Kuʻikahi
Consortium

Ka‘iulani Laehā is the chief executive officer of the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo. She joined the organization in 2018 to occupy a newly-created executive leadership role to guide the organization’s strategic growth. Ka‘iulani is leading the organization to sustain and expand its foundational program, the Pūnana Leo preschools, and create innovative platforms to further normalize ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in our daily lives. Kaʻiulani’s role builds on her previous experience as executive director of the Pacific Links Hawaiʻi Foundation, as well as her role as the development manager for Kupu, one of Honolulu’s most distinguished nonprofits.

Dr. Kauanoe Kamanā is the Principal of Hawaiʻi’s flagship K-12 Hawaiian medium school, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalanipʻōpuʻu. She is also an Associate Professor at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Kauanoe is a founding member, and the current President, of the ʻAha Pūnana Leo. As a teacher and administrator, she works with students, teachers and families to re-establish the vibrancy of Hawaiian language and culture in Hawaiʻi. Kauanoe believes that we all have a role in carrying the legacy of the Hawaiian language into the future.

Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa is the Director of the Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Dr. Kawaiʻaeʻa holds a doctorate from Union Institute & University, a Professional Diploma in Elementary Education from Chaminade University, a Master of Education degree in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and a BA in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Kawaiʻaeʻa serves on the Native Hawaiian Education Council, and she is a founder of Ulukau, The Hawaiian Electronic Library.

Amy Kalili is the director of Mokuola Honua and a Hawaiian language advocate. She has played various roles in the Hawaiian language movement over the past 25+ years from university lecturer and immersion teacher to Executive Director of ʻAha Pūnana Leo and even the Host of ʻĀhaʻi ʻŌlelo Ola, the first and only Hawaiian language news broadcast aired on Hawaiʻi’s CBS-affiliate. This wide-range of experience and exposure has afforded Amy unique insight into opportunities and strategies for indigenous language normalization that she is applying to the development of Mokuola Honua.

Ka’iu Kimura is the Executive Director of the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai’i. In collaboration with Dr. Larry Kimura, she has developed much of the Hawaiian cultural content on display at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. She plays an integral role in developing the mission of the Center as well as cultivating and advocating for community engagement in the continuance of astronomical research, while ensuring the integrity and integration of the Hawaiian language and culture.