Trini Kaopuiki, co-host of KHON2’s “Living 808” lifestyle show, will soon depart the television station to start a new chapter as the head of a local nonprofit organization.

Kaopuiki, 45, has accepted a position as president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish Hawaii, effective Jan. 30.

“I am so excited about this next chapter. … It’s a wonderful organization. It’s something that I’m really passionate about,” she said during a phone interview Monday.

Her last day at KHON2 is Jan. 18. She has been with the station for 19 years.

Every year, approximately 100 keiki are diagnosed with a critical illness. Kaopuiki said she looks forward to joining the organization’s dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers to grant wishes to keiki and more than 1,200 visiting children. “It’s a meaningful job and something that I’m really excited to be a part of.”

Kaopuiki succeeds former president and CEO Siana Hunt, who left the organization in August after seven years with the organization.

Todd Apo, board chairman of Make-A-Wish Hawaii, said, “Trini is a dynamic and accomplished strategic thinker with extensive experience serving, working and communicating with our Hawaii community.”

“The board unanimously felt that Trini was the perfect fit to lead Make-A-Wish Hawaii into its next chapter. After 35 years growing our presence within our island communities, we are eager to see Trini guide us toward realizing our vision of granting life-changing wishes to every eligible child in the state of Hawaii,” he said.

Born and raised on Maui, Kaopuiki, who was crowned Miss Hawaii in 1999, attended Loyola Marymount University and transferred to the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism.

She joined KHON2 in 2000 as a weather anchor. In 2015 she became co-host of “Living 808,” Hawaii’s first daily show, with Taizo Braden and with John Veneri in 2017.

“That really allowed me to show the fun side of me and work with different clients and showcase different products,” Kaopuiki said. “It really was a dream job, and now I feel blessed to be moving to another dream job.”

Over the years, she has been involved with nonprofit groups that include Special Olympics Hawaii, Hospice Hawaii and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. She currently serves on the board of Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Since 2008 Kaopuiki has led KHON2’s Laulima Giving Program, an organization that provides assistance to needy families during the holiday season.

She is married to Sean Clark, an attorney with Hawaiian Telcom. The couple have an 11-year-old son, Kala, and 14-year-old daughter, Malie.

In an emailed statement, KHON2 General Manager Kristina Lockwood said, “Trini has been a tremendous asset here at KHON for the last nearly 20 years, and we are so proud to see her move on to such an important role in our community. Make-A-Wish is an amazing, meaningful organization, and I know Trini will do a great job leading them and providing support for families in our state. Trini will be sorely missed both personally and professionally. Her role at KHON goes far beyond her position as co-host for Living808. She has led our Laulima Giving Program for many years and has worked closely with all departments.”