YWCA Oahu’s Kepola Dudoit Named as Dress for Success® Women Who Inspire Honoree
Pictured (left to right) Bridget Llanes, Stephanie Hamano, Deniece Kitchin, Kepola Dudoit, Bettelyn Smith, Shirley Grossi
HONOLULU, HI – YWCA Oahu’s Kepola Dudoit is being recognized as one of this year’s 2025 Dress for Success® Women Who Inspire honorees. In celebration of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, the Women Who Inspire campaign honors 31 women whose stories reflect resilience, perseverance, and transformative journeys, showcasing the strength and achievements of women worldwide.
Honorees hail from 19 U.S. states and countries, including Australia, Singapore, England, Canada, and Mexico. Each day in March, their inspiring stories of courage and success will be shared by Dress for Success® Worldwide.
Amplifying these stories and championing the mission of Dress for Success is the esteemed Inspire Committee, a collective of influential voices committed to driving meaningful impact. Members include actress and long-time Dress for Success Brand Ambassador Scarlett Johansson, Shay Mitchell, Yara Shahidi, Olivia Palermo, Sunny Hostin, Whitney Port-Rosenman, Kate Young, Joe Zee, among many others.
Among this year’s honorees is YWCA team member Kepola Dudoit, who serves as the Member Services Supervisor at YWCA O‘ahu Laniākea in Downtown Honolulu. Her responsibilities include supervising the member services team, coordinating the building facility’s needs, and overseeing the Hawaii Guest Services (HGS) Program, which provides job training and support to women leaving incarceration. HGS works closely with Dress for Success Honolulu to provide clients with personal stylings, job coaching, and work experience. When not behind the desk, the former Dress for Success client works as an artist, creating intricate paper art using a technique called quilling, which involves tightly rolling and shaping paper to make various designs.
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“Dress for Success has made a tremendous impact on my life,” she said. “I have gained confidence in myself and learned skills to help me grow in the workplace. There is hope beyond measure in Dress for Success. Not only for me, but for all women.”
The Women Who Inspire campaign is part of Dress for Success’ larger mission to provide women with the support, skills, and opportunities they need to thrive both professionally and personally.
“Kepola’s recognition as an honoree highlights her dedication to both her personal growth and Dress for Success’s mission of empowering Hawaii’s unemployed and underemployed women to achieve economic independence and thrive in work and in life. We are proud of Kepola and her journey, and we stand alongside Dress for Success in recognizing the transformative power of community and opportunity for women everywhere,” said Stephanie Hamano, Economic Advancement Director at YWCA O‘ahu.
“Now more than ever, women need support, opportunity, and a community that believes in their potential,” said Michele C. Meyer-Shipp, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide. “With our global team of affiliates, we're helping unemployed and underemployed women build confidence, resilience, and pathways to brighter futures by supporting their personal and professional growth. The Women Who Inspire campaign is our largest initiative, celebrating these exceptional women and their achievements.”