Noelani Lee Yamashita has served as Ka Honu Momona’s Executive Director since 2005. Noelani holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Princeton University, and an M.A. in Pacific Islands Studies from the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa. Noelani was a member of the 2002 South Pacific Island Council of Leaders; a 2005 Pacific American Emerging Leader; a 2005 Weinberg Fellow; a 2007/8 Kamehameha Schools Fellow; a member of the 2009 Women Leading Change, and a 2015/16 Pacific Century Fellow. In addition she has brought in millions of dollars, thousands of volunteers and youth to Molokai, (and perhaps most importantly) she has mobilized scores of Molokai community members——to learn about ancient fish ponds, listen to the kupuna, and then roll up their sleeves and Malama ‘Aina!

Sarah has over a decade of experience in the finance/business sector ranging from customer service, office administration, bookkeeping, executive assistant, marketing/advertising at the Molokai Dispatch and including 3+years as a Client Service Specialist at an international mutual fund company, The Capital Group Companies.

Tiani Cook was born and raised on Molokai, Hawaii. She graduated from Mililani high school. Tiani met her husband Hana Cook, who volunteered his time at Ka Honua Momona. Tiani was hired as an intern at KHM from 2011-2014, she later moved to Avondale, Arizona to pursue her dreams in becoming a cosmetologist. Tiani graduated from Paul Mitchell School of Phoenix 2012. She moved backed home recently to be around her friends & family. Tiani is now back at Ka Honua Momona working alongside of Noelani & staff.

The daughter of an educator and a Hawaiian fisherman, Malia Ka’aihue believes that once you understand your foundation, and you know who you are, then you can achieve anything. In fact, she says, her foundation has been her most important asset in life. The knowledge of her family history, coupled with the belief that one continues to carry on the story of their ancestors, has given her a strong sense of identity that propels Malia to explore new ventures and recreate herself along the way. Currently, as a partner at DTL(meaning “detail”), a Hawaiian Strategy Studio, which she founded in 2013, Malia works with organizations and businesses to recognize their assets and goals while keeping Hawaiian sensibilities and sensitivities at the forefront.

Aunty Vani comes to us with a world of knowledge and experience. She was born in Ualapue, and raised in Kamalo, Molokai. She married David Ainoa Sr and has five beautiful children, and many grand and great-grandchildren. She worked for Dave’s Enterprise for 35 years. After retirement she started getting involved with several Hawaiian agencies as a way of giving back to the Molokai community. She is currently involved with several different organizations. She is the President for Kamiloloa One Ali’i Homestead, President for Ka Honua Momona, Intl, President for Kaahumanu Chapter VIII, Board President for Napu’uwai Hawaii Health system, Secretary for First Hawaiian Homestead Credit Union and Board President for Papa Ola Lokahi (Oahu). Her ambition and passion is to see younger people step up to the plate, and learn to be Pono in whatever they do.

For the past three years, Mahealani Richardson served as the director of communications and marketing for Shriners Hospitals for Children — Honolulu. Giving keiki opportunities to appear in the hospital’s award-winning local TV ads; seeing physicians honored in the community; and landing patients’ appearances on Hawaii Five-0 were just some of the highlights. While working at Shriners Hospitals, she did some moonlighting by hosting Insights on PBS Hawaii where she moderated forums for the Governor’s and Congressional races. A Kamehameha Schools alum and 2016 cohort of Pacific Century Fellows, Mahealani currently serves on the boards of Friends of Shriners and Ka Honua Momona on Molokai. She has been honored with Pacific Business News 2017 Women Who Mean Business Women to Watch.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Maryland, Manuel now calls Hawaiʻi his family's home. As an island boy, he was taught to respect the ocean and care for it since it takes care of us all. Through the Worldwide Voyage, Manuel would like to see communities around the world share their inspiring stories of how to care for our places and be inspired by the mālama honua message. Back in Hawaiʻi, he would love to see the fulfillment of the promises and pledges to mālama honua by the communities that he works with as a the Hawai‘i Community-Based Marine Program Manager with The Nature Conservancy.

Currently Kate works across education and community advancement projects in New Zeland, whilst undertaking international work with Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) and facilitating a values based indigenous leadership programme with the Advancement of Maori Opportunity (AMO). Some of Kate’s roles have included board membership on both AIO and AMO, the New Zealand Department of Conservation, and her special board role with Ka Honua Mōmona International based in Moloka’i, Hawai’i.. She is also an executive member of Te Waka Kai ora – Māori Organics Aotearoa (New Zealand) and a verifier for Hua Parakore – the indigenous verification and validation system for food and related products. Kate has a professional experience in education management and policy development, quality assurance management, Mäori language programme development, wananga (Māori tribal college) development in NZ. Internationally she is a facilitator in the Indigenous Leaders Interactive System™ (ILIS) She has been a teacher in Köhanga Reo (Mäori language immersion early childhood schools), a Mäori cultural ambassador and a performer in the traditional Mäori performing arts.

Noelani Lee Yamashita has served as Ka Honu Momona’s Executive Director since 2005. Noelani holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Princeton University, and an M.A. in Pacific Islands Studies from the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa. Noelani was a member of the 2002 South Pacific Island Council of Leaders; a 2005 Pacific American Emerging Leader; a 2005 Weinberg Fellow; a 2007/8 Kamehameha Schools Fellow; a member of the 2009 Women Leading Change, and a 2015/16 Pacific Century Fellow. In addition she has brought in millions of dollars, thousands of volunteers and youth to Molokai, (and perhaps most importantly) she has mobilized scores of Molokai community members——to learn about ancient fish ponds, listen to the kupuna, and then roll up their sleeves and Malama ‘Aina!

Uncle Bobby Alcain teaches many of Molokai's keiki (children) and opio (youth) on his farm, 'Āina Pulapula and has been caring for Lanikaula for the past 17 years (Chair of group for the last 14 years), with the group La'au Lapa'au o Molokai. Uncle Bobby Alcain has been recognized with many awards from our Molokai community over the years. When I asked Uncle Bobby what his qualifications were, he said, "Being Hawaiian and living pono on a daily basis. My qualification is I accepted the kuleana." He is quick to say that being born Hawaiian ensured he was instilled with these qualifications, but anyone who practices pono is able to learn and practice these things. "The care comes with loving Ke Akua (a greater being, everyone has their own idea of what it is) and loving yourself. Once you are able to do those things, you can extend your care elsewhere."

Mervin “Uncle Merv” Dudoit was born and raised on the island of Molokai. For over 50 years, he has fished the ocean and tidal flats around the island, handling all manner of boats, gear, and weather. He worked as a commercial diver for 18 years. Uncle Merv’s homestead land abuts Ali’i Fishpond. He is personally dedicated to restoring the fishpond - singlehandedly if he must. He is equally dedicated to involving people from all walks of life in fishpond restoration and aquaculture skills, especially local Hawaiian youth. He has worked with hundreds of volunteers over the years, and inspires virtually all of them to return. He was honored in April 2010 with a “Malama I Ke Kai “ (Take care of the Sea) award, recognized by a Maui-based marine restoration collective for his work with Ka Honu Momona and with Molokai’s youth. He is also the Aha Kiole’s (Hawaiian traditional leadership model now recognized by the state of Hawaii) elected moku (traditional Hawaiian boundary marker) representative for Kawela Moku– the largest population moku on the island of Molokai.

Aunty Vani comes to us with a world of knowledge and experience. She was born in Ualapue, and raised in Kamalo, Molokai. She married David Ainoa Sr and has five beautiful children, and many grand and great-grandchildren. She worked for Dave’s Enterprise for 35 years. After retirement she started getting involved with several Hawaiian agencies as a way of giving back to the Molokai community. She is currently involved with several different organizations. She is the President for Kamiloloa One Ali’i Homestead, President for Ka Honua Momona, Intl, President for Kaahumanu Chapter VIII, Board President for Napu’uwai Hawaii Health system, Secretary for First Hawaiian Homestead Credit Union and Board President for Papa Ola Lokahi (Oahu). Her ambition and passion is to see younger people step up to the plate, and learn to be Pono in whatever they do.

Mac Poepoe, a Native Hawaiian fisherman and a community leader on Molokai who has dedicated his life to ensuring that the ocean will be well-stocked for generations to come. Uncle Mac Poepoe has spent a lifetime putting traditional fishing practices and resource management into action on Molokai’s northern coast. And for that, he was honored last week with the 2013 Umu Kai Award. Established in 2008 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Pacific Islands Region, the award recognizes Native Hawaiian practitioners’ contributions to modern fisheries conservation.

With a Food services management and Fire science degree, Uncle Herbert is a valuable and longstanding member of the Molokai community. As kupuna ‘Ai Pono for Ka Honua Momona and with more than twenty years of experience in Hawaiian Health, Uncle Herbert has lead multiple classes based on traditional Hawaiian foods and worked with students of the Native Hawaiian Charter Schools to create healthy meals for school camps and lunches. He works with food programs primarily on Oahu and Molokai, but also throughout the state as an instructor for Kamehameha School’s Adult Education Program, as well as a developer for the Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center.

Dr. Valorie Johnson has been a valuable advocate for Native American educational efforts throughout the country. She has served as a consultant to tribes, communities, and institutions on education and human issues regarding Native American people. She served as the Director of Native American Affairs for the State of Michigan, where she was responsible for the development and implementation of the Indian Outreach Program, a program to support Native American children, families, and communities throughout the state.
Dr. Johnson also serves as a mentor to Native American student interns to assist in their personal development and to provide important on-the-job training in areas of services to Native American families. Dr. Johnson has been a valuable advocate for the tribal colleges and the American Indian College Fund. During the Fund's inaugural capital campaign, she raised several multi-million dollar grants from national foundations to support those educational efforts.