National Pacific American Leadership Institute

NAPALI fellow Makamae

Mahalo NUNUI Makamae!!
⁠
A seasoned social media HAMMAHLANI 🔨🔨 who worked extensively alongside multi-year grantee partner Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea Honolulu, Makamae Sniffen officially joined the HPF ʻohana in 2023. Her long career in indigenous community activism and organizing provided critical support to our team following the tragedy in West Maui, where her unique skill set and technological savvy maintained consistent communications with our support base.

Her role as HPF’s very first Alakaʻi Hoʻolaha (Amplification Specialist) kept our community abreast of our partnersʻ mobilization through the development of public education and amplifying content of HPFʻs work. And she did all of this REMOTELY while she’s pursuing a doctorate degree in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the same kulanui that our meʻe Haunani-Kay Trask also received her PhD from!

We are so proud and honored to continue to share space and community with her and send her our aloha as she continues to make our lāhui and her ʻohana proud on Moku Honu.

A hui hou Makamae, keep being one baddie!! We LOVE YOU!!!

Mahalo NUNUI Makamae!!
⁠
A seasoned social media HAMMAHLANI 🔨🔨 who worked extensively alongside multi-year grantee partner Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea Honolulu, Makamae Sniffen officially joined the HPF ʻohana in 2023. Her long career in indigenous community activism and organizing provided critical support to our team following the tragedy in West Maui, where her unique skill set and technological savvy maintained consistent communications with our support base.

Her role as HPF’s very first Alakaʻi Hoʻolaha (Amplification Specialist) kept our community abreast of our partnersʻ mobilization through the development of public education and amplifying content of HPFʻs work. And she did all of this REMOTELY while she’s pursuing a doctorate degree in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the same kulanui that our meʻe Haunani-Kay Trask also received her PhD from!

We are so proud and honored to continue to share space and community with her and send her our aloha as she continues to make our lāhui and her ʻohana proud on Moku Honu.

A hui hou Makamae, keep being one baddie!! We LOVE YOU!!!

Thank you Senator Jarrett Keohokalole for always making time to inspire young leaders 🙏🏾❤

Thank you for hosting us Hokulea Crew. We love you all.

Day 8: Our fellows were privileged to hear from Makanani Salā, Chief Operating Officer of Gravitas Pasifika, as she shared her experience as the Director of Operations at FestPAC Hawaii, a role that presented numerous daunting challenges. Makanani emphasized that leadership is not always straightforward, often involving uncertainty, tension, and chaos. However, she successfully navigated these challenges with the support of a remarkable core team, a dedicated group of volunteers, and funders who believed in the mission and vision of FestPAC.

Day 8 in the classroom ended with a session entitled ‘Awa Ho’oku’ikahi: A Unifying Awa, presented by Ulise Funaki, NAPALI Class of 2019, Nakia Na’ole, NAPALI Class of 2019, and Inoke Hafoka, NAPALI Class of 2017, about the ritual aspects of ‘awa (kava) in Pacific Island culture not only in formal occasions but also as a tool to mediate conflicts and/or to foster important conversations. Tēvita Ka’ili provided additional context regarding the Tongan origins of ‘awa by reciting the story or Fevanga and Fefafa, and that traditionally, according to the lore, ‘awa is always paired with sugarcane or kō (tō in Tongan). Our fellows then experienced the delightful pairing of ‘awa and kō.

Day 8: Moki and Kat Nahoi shared their inspiring story of going from drug addiction and being unhomed, to turning their lives around and went on to earn their college degrees from Leeward Community College. They have dedicated their lives to helping others to do the same. Moki and Kat are both NAPALI fellows from the Class of 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Day 8: We are so grateful for Polynesian Voyaging Society for always making time for our fellows to visit and learn about their mission and vision. Our fellows got to learn about their latest initiative, "Moananuiākea: Voyage for Earth" from Mark Ellis, and got a tour of the Hōkūle'a, Hikianalia and the Hawai'iloa, from Moananuiākea voyaging crew members, Jordan Jacobson and Lucy Lee.

While the NAPALI Leadership Course can be intense, we always make sure to schedule some time to play and relax. Mahalo Shaka's Bar & Grill in Kailua for hosting us!

Our fellows ended their visit to Windward Community College with Michelle Kamakanoenoe Tupou, Assistant Professor in the Hawaiian & Pacific Studies Program, NAPALI Class of 2012, and her husband, Misa Tupou. Both Noe and Misa have worked extensively in the film industry in Aotearoa in various capacities, and shared their experiences with our fellows.

The Hawaiian Studies Program at Windward Community College hosted the fellows and provided a tour of their facility and the adjacent Māla (garden) which provides an opportunity for WCC students to fully immerse themselves in Hawaiian cultural knowledge. Mahalo to Noe Puaauli for the tour and for sharing your 'ike on the native plants of Hawai'i and its importance to Hawaiian cultural practices and traditions.

On Day 7, our fellows spent time with Herb Lee, Executive Director, President & CEO, Pacific American Foundation, at the Waikalua Loko Fishpond to learn about his work in Environmental Stewardship and Youth Mentorship.

On Day 7, we changed up the scenery and traveled to the leeward side of O'ahu to Kāneʻohe, where our fellows were hosted by Windward Community College and the Hawaii Studies Department. “Listen to learn instead of listening to react" was just one of many gems from the first presenter of the day, Michelle Ka'uhane, Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer for Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and Trustee of Kamehameha Schools, who spoke about her lifetime work of advocating for Native Hawaiians at home and in Washington DC in her capacity as commissioner for the Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

Day 6 ended with renown illustrator, Shar Tuiasoa. Shar runs P***y Aloha Studio located in Kailua, Hawaii, and her artwork, illustrations and murals have appeared around O'ahu, and in Honolulu Magazine, Hawaii Magazine, and Hawaii Business Magazine. She's created work for the Liliuokalani Trust, Honolulu Museum of Art, Foodland, Apple, Facebook, Disney, Pixar, AT&T, Sephora, Benefit Cosmetics, and The New York Times. She's also the author and illustrator of a children's book, P***y Aloha. Shar spoke of the challenges of being one of the very few Pacific Island illustrators in the industry and how she draws strength from her cultural heritage to navigate those challenges. Shar is of Tongan descent, where her Tuiasoa family hail from Ha'akame, Tongatapu, Tonga.

Day 6: Kealani Netane, from the NAPALI Class of 2015, writes children's books and is the author of Tala Learns to Siva. She is a co-founder of Pacific Islanders in Publishing, which amplifies current Pacific Islander book creators. Kealani ran the Literary Art Exhibition Space at FestPac, recently held in Hawaii. In her presentation to our fellows, she underlined the significance of representation in literary spaces. Kealani is of Samoan and Hawaiian ancestry, and is originally from the leeward side of O'ahu where she currently resides with her family.

Day 6: We are grateful for Senator Jarrett Keohokalole for making the time to visit with our fellows to share his experience and perspective in leadership and community engagement in politics. Senator Keohokalole represents the 24th district which includes Kāne‘ohe and Kailua. He previously served in the Hawaii House of Representatives. He is also a former NAPALI fellow of the Class of 2012.

Day 6: Our fellows were fortunate to hear from Stacy Rezentes, Attorney, Pitluck Kido & Aipa, LLP, present on Hawaiian Cultural Literacy: Thriving through Biculturalism. Stacy has an extensive history of working in law, notably at Kamehameha Schools for over thirty years, with a focus on education law, historic preservation, trust law, intellectual property, and Native Hawaiian rights, legislation and land titles.

Day 6 began with Frank “Palakiko” Yagodich, NAPALI fellow Class of 2004, using valuable life lessons drawn from the upena (fishnet) to inform and shape the way we serve our communities as leaders. Palakiko is an Associate Professor of Hospitality & Tourism Education at Kapi’olani Community College.

Day 5 ended with a dinner featuring guest speaker, Dr. Faye Untalan. Dr. Untalan is a pioneer and leading expert on Chamorro Culture and diaspora in the United States and recently published the book Finu' Chamorro for Beginners, the first of its kind in the Charmorro language. Dr. Untalan recounted her remarkable story as a young girl in Guam, who faced so many obstacles and challenges—but she persisted, supported by the love and support of her family and village. She went on to attend the University of Michigan, then completed her graduate studies at the University of Southern California and the University of California at Los Angeles, where she received her doctorate in social welfare and health policy. And all while raising seven kids! In 1995, she established the Chamorro language program at the University of Hawai‘i, and today she continues to advocate for her Chamorro people and language.

Day 5: Kamana’opono Crabbe, Executive Counselor on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Affairs, Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum, presented on "Strengthening Minds and Identities: Pacific Islander Mental Health, Ethnic Identity, and Leadership."

Day 5: Amongst the many accomplishments of Judge Thomas Kaʻauwai Kaulukukui, Jr., he is also a ʻŌlohe lua practitioner. This session was a unique, interactive experience for our fellows, based on concepts of leadership in Lua (Hawaiian martial arts) and its applications in a contemporary world.

In a separate session, Judge Kaulukukui teamed up with David Burge, NAPALI Executive Board of Directors, for a session on Foundation & Building Pillars for Tomorrow.

On day 5 of the NAPALI leadership course, the day kicked off with a powerful presentation from Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, who shared her perspectives in the many leadership roles she has assumed as Kanaka 'Ōiwi on behalf of the Lāhui. Knowing your Kulana (role) & Kuleana (duty) and how to operate based on that knowledge is key to effective and impactful leadership.

Day 4 ended with a lovely dinner and conversation hosted by Dr. Taran Chun, Po'o Kula of Kamehameha Schools, in his beautiful home on the Kapālama Campus. Dr. Chun shared his perspectives on servant leadership with our fellows, and the challenges and rewards that come with his role as Po'o Kula.

"Modernize but don't westernize" is the main message of High Chief Moefa'auo Bill Emmsley in his presentation to our NAPALI fellows. In a world of competing values, our culture should be point of reference to guide us, and can be used to explain certain behaviors or codes of conduct, but never used as an excuse. Our all women cohort also had the privilege of hearing from his wife, Komiti Emmsley, who spoke of balancing her role as a high chief's wife in a contemporary world, and how they work together to serve and fulfill the cultural obligations that come with being a high chief in Samoa.

Day 4 began with a hike of Lēʻahi Head Crater (the indigenous name for Diamond Head Crater) with Joe Yoshida, NAPALI class of 2010, and a Counselor in Hawaiian Studies at Kapi’olani Community College. Because our fellows spend a majority of the leadership course in the classrooms of Kapi'olani Community College, it is important for them to learn the mo'olelo of Lē'ahi and its significance to Hawaiian people.