Kumu Maile Naehu is a Boricua Kanaka Maoli educator, cultural arts consultant, performer, and community organizer from Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi. She is the Owner and Co-founder of Ka Hale Hoaka – School of Hawaiian Knowledge, a small ʻohana-owned business centered out of her home on Molokaʻi, and the Director of the Molokai Nui a Hina Project, a multigenerational community art initiative. She has also led numerous projects in Hawaiian music, performance, and the arts. In 2023, she earned a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award (Hawaiʻi’s Grammy) for the album Hoʻokupu – A Hip Hop Anthology of Hawaiian History.

As most refer to her, Kumu Maile is the Program Director for Hui o Kuapā, 501c3, which restores ancient Hawaiian fishponds and creates educational experiences for students of all ages. As a cultural practitioner, she has represented Hawaii as a delegate in the World Wilderness Congress- Spain, a presenter for WIPCE(World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education), and served as a Hawaiian cultural consultant and policy builder for ocean conservation with Taiatea-Aotearoa, a partnership with The World Wilderness Federation.  Her storytelling has been shared in museums, classrooms, on stages, in news stories, and in publications.

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As a Hawaiian Cultural Arts educator and consultant, Kumu Maile specializes in designing innovative learning experiences rooted in traditional philosophies and practices such as moʻolelo (oral tradition), ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), hula, and oli (chant). She integrates these elements into her teaching to build communication skills, self-confidence, and cultural grounding in her students, nurturing a new generation of storytellers and leaders.

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Together with her husband, she performs as The Paniolo Prince and Queen Maile, blending oli with contemporary hip hop, reggae, and pop rhythms to share Hawaiian history, values, and stories with audiences of all ages.

For the last 24+ years Hanohano Naehu has been a Kia’i Loko, a fishpond guardian on the island of Molokaʻi, Hawaii. He is the caretaker of this environment in which he restores an aspect of Hawaiian Aquaculture: a traditional, sustainable, ocean fishpond that itself presents other opportunities for creativity through the healing Arts, Sciences, and feeling Spirituality. Hano, as he is referred to, is also a community educator, teaching ancient concepts in land stewardship and resource management. His ocean conservation work has allowed him to represent and be a voice for Hawaii and indigenous Pacific islanders alike. Hanohano is also the director for Hui o Kuapā 501c3, a non-profit that began in 1989 with the mission to restore Loko i’a or Hawaiian fishpond. As an avid activist and artist for Aloha ‘Āina he translates his passions through hip hop and lyrical messages under his MC name The Paniolo Prince. Together with Maile Naehu they have three keiki, all of which are bi-lingual English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi speakers.

Kapili is our Creative Media Producer and one of our Kumu Kōkua, playing an integral role in both educational and creative aspects of our programs. They contribute to curriculum design, ensuring that learning materials are engaging, culturally relevant, and effective. With their expertise in illustration and digital media, they bring lessons to life through visually compelling graphics and multimedia content. In addition to their creative contributions, Kapili also helps facilitate small group sessions in beginner ʻōlelo (Hawaiian language) tutoring, providing guidance and support to learners as they develop their language skills. Their diverse talents and dedication make them a valuable part of our team.

Kahale is our Production Manager, ensuring the seamless execution of all aspects of our media projects. He provides technical support during filming, handling equipment setup, troubleshooting, and ensuring high-quality audio and visuals. Beyond production, Kahale plays a vital role in the development of Hawaiian language and cultural curriculum, contributing his knowledge and expertise to create meaningful and authentic educational content. He is also actively involved in post-production, assisting with video editing, sound design, and finalizing content for distribution. Additionally, Kahale supports our social media efforts, helping to share our work with the community and engage audiences through digital platforms. His technical skills and cultural insight make him an invaluable member of our team.

Sonja is our Multimedia Designer. She assists in designing graphics, books, merchandise, and other assets. She always had a passion for art, exploring different mediums including painting, digital, and packaging. Her approach to design is informed by the Native Hawaiian knowledge of preserving the land, and she believes that we need to design for future generations. Through education and aloha ʻāina, she uses what she has learned to increase awareness of the cultural and social impact that art can have in this world.

’Ilikea plays a key role in bringing stories to life through both visual and auditory storytelling. She provides engaging narration for videos, ensuring clear and compelling delivery that enhances the audience’s experience. Additionally, she creates original illustrations that complement and enrich the visual storytelling process. Whether through voice or art, ’Ilikea’s work helps convey messages in a captivating and immersive way.

'Īmaikalani Winchester is currently working on his Ph.D. in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Critical Hawaiian Pedagogy. He has been an educator for the past 18 years at Hālau Kū māna Public Charter School. 'Īmaikalani is a well-known and respected leader in our community and has made a tremendous impact in helping educate our youth for the past two decades. He is the co-organizer of Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea - Honolulu (LHE-H) and a father of three keiki.

Dr. Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua a professor of political science department at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she teaches Hawaiian and Indigenous politics. Noelani’s commitment to Hawaiian education spans the last two decades; she is a co-founder of Hālau Kū Māna public charter school and an active board member of the Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy. Noelani is an award-winning teacher, who was recognized in 2019 with the UH Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching and the Dr. Amefil Agbayani Faculty Diversity Enhancement Award. Noelani’s research has involved documenting and analyzing Hawaiian social movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her books include The Seeds We Planted: Portraits of a Native Hawaiian Charter School, A Nation Rising: Hawaiian Movements for Life, Land and Sovereignty, and Nā Wāhine Koa, a collaboration with activist women elders who played key roles in catalyzing the contemporary Hawaiian movement. Poetry and music bring her joy. As co-organizer of Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea - Honolulu (LHE-H), Noelani works to weave these arts into the free, public educational events that comprise the annual month-long LHE-H series

Leiʻa is our Marketing Manager, leading the charge in developing and executing strategic marketing initiatives to expand our reach and engagement. She oversees the planning and implementation of marketing campaigns, ensuring that our message resonates with our audience across various channels. With expertise in social media management, she creates and curates compelling content that drives community engagement and brand awareness.