Debra Luning, who graduated from the UH Mānoa College of Education with a BEd in Secondary Education, was bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Weed and Seed Hawaiʻi. She was honored during their 7th Annual Legacy Luncheon on November 14, 2025.
The mission of Weed and Seed Hawai‘i, a community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, is to bring people and resources together to reduce crime through law enforcement, community engagement, social and economic revitalization, neighborhood beautification, and investment in the future of our youth.
After earning her degree in 1975, Luning was offered a position in the school where she was student teaching. Instead, she decided to focus on providing housing opportunities for Hawai‘i’s residents, working for the State Legislature’s House Housing Committee and the Hawai‘i Housing Authority. This eventually led to her present position at Gentry Homes, Ltd. where she serves as Director of Governmental Relations and Community Relations.
“Though my impact on youth has not been through teaching in the classroom, per se, the Lord has allowed me to make a difference in the schools and keiki in our community through my job at Gentry and my involvement with nonprofit community organizations,” Luning said.
Luning has worked for decades to support area schools and the ʻEwa community. She has been an active volunteer for organizations, including the Hawai‘i Home Ownership Center, Youth for Christ Hawaiʻi, and Weed & Seed Hawai‘i. An inaugural member of Holomua Elementary School’s community council, Luning is currently working on dedicating five acres of Gentry-owned land to the Department of Education for the expansion of the school, leaving a legacy of positive community service.
