hikaru learned the power of grassroots leadership and global collaboration. The experience cemented his belief that young people, when given the tools and support, can lead transformative change.

At 18, Hikaru joined the founding team of Climate Cardinals, an organization dedicated to empowering youth and the global majority of 6.5 billion non-English speakers to lead climate solutions. Starting with just $500, a website, and Google Classroom, the organization has grown into the world’s largest youth-led climate education organization, with 16,000 volunteers in 134 countries. Climate Cardinals has translated over three million words and launched grassroots education initiatives at 130 schools and universities, partnering with Google, Translators Without Borders, and the UN. Hikaru designed the organization’s signature translation program and helped secure a $400,000 Google.org grant. After graduating from Williams College, Hikaru became the organization’s first full-time Executive Director.

As Executive Director, Hikaru has expanded Climate Cardinals' mission from accessibility to empowerment, launching capacity-building programs and an impact reporting scheme. He has grown the volunteer base by 6,000, expanded school-based chapters by 100, overseen the development of two major programs, and quadrupled the salaried team. During his tenure, Climate Cardinals has also launched a Commitment to Action with the Clinton Global Initiative to double its youth empowerment programming and secured strategic appointments to the UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network, the WHO Youth Council, and the US-Climate Action Network, among other constituencies.

Hikaru’s story doesn’t end there. He has become a trusted voice on global platforms, serving on the UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network’s Steering Committee and the Youth Impact Council, led by the Duchess of York. His expertise and advocacy have taken him to events hosted by the Biden-Harris White House, the United Nations, Google, Deloitte, and the Clinton Global Initiative. Whether he’s advising international leaders or mentoring young climate activists, Hikaru always centers the voices of those most affected by the climate crisis.

For Hikaru, this work is more than a career—it’s a mission to build a better world. His journey is a testament to the power of young people to create lasting change when given the tools, opportunities, and support to succeed.