Debbie Cabebe, the leader of one of Maui County’s largest nonprofits, was
given a rousing send-off to retirement Friday before a full house of more
than 150 family, friends, staff and community leaders at Maui Economic
Opportunity.
Speakers included Mayor Richard Bissen, Council Chair Alice Lee, state Sen.
Troy Hashimoto, retired Executive Director of MEO partner Hale Mahaolu and
MEO Board President Ned Davis, as well as longtime friend and Chief
Programs Officer Gay Sibonga and Executive Director Maggie Batantan, who
succeeded Cabebe as CEO on Saturday.
In the audience were Council Members Yuki Lei Sugimura, Tom Cook, Gabe
Johnson, a former MEO Board Member, and Kauanoe Batangan, and state Reps.
Kyle Yamashita and Tyson Miyake, as well as executive directors of partner
nonprofits and individuals supported by MEO programs.
The speakers praised Cabebe’s 26-year career at MEO ‒ the last 9 years as
CEO ‒ and cited her leadership skills, mentoring, compassion, commitment
and dedication, especially guiding the agency and supporting the community
during the COVID-19 and 2023 wildfires crises.
“Thank you for believing in people, leading with compassion and for leaving
MEO stronger than you found it,” said Sibonga, whose friendship with Cabebe
goes back to the days of the old Liberty House department store. “Your
legacy is not measured only in the programs you built or the millions of
dollars you secured. It is measured by the lives you’ve changed, the people
you mentored, the community you strengthened and the countless hearts
you’ve touched along the way.”
Sibonga was Cabebe’s second-in-command as Chief Operating Officer in the
aftermath of the wildfire and praised decisions made during those
heartbreaking times. Many community leaders pressed MEO to run a myriad of
support programs, but Cabebe carefully selected programs in which MEO had
expertise, experience and capability and handed off the others to historic
and new partners that were better suited and able.
“She understood that true leadership isn’t about doing everything,” said
Sibonga. “It’s about ensuring people receive the help they need.”
And for those programs that MEO did operate, Board President Davis noted
that “the scale was immense.”
Retiring CEO Debbie Cabebe and her successor, Maggie Batangan, pose for a photo.
“The structure to support all of this was built on the fly, like building
the car while driving it down the road. It was a tremendous accomplishment
and tremendous thing to do for our community.”
Cabebe was hired in 2000 by then-Executive Director Gladys Baisa as Human
Resources Manager, then rose through the ranks becoming Chief Operating
Officer in 2011 and Chief Executive Officer in 2017.
In her earlier years, Cabebe brought her HR experience from the private
sector and led MEO’s transition to modern business and employment
practices. She instituted formal hiring processes with job descriptions and
separation protocols, wrote anti-discrimination and other 21st Century
labor policies, and employed stricter budgeting and fiscal procedures.
She led the effort to bring MEO’s Youth Services program to Moloka`i. Kaohi
offers in-school and after-school suicide, bullying, drug, alcohol and
smoking prevention programs to middle and high schoolers while offering
leadership, community service and cultural activities. She helped build up
transportation services in the rural communities on Moloka`i and Lana`i and
in East Maui.
MEO’s operating budget grew from $16 million to $37 million during her
tenure as CEO.
Retiring Maui Economic Opportunity CEO Debbie Cabebe shares a congratulatory hug Friday.
Mayor Bissen echoed several speakers in saying: “You did exactly what all
good leaders do. You’ve left this organization better than you found it.”
State Sen. Hashimoto said that Cabebe had many big shoes to fill, following
in the footsteps of leaders such as Joe Souki and Baisa.
“There are some big personalities, but I believe she made her own distinct
mark,” he said.
The state senator also praised Cabebe for her succession planning with
almost a full year of acquainting and preparing Batangan for the top
leadership post at MEO.
Cabebe praised her predecessors and staff, adding that “it really does take
a village” to do the job and succeed. “Everybody pitched in to make this
happen.”
“MEO is bigger than one person. I am fortunate to have so many
inspirational leaders before me” and a staff that would show up and
persevere during the most stressful, exhausting and trying times to support
those in need in the community.
“When I walked through those doors I never dreamt how profoundly working
here would change my life,” she said.
“I am excited for this next chapter,” Cabebe continued. “I truly believe
MEO is in an extremely good position to move forward and take it to the
next level. That’s what you hope for as a leader. You want to see it get
better and better.
“And with Maggie (Batangan) at the helm and her team you are going to see
some amazing things happen.”
Chief Programs Officer Gay Sibonga watches a “Laverne & Shirley” tribute from Cabebe to their friendship that preceded their days at MEO. Sibonga,
who served as Cabebe’s second in command as Chief Operating Officer before taking the CPO post, and Cabebe were often referred to as Laverne and
Shirley from the old TV sitcom, though Cabebe says there is a debate about
who was who. IT Manager Guy Aguirre is also in the photo.
Chief Programs Officer Gay Sibonga watches a “Laverne & Shirley” tribute from Cabebe to their friendship that preceded their days at MEO. Sibonga,
who served as Cabebe’s second in command as Chief Operating Officer before taking the CPO post, and Cabebe were often referred to as Laverne and
Shirley from the old TV sitcom, though Cabebe says there is a debate about
who was who. IT Manager Guy Aguirre is also in the photo.
More than 150 family, friends, MEO staff, board members and partners, and government leaders packed the Maui Economic Opportunity classrooms Friday to send retiring CEO Debbie Cabebe off to retirement.