Maile Meyer is an intrepid entrepreneur whose businesses Nā Mea Hawai‘i, Native Books, and Arts & Letters provide vital support to bolster the work of Native Hawaiian makers, practitioners, artists, and writers. As a former ED of Pu‘uhonua Society, she conceived of and established key programs, including Aupuni Space, KĪPUKA, and Keanahala. She also comes from a family of generational weavers and has worked for over 20 years to weave pilina, relationships within her community.

ED Puʻuhonua Society

Emma Broderick is the third generation of women in her family to serve as ED of Puʻuhonua Society. Founded by her grandmother, Emma Akana Aluli Meyer, over 50 years ago and run for many years by her mother, Maile Meyer, Emma was raised in Kailua, Oʻahu but now calls Kalihi Valley home. She has spent the past eight years working and volunteering at various Hawai'i not-for-profits in areas of education, conservation and community-based research.

Lead Artist & Project Coordinator

Ka‘ōhua Lucas is a cultural practitioner, photographer, and community activist who resides in Hawai‘i on the island of O‘ahu in the ahupua‘a of Kalihi. With her friend, Kim Moa, she formed ‘Ōiwi Lens - a photography group dedicated to storytelling through a Native Hawaiian lens. Her commitment to the Lāhui is to uplift kūpuna wisdom and practices by sharing traditional and contemporary stories through photography and art.

Evaluation Specialist

Kuulei Freed is a wonderful story holder and story teller from Kalihi, Hawai’i. Her work as an evaluator centers around the deep connections of shared relationships between ‘āina (land) and kanaka (people), ola (health) and ea (inherent sovereignty) ka wā ma hope (the past) and ka wā ma mea (the future). Helping to uplift community narratives through various artistic and linear methods.

Logistics Coordinator

Keliiolalo-Kimiko "Lalo" Ishiki-Kalahele is a kanaka maoli born and raised in Kalihi, Honolulu. She is currently serving the people of that community at Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services as Economic Agency coordinator. Her professional and artistic focus is to empower and elevate community and personal stories by advocating for social justice rights and documentation through visual mediums such as photographs and videos.

Co-Lead Project Artist -NiuNOW

Dr. Manulani Aluli Meyer grew up on the sands of Mokapu, Kailua and Hilo Palikū of Hawaiʻi. The Aluli family is a diverse group of scholar-activists who have spent their lives in Hawaiian education, justice, land reclamation, health, cultural revitalization, arts education, prison reform, transformational economics, food sovereignty, Hawaiian philosophy and most of all, music. She is dedicated to “Niu Now” - a cultural agroforestry movement helping plant uluniu – coconut groves – throughout Hawaiʻi.

Co-Lead Project Artist -NiuNOW

Indrajit Gunasekara is a co-founder of NiuNow where his love and knowledge of the niu activates and nourishes a cultural-agroforestry-movement dedicated to the gene-banking of Hawaiian coconut diversity and the growing of uluniu – coconut groves to keep Hawaiian coconut genetic diversity alive and appreciated. Indrajit safeguards endangered niu varieties to activate cultural practices of food security, along with niu arts and knowledge to help Hawaiʻi recognize this vital and ancient ecological resource.

Lead Artists-808 Breakers

The 808 Breakers are a distinguished mixed plate of multi-disciplinary hip hop artists rooted in Hawaii. Their collective body of work spans global geographies and generational histories that revolve around creative perpetuation of hip hop’s foundational dance element, breaking. As ambassadors of culture, youth educators, global competitors and community activators, this eclectic crew strives to explore new boundaries in how this dance form is positively shared in local and global spaces alike.

Co-Lead Artist-ʻŌiwi Lens

Kim Kamaluokeakua Moa is a Kanaka Maoli photographer and photojournalist with a passion for social justice and visual storytelling through an indigenous lens. Born on Maui and raised in ʻEwa Moku, Oʻahu, she has spent the last decade documenting efforts across Hawaiʻi to mālama that which feeds our ʻohana and communities. Her work in the nonprofit sector uplifts those most impacted in her community and aims to empower them to tell their own stories.

Co-Lead Artist-Keanahala

Lise Michelle Suguitan Childers grew up in Kalihi Uka, Kona, Oʻahu and started their weaving journey in 2017 under the generous guidance of Lorna Pacheco and Mahina and Cheryl Pūkahi. Their commitment to practice has culminated in forms such as book, performance, and dream, as well as teaching and supporting foundational classes with community weaving program Keanahala. She is a book lover and incorporates modern materials such as nylon book packing straps into her weaving.

Lead Artist-Nā Maka O Ka ʻĀina

Sancia Miala Shiba Nash is a documentary filmmaker from Honuaʻula, Maui, currently based on Oʻahu. Her collaborative practice is guided by oral histories, archives, and acts of translation. Since 2020, Sancia has worked closely with Joan Lander and Hawaiʻi-based arts and culture organizations to preserve and share Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina’s work with audiences at home and abroad. Sancia is also dedicated to weaving relationships through the weaving of Hawaiian mats.