How a Former Felon Turned Author, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist is Building Hope for Tomorrow’s Leaders
There is something uniquely American about a comeback story and Kimberly Cano’s journey captures this sentiment. From being forced to lie face-down on the bathroom floor by the SWAT team during Thanksgiving Eve in 1996, to establishing The Aloha Jigsaw Foundation, and becoming an awarded author and real estate developer, Cano’s life appears like a masterclass for those who want to learn how to survive.
Cano says without hesitation that she was a drug addict, felon and homeless. ‘Now I am one of those who are actually making some positive impact in the world. That’s quite a miracle.’
Her straightforward approach is not only new but also revolutionary. Writing under the pen name Natasha Brune, Cano has put all experience she gained into the books which are highly appreciated by LA Tribune and International Impact, among others. But her narrative is not only on personal redemption. It is about paying it forward.
The Triangle Mission: Where Purpose Meets Action
At 55, Cano found herself trapped in the so-called “golden handcuffs”—financially secure but spiritually unfulfilled. And then her favorite mentor asked a question that was like the “penny” from heaven: “What do you really want to do with your life?”
Her answer became the Triangle Mission, a three-pronged approach combining her work as Natasha Brune, the Aloha Jigsaw Foundation, and Wazz Cleaning. Together, these ventures give a singular vision: to build a Trade and Mindset Academy in the Colorado Rockies for youths who were affected by the devastating fires in Colorado and Maui, Hawaii.
Explaining the need for funding and support to bring this dream into reality, Cano who founded the nonprofit in 2023 post Maui fires says; ‘These kids are our future leaders. They should get what it takes to change the world – mindset training and also practical knowledge on how to break their limiting beliefs.’
The trust recently acquired unoccupied land that will be leased for implementing this impactful program. It is the kind of bold step that clearly defines Cano’s life and business approach.
From Chaos to Clarity: The Making of a Mentor
Cano embarked on her journey once she walked out of her home at the age of fifteen because she could no longer handle the situation where her single mother would keep talking negatively or have limiting beliefs. What followed was an eleven year odyssey with overdoses, abuse, loss of her children and nearly her life. It nearly came to an end. She enters rehab from a six month jail stint and spends three and a half years there until she graduated successfully in 2000. While there in 1999, she lost the Founder of the Habilitat, Inc. rehabilitation facility, her brother in July, then in September, the father Bud, who raised her. She realized how precious life is and we only live once in this world.
“Life is so short,” she reflects. “You just have to do it and the universe answers you as long as you follow the laws of it.”
Since then Cano earned a 4.0 GPA with perfect attendance, gathered countless certificates in almost every possible sphere to support her career choices from private investigation, marketing to construction and developed her portfolio that now includes real estate investment, content creation and coaching for Kawaiola Life Design clients. She is public speaking again, but this time, in a much different capacity. She starts by sharing her stories that relate to topics of the conference or event and weaves in how she survived and thrived in both the streets and the professional arenas, which leads to powerful and impactful speeches, resonating with the female and entrepreneurial audiences. She co-owns a cleaning enzyme company alongside speer-heading the Aloha Jigsaw Foundation’s new location in Conifer, Colorado. She’s a family person who loves her dogs, cats and enjoys cooking and designing spaces.
The Power of Authenticity
What makes Cano different is not only her resume, but also the radical transparency she displays. “I can speak of my trauma and laugh in the same sentence,” she says. “That is powerful to others and empowering for me.”
One of the doctors at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu even addressed her by first name, letting her know that the next time they meet, she will bypass his ER and go to the morgue with a toe tag. She has brushed shoulders with death several times and lived to share her experiences, turning pain into purpose.
Today, Cano just wakes up without being told that it’s time to get up, looks at her husband and two dogs, thinks of the life she has made for herself and then smiles with gratitude. She is connected with mentors and coaches who are among the best in the world, built a team she treats with respect, and spends time with her 93 year old mother and chosen family (Ohana).
Join the Mission
The Aloha Jigsaw Foundation needs people who share the belief that everyone deserves a second chance and that young people are worth investing in. Through the Trade and Mindset Academy, Cano revised the approach in integrating the old school wisdom with contemporary skill to light up people.
“We teach, create, and enjoy the journey,” she explains. “That’s the mission.”
For more information, visit, www.wisemarie.com, www.thewiseladybug.com and www.cabindelsol.com
Or to support the Triangle Mission visit https://www.alohajigsawfoundation.org
You can contact Kimberly on social media by following these handles; @wisemarie, @kim.t.cano, and @alohajig on Instagram, and The Aloha Jigsaw Foundation on Facebook and the Real Wise Marie and The Aloha Jigsaw Foundation on YouTube.
Credits:
Photographer & Videographer: @mova.masha
Haircut: @stylistshawn
Hairstyling and Makeup: @brittnehair
Hydrafacial and additional trts by: @heavenlytouchcolorado
Nails: @perrynailsfoxfield
Hair color: @lovehaircoloranddesign
