Conference Session Speakers

Jane grew up and still lives in Kahalu'u, Ko'oalupoko, O'ahu.  She has 23 years of experience working in natural resource management caring for rare Hawaiian species and managing invasive species. She enjoys reading, crafting, botanizing while hiking (aka, walking slow to look at plants), spending time with her 'ohana, and experiencing new places, which offer new perspectives and knowledge.

Organization/Affiliation:  Army Natural Resources Program on O'ahu/Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation

He ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani Mai Au- Exploring ʻĀina-Based Learning, SEL, and Resilience Through Native Plants

ʻO Hawaiʻi ke kahua o ka hoʻonaʻauao

Bella Finau-Faumuina is from the ahupuaʻa of Kalihilihiolaumiha, in the ʻili ʻāina of Mokauea, the last fishing village located on Oʻahu. She is dedicated to sharing indigenous, restorative practices throughout our pae ʻāina. Bella is an educator who is passionately, committed to co-creating learning spaces that are steeped in ʻike Hawaiʻi, ʻike kūpuna, igniting joy, belonging, kuleana, excellence, aloha, and wellbeing with kumu, haumāna, and ʻohana.

Organization/Affiliation:  Office of Hawaiian Education

I Ka Wā Ma Mua, Ka Wā Ma Hope: Empowering Educators to Foster Culturally Responsive Classrooms

Dr. Kēhau Glassco is a kupa of ʻĀhuimanu, Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu, and a dedicated native Hawaiian educator. As a long-time advocate for Hawaiian Culture-Based Education (HCBE), she believes in fostering environments where haumāna (students) thrive through a deep connection to their culture, language, and sense of place. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa, Dr. Glassco's academic and professional journey has focused on integrating aloha ʻāina into modern educational frameworks.

Currently serving as the interim Poʻokumu (Principal) of Kamehameha Middle School - Kapālama, Dr. Glassco continues to inspire haumāna and kumu (teachers) alike by promoting educational approaches that honor indigenous knowledge and cultural empowerment. With a passion for lāhui building, she is also committed to professional development for kumu, emphasizing the importance of pilina (relationships) and a collaborative, culturally grounded learning environment.

Organization/Affiliation:  Kamehameha Schools Kapālama

Kaialiʻi Kahele is the former U.S. Representative for Hawaiʻi’s 2nd Congressional District. Before serving in Congress, he served in the Hawaiʻi State Senate, representing his hometown of Hilo. Kai is a combat veteran, pilot, and Lt Colonel in the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard, where he holds a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. Additionally, Kai is a commercial airline pilot for Hawaiian Airlines. His ʻohana comes from Miloliʻi in South Kona, and his daughters attend Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. In August 2024, Kai was elected to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as the Hawaiʻi Island Trustee. He will assume office on November 6th.

Organization/Affiliation: Office of Hawaiian Affairs 

Organization/Affiliation:  ʻAha Pūnana Leo/Awaiaulu

Kaipo Leopoldino was born and raised on Hawai’i island and curreAntly resides on O’ahu. He is a proud graduate of the Kamehameha Schools - Kapālama campus as well as Chaminade University of Honolulu. Currently, he teaches ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian history at Saint Louis School where he has held numerous additional duties in the past 8 years. In addition to his vocation as an educator, he sits on the Board for the Kalihi-Palama Culture and Arts association and dances for Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua. He is a seasoned master of ceremonies, having been called on to Emcee numerous events across our Hawai’i Pae ʻĀina. His love for his culture, his people, and his community helps to guide his endeavors. 

Organization/Affiliation:  St. Louis School

ʻO Hawaiʻi ke kahua o ka hoʻonaʻauao

Kuʻuleialohapoinaʻole was born and raised in Kaimukī and now resides in Waimānalo.  She has over 20 years experience in implementing Hawaiian culture based education as a Hawaiian language teacher, designing and implementing Hawaiian culture based professional development for teachers and leaders and is currently a limahana with the DOE Office of Hawaiian Education in the Hawaiian Studies Program.

Organization/Affiliation:  Office of Hawaiian Education

L. LiʻiPiʻilani Stevens Nāhiwa is a kupa of Waiākea, Hilo, and is currently affiliated with the William S. Richardson School of Law and Kawaihuelani Hālau ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

Organization/Affiliation:  William S. Richardson School of Law and Kawaihuelani Hālau ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

ʻO Hawaiʻi ke kahua o ka hoʻonaʻauao

Karen Nakasone was born and raised in Honolulu and currently calls Kāneʻohe home.  She was a high school social studies teacher for 14 years, a state Social Studies resource teacher, and a Hawaiian Studies resource teacher before becoming one of the Educational Specialists in the Hawaiian Studies Program.

Organization/Affiliation:  Office of Hawaiian Education

Manager and operator of a 3 acre Hawaiian agricultural complex on family owned kuleana land. Develop and implement bilingual cultural and ag education program focused on organic loʻi kalo cultivation, diversified crop production, native plant and animal habitats, and water resource management. (Pre-K – College) Manage farm budget, finances and assets. Write and execute grants for farm education programs. Coordinate, teach and supervise field trips, service learning projects, and internships. Restore and monitor native habitats which include plants, animals, insects and bird species. Produce value added products for sale within the community such as Waikapū Poi™, paʻi ʻai, kūlolo, and ʻulu flour.

Organization/Affiliation:  Kamehameha Schools Maui

Ke‘alohi Reppun is a kupa of Koʻolaupoko O‘ahu. She is a graduate of Waiāhole Elementary, Punahou School, UH Hilo's-Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani, and UH Mānoa‘s College of Education. Keʻalohi is the director of Kuaihelani Learning Center for ‘Ike Hawai’i at Punahou School, a co-founder of the non-profit org. Kauluwao, Inc., and an independent contractor focused on providing ʻIke Hawaiʻi focused PD and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi translation services.

Organization/Affiliation: Punahou School

Kauʻi Sai-Dudoit is a life-long student of Hawaiʻi’s history and was the Director of the Hawaiian newspaper project, Hoʻolaupaʻi. She has been the Programs Director of Awaiaulu since 2011 and guides the progress of Awaiaulu’s various projects that bridge Hawaiian knowledge from the past to the present by creating bi-lingual educational opportunities for today's generation.

Organization/Affiliation:  Awaiaulu, Inc.

He ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani Mai Au- Exploring ʻĀina-Based Learning, SEL, and Resilience Through Native Plants

Jess Sobocinski is an educator and researcher living in the ahupuaʻa of Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi Island. Originally from Portage, Indiana, she discovered her passion for education through work in food hubs, where she saw the potential of community gardens to foster  healing and address social inequality. After serving as a garden kumu at Hōnaunau Elementary and earning her K-6 teaching license through Kahoʻiwai, Jess has worked in farm-to-school programs across Hawaiʻi Island for over a decade. As a graduate student in the MEd CS STEMS² program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, her research focused on using Hawaiʻi-specific food, agriculture, and natural resource management themes to promote social justice education in elementary schools, empowering students to recognize and address injustices while developing empathy and resilience. Jess is back at Hōnaunau Elementary, serving as a first-grade general education teacher!

Organization/Affiliation:  Center for Getting Things Started

Born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu, Melani grew up with a deep love and appreciation for the 'āina that sustained her. By participating in conservation at a young age, she learned that with that love came a responsibility to care for the land and to teach others to do the same. Hawaii has been her home throughout her educational career and she intends to keep it that way. Today she works as an outreach and education specialist with the Ko'olau Mountains Watershed Partnership where her goal is to make the world a better place and inspire others to do the same.

Organization/Affiliation:  Ko'olau Mountains Watershed Partnership