Donor Spotlight: Alysha Nichols-Sparkman
Alysha Nichols-Sparkman, Realtor, Equity One Real Estate
Alysha Nichols-Sparkman is a Maui-based Realtor with Equity One Real Estate, known for her aloha spirit and long-standing dedication to the local community. Originally from Texas, she moved to Hawai‘i in 1993 and has been serving the islands ever since—both as a top-producing real estate professional and a passionate advocate for causes close to her heart. In addition to her work in real estate, Alysha and her husband Sidney co-founded SGS Hawaii, a resort-focused landscape management company that was recently acquired by Brightview Landscape Services. Her love for Maui shows up not only in the homes she helps clients find, but in the way she gives back to the place she calls home.
Over the years, Alysha has become a trusted and beloved member of the Pacific Cancer Foundation ‘ohana. From her time on the board of directors to her heartfelt fundraising alongside Sidney and her generous visibility efforts through Good to be HOME magazine, Alysha has helped amplify our mission in countless meaningful ways.
Her connection to PCF began with a spark of inspiration from Kimokeo Kapahulehua, founder of Paddle for Life. “His aloha, dedication to the event, and fundraising to support our Maui Nui Cancer Community are contagious,” she says. That inspiration soon turned into years of paddling, organizing, and advocating on behalf of loved ones touched by cancer.
Paddle for Life is PCF’s signature annual fundraiser: a 36-mile roundtrip canoe voyage between Maui and Lānaʻi that brings together hundreds of paddlers, volunteers, and cancer survivors in an unforgettable show of solidarity and strength. Blending traditional Hawaiian voyaging with heartfelt purpose, the event raises critical funds for cancer support services across Maui County. Registration for our 16th Annual Paddle for Life opens next week—stay tuned!
Sidney and Alysha at Paddle for Life in 2022
“We have had so many family members and friends touched or taken by cancer,” Alysha shares. “Paddle for Life gave us a positive way to support, honor, and remember those we love, who have overcome, and those that we have lost.”
Even in years they couldn’t paddle, Alysha and Sidney have remained committed to raising awareness and funds. As someone deeply woven into Maui’s fabric—both professionally and personally—Alysha understands the power of connection. “Your organization fills many pukas left outside of the conventional health care system, insurance, and those who lack support from an ‘ohana,” she says.
That understanding is rooted in personal experience. Years ago, when a flood in Texas destroyed her family’s home, Alysha witnessed firsthand what community care can look like. “More people jumped in to help us clean up and rebuild over the next year than anyone could imagine. Many of those angels we barely knew. It was then that we learned the importance of community and wholeheartedly embrace each opportunity to give back.”
It’s a spirit of gratitude and service she’s carried with her ever since. “We depend on PCF to malama those we love,” she says. “Cancer is a beast that consumes far too many people.” That’s why she continues to show up—for her friends, for her neighbors, and for Maui’s greater cancer ‘ohana.
One memory that stands out is her first Paddle for Life crossing to Lānaʻi in 2016. “Making that crossing was challenging and exhilarating, and could not have been done without team support. PCF is the necessary team for our cancer community.”
When asked what she would say to someone thinking about getting involved, Alysha’s message is clear: “Jump in! There are so many ways to contribute and so much need.”
From the ocean to the office, Alysha Sparkman brings heart, generosity, and unwavering dedication to everything she does. We are honored to share her story—and deeply grateful for the light she continues to bring to our community.
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