Makanani is the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts. She has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and is ABD in the History department of the University of California – Irvine. She became a Kumu Hula in 2016 through the traditional practice of ʻūniki ʻailolo. Makanani is also an educator, having taught Hawaiian history, mythology, hula, and ʻōlelo at both the secondary and tertiary levels. Makanani’s ʻohana comes from Nāhiku, Maui and Kalaoa, Hawaiʻi, but she was born and raised in Hālawa, Oʻahu.  

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#kumu #hula #olelo #hawaiianhistory

As Ka Pounui of ‘Aha Kāne Foundation for the Advancement of Native Hawaiian Males, Keola oversees the executive direction of this statewide non-profit organization. He is responsible for ‘Aha Kāne providing wellness conferences, programmatic interventions, and leadership training to empower kāne (males) to connect with culture, traditional practices, and kuleana to build a stronger ʻohana. The most current program of ʻAha Kāne is ʻAha ʻOhana: Kapu Ka Hāloa that recognize the universal core of society: the family unit. This program is to acknowledge the foundation of a thriving family to have healthy communication, strong relationships, and a sense of identity that positively influences the social determinants of health and well-being among all members of the ʻohana.  In 2002 Keola envisioned and founded Hui Mauli Ola a non-profit organization established to address and rebuild the traditional healing arts of the Native Hawaiian people. As Executive Director from 2002 to 2013, his approach was unique and unforeseen in addressing the self-determination of a marginalized people and practices through the means of traditional healing.    Studying for years under Alva Andrews, Roxanne Bertelmann, Mālia Craver, George Holokai, Alapaʻi Kahuʻena, Ken Kamakea and other experts, Keola has built his knowledge in lomilomi, hoʻoponopono, lāʻau lapaʻau, hula and lua. As a learning practitioner for many years, he was asked by his kumu to begin teaching on his own which started in 2001. Ka Pā o Lonopūhā, The Academy of Native Hawaiian Healing Traditions has graduated five cohorts of students (52 graduates total) over the past several years and continues to grow. As of 2021, Keola has started an ʻōpio class under Ka Pā o Lonopūhā.   Keola’s career objective is to conduct integrated programs leading to meaningful community contributions with impact for the Native Hawaiian community.  

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#ohana #nativehawaiian

Twinkle Borge is the leader of Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae, a village of 250 people living unhoused on State land adjacent to the Waianae Boat Harbor. She has organized her village into a powerful asset for the wider community that offers safety, healing, and purpose to people who've lost their housing. POW residents serve Waianae in a variety of ways, including conducting regular cleanups all across the Waianae Coast, feeding and clothing residents of other houseless encampments, and distributing back to school supplies each year to both houseless and housed families in need. In 2018, Twinkle and others led an effort to defend the village from the threat of State eviction, then spent the next year and a half raising funds to purchase land that the village could relocate to. In 2020, Twinkle and the village completed the purchase of 20 acres in Waianae Valley for their permanent home, and are now working on construction. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of Hui Aloha.  

James Koshiba -  In 2015, frustrated by the explosion of homelessness in Hawaii, and dwindling compassion for those on the street, James pitched a tent in a large urban encampment and forged relationships with people experiencing homelessness. He later became a supporter and student of Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae, a self-organized village of more than 250 people living unhoused at the Waianae Boat Harbor.  Through these relationships, he began to understand homelessness as a problem of severed connections with place and community.  He co-founded Hui Aloha, to demonstrate how re-building community with those who are marginalized is key to solving some of our most persistent social problems, including homelessness. Today, Hui Aloha partners with people on the street to launch service projects in their communities, reconnecting them with housed neighbors, and help both housed and unhoused people find healing and purpose together. HA is now working to build affordable homes for those who cannot afford housing in Hawaii, which has the largest gap between housing costs and wages of any state in the nation.  Prior to Hui Aloha, James co-founded and was Executive Director of Kanu Hawaii, which worked to build movement for sustainability. He was born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii and spent several years on the continent earning degrees from Brown University and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.   

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#Waianae #homeless #hawaiihousing

Aloha! My name is Kauiokalani Kauh, or I go by Kaui Kauhi. Born and raised in Waimānalo Hawaiian homestead. I’m married to my intermediate 7th grade sweetheart Kahealani Kauhi and we have 3 beautiful children Teah, Tanaiah, and Tanoah Kauhi.   Growing up for me was very hard. My grandmother raised all of her grandchildren which was over 20 of us in a 3 bedroom 1 bath. Barely passing elementary, intermediate & high school. I was also in special ed. After graduating from high school, I turned to be a professional athlete in boogie boarding and won state and national titles.   After doing that for some years I went on to do some modeling, acting & stunt work for Hollywood. Starting my entrepreneurship about 10 years ago and now owning a couple companies Just to name a few Aloha Alkaline & Waikoko coconut water. I love the Beverage industry.   My biggest accomplishment out of everything is my Kaui Kauhi Malama Keiki event that has been going on for over 15 years in my community and my school supplies give back. I also have a fouroneboxing troubled youth program in the Waimanalo homestead that just started 8 months ago.  

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#waimanalo #AlohaAlkaline #homestead

Ke Aloha Nui, My name is Kimeona Kane, son of Shadrach Hussey and Sunday Ann Kane, grandson to Victor Kane and Wanda Lemn.  Born and raised in the comfort of Waimānalo where I still am blessed to reside.  Graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama Campus, Uhau Humu Pōhaku Practitioner under the direction of Kumu Kinohi Pizarro, Aloha ʻĀina in as many ways as possible, Humble Kumu, Proud Haumana.  Spent 16 years in the Restaurant industry as a General Manager before making the life changing decision to perpetuate Hawaiʻi by means of stewardship, conservation and preservation of our people, places and practices.  Advocate and Community Leader, Waimānalo Mau A Mau.  

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#alohaaina #outreach #808 #MalamaAina

Shawn Kekoa Pimental is a 5-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner and Grammy Nominated Music Producer and Artist. He has produced records for Kealii Reichel, Lehua Kalima, Na Palapalai, Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole, Na Leo Pilimehana, Kainani Kahaunaele, Justin Young, Chad Takatsugi, Three Plus, Rebel Souljahz and many more.

Shawn has also composed and produced music for Mike Post, Disney and other Award-Winning shows. He has also toured the world as a Musical Director and Band Member for many other artists, sharing the stage with Janet Jackson, Colbie Caillat, Maxi Priest, Steel Pulse, America and Jack Johnson. Shawn has worked with just about every well known Musician and Award Winning Kumu Hula in Hawaiʻi. He has produced shows for many venues, corporate events, concerts and cruise ships. Shawn also owns the award winning record label KOOPS2 Entertainment and co-owns Studio Ala Moana.

With 23 years of experience as a nonprofit business administrator, Kelly McHugh-White specializes in the advancement of conservation, arts and cultural programs that leverage community engagement in order to strengthen visibility, credibility, and investment. A New York native, she joined the Maui community in 2008 to administer the marketing, fundraising and youth arts programs at Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center followed by a 5-year tenure as Public Information Specialist for the State of Hawaiʻi, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission and an additional 2 years as Director of Marketing & Development for Pacific Whale Foundation. She has consulted for the County of Maui, Maui Redevelopment Agency, Spellbound Theatre, Coral Reef Alliance, Edible Hawaiian Islands, the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Merwin Conservancy and Art Maui, among others. She currently serves as Board Member for Adaptations Dance Theater and Nā Koa Manu Conservation, Inc.; Manager of County of Maui’s SMALL TOWN * BIG ART creative placemaking program; Principal of Little Rhinoceros LLC; and Founding Director of Maui Public Art Corps. Her work in outreach and fund development earned her a fellowship with the Ka Ipu Kukui program in 2016 and nomination as one of Hawaii’s most influential leaders, awarded a 40 Under 40 designation in 2018.

Nate serves as the President & Executive Director of Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi, overseeing all operations for the state. The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi’s (JCCH) mission is to be a vibrant resource, strengthening our diverse community by educating present and future generations in the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i.

Before returning to the JCCH, Nate served at the President & Executive Director of Junior Achievement of Hawaii, an impact organization that inspires and empowers Hawaii’s youth to be successful in today’s global economy. He also served as Director of Sustainability Initiatives for Kupu, a nonprofit organization serving Hawaii's youth. There, he oversaw the organization's Sustainability Initiatives internship, the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps (HYCC) Summer, HYCC Community, Kupu Culinary, Pacific Resiliency Fellowship, and the Hawaii Youth Sustainability Challenge programs which impacted more than 170 young adults annually.

Nate also served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Programs for the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii in 2015 and also held the position of President for the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce in 2012. Nate also has extensive private in the technology, food manufacturing, and facilities management industries.

Nate is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and is also a graduate of Waiakea High School on the island of Hawaii. He is also a member of the U.S.-Japan Council's Emerging Leaders Program.

Kamuela "Kamu" Kauhane is from the beautiful town of Nanakuli on the Island of O’ahu. Nanakuli holds a special place in his heart as this is the town where not only he was born and raised, graduated but is now an Educational Assistant at a local elementary school. In his younger years Kamuela has been a part of the town's paddling team, played baseball, football and even had boxing lessons. Though sports are not a current passion of his, there’s no saying he isn’t well versed. Nowadays, Kamuela would be considered a social media enthusiast. He used his wit and sense of humor to gain a wide spread of followers. You may already know his catchy phrase, “Aloha, Aloha, Aloha!” which he uses at the beginning of every video he posts on his social media accounts. Kamuela has a passion for helping people and uses social media to reach his audience from every walk of life. Kamuela has pretty much seen or done it all, even down to his recent attributes of being a pa’u rider, a pageantry judge and a well known emcee

Sue Eldredge and her daughter Kelina Eldredge have both been professionally dancing Hula and Tahitian since they were young. Sue currently owns Aloha Hula Supply with the help of Kelina acting as the store manager. They provide Hula, Tahitian, Maori, Samoan & Tongan costumes, supplies, accessories and artificial lei. They also have a new Polynesian online platform featuring how to videos, talk story sessions, business highlights, etc. Sue has been teaching Polynesian dance workshops for almost 20 years and currently teaches at Aloha Hula Supply where they also offer dance workshops. Kelina was named Miss Aloha Hula 2017 and has performed for a variety of production companies including Magic of Polynesia.