Mililani Browning
Aloha. I was born in Germany while my parents were both serving in the military. My family returned to Hilo, my father’s home town, when I was two years old. Growing up in the forests of Puna, I developed a strong love of being outdoors as a child which has continued into my adult life. At the age of 12 I started attending Kamehameha Schools at Kapalama and graduated in 2002. My time away from Hawai’i Island reinforced my love for my home and I returned to Hilo and attended the University of Hawai’i at Hilo graduating in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Agroecology. While in college I was fortunate to begin working for the ‘Ola’a-Kilauea Partnership (now the Three Mountain Alliance), a partnership between federal, state and private entities which collectively manages conservation lands. Working for this innovative partnership, I was able to learn the importance of creating healthy, collaborative working relationships to maximize resources and accomplish more than anyone can alone. In 2005, I became the coordinator of ‘Imi Pono no ka ‘Aina, the Environmental Education Program of the Three Mountain Alliance watershed partnership. Through our teacher workshops, student programs, and service learning opportunities, I was able to see some of the rarest plants, birds, marine life, and ecosystems found in Hawai’i but more importantly I was able to witness the impact which developing a relationship with Hawai’i’s native environments had on myself and our participants. Today, I work for the Hawai’i State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife as the ‘Alala Outreach Coordinator. I continue to work with others on our island to create new and exciting opportunities for our island communities to re-kindle the relationship with their homeland which was so deeply woven into the lives of our Hawaiian ancestors. And while I have so much more to see and do, each day I am truly blessed to be able to continue to learn more about this place I love so dearly, my home, Hawai’i.
Keith Chang
Aloha mai kakou. ‘O wau ‘o Keith Keli’imo’iwai Aea Chang. No Kailua O’ahu mai au.
Upon graduation from Kamehameha Schools (’89), I received a BA in Communications from Lewis & Clark College in Oregon (’93) and MBA from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa Schidler College of Business (2007). After 17 years in various positions in banking, I am currently a Land Asset Manager with Kamehameha Schools with kuleana over KS lands in Waiawa, Waiau, Kalauao on O’ahu and Maui. I reside in Kane’ohe with my wife, Lee, and my two children; my son, Kahiau and daughter ‘Auli’i.
Currently, I am on the Board for Friends of the Leeward Coast Charter School (a 501c3 that provides financial support for Ka Waihona o ka Na’auao PCS Nanakuli), Paepae o He’eia and Pa’i Foundation. Previously, I served on the boards for American Cancer Society, Aloha Council – Boy Scouts of America, Wai’anae Early Education Center, and the Wai’anae Military Civilians Advisory Council.
Dre Kalili
Aloha mai. I am DreanaLee Keanuenueonalani Kalili and my ‘ohana has strong ties to Hale’iwa, Kalihi, Maui, and our lineage is traced to Japan, Russia, Belarus, China and the Cape Verde Islands. I grew up in Pearl City, O’ahu, moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with my parents in 1991, returned to Hawaii to attend Kamehameha Schools, and after graduation, I moved to Washington, D.C. for college. In 2003, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Russian Language from The George Washington University.
After working with various tribes and Indian nations through a small lobbying and advocacy firm on Capitol Hill, I discovered both a career path and a calling. Soon after, I came home for vacation…and didn’t go back! I decided I had been away from Hawaii for too long.
In the six years I’ve been home, I have worked at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on a number of projects ranging from legislative affairs to community grants. Currently, I work closely with the Hawaiian Homes Commission to develop policy that enables our department to better serve our trust beneficiaries.
I am also active in the Hawaiian Civic Club movement as a member of the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club and the Policy & Planning Committee chair for the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. I’ve had incredible opportunities through this movement including research of Ali’i diplomatic missions to Washington, D.C., travel to Alaska, and riding in the Pa’u Queen’s unit in last year’s Aloha Festivals Parade.
Aside from work and these community activities, I am a regular apheresis donor at the Blood Bank of Hawai’i, I love Zumba, and I look for any opportunity to travel!
I am honored to be a part of this cohort and look forward to working with this amazing group of Native Hawaiian leaders over the course of the next year.
Kamuela Meheula-Naihe
Welina mai kakou,
My name is Lisa Anne Kamuela Meheula-Naihe. I am a keiki of Kona living here my entire life. I live with my ‘ohana in the ‘aina of Holualoa. I am married with two sons ages 17 and 15.
As a keiki, I spent most of my time outdoors. My parents taught me the concept of malama ‘aina at a young age. I grew up always having a garden, spending a lot of time at the ocean and in the mountains. Because of these experiences, Kona is my knowledge base where I am deeply connected to the environments around me.
I graduated from Konawaena High School in 1991 and later studied at Hawaii Community College doing 3 years of undergraduate work in Hawaiian Studies and Liberal arts. I have been working in Kona for the betterment of native Hawaiians for over 10 years. My desire to serve our people has led me to work with many knowledgeable individuals and organizations in the Hawaiian community.
Most of my work has been with youth, which has provided many exciting experiences.
I have traveled throughout the island, state and internationally to New Zealand and Europe with Hawaiian youth participating in culture exchanges and different educational activities.
Currently, I am the project manager for a youth agriculture program called Hua o Ke Ao held on the grounds of the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Kealakekua.
It is my desire to continue the practice of holistic outdoor learning, knowing, teaching and leading for the purpose of perpetuating cultural knowledge and resources.
I am honored and excited to participate as a First Nations’ Future Fellow.
Nani Pai
Mai ka moku o Keawe a hiki I ka mole o Lehua, aloha mai kakou. ‘O Adeline Kalamau Anderson ko’u makuahine a ‘o Clement Patrick Enoka ko’u makuakane. No Punalu’u, Hawai’i mai ko’u makuahine. No Kipahulu, Maui mai ko’u makuakane.
I am the muli loa, the youngest, in my ‘ohana. I have two bothers and two sisters. My ‘ohana lived in Papakolea for most of my formative years. I am married and a mother of three, two boys and a girl. I have six mo’opuna, two boys and four girls.
I graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1968, and continued at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, earning a BA in Liberal Studies (the precursor to Hawaiian Studies) in 1977. I received a MA in curriculum and instruction from Central Michigan University in 2003.
Currently, I am a fifth grade teacher at Kamehameha Schools Hawai’i where I have taught since 1996, the year the school started in Keaukaha. Prior to that, I taught third grade at Kamehameha Kapalama.
I have many interests outside of school. I love spending time with my ‘ohana, traveling with friends, reading great books, volunteering my time for different agencies, and dancing hula.
I am excited to be part of the First Nations’ Futures Program and look forward to learning and teaching, a’o aku, a’o mai with other fellows.
Davis Price
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. I am a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, where I received a Bachelor of Art degree in Hawaiian Studies, emphasis in Malama ‘Aina, in 2007. I then attended the William S. Richardson School of Law at U.H. Manoa, where I graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree and P.A.L.S. Certificate in Native Hawaiian Law in 2010.
Although I was born and raised in California, I grew up with strong ties to Hawai’i, Hawaiian culture, and the Hawaiian community. My grandmother, Esther Ku’uleinani Correa, was a hula practitioner since childhood and later became a Kumu Hula. She began teaching hula while performing with legendary entertainers and Hawaiian music composers such as Johnny Alameida and his son Pua Alameida. Upon moving to California, she immediately began doing what she knew, teaching hula, forming Halau ‘O Ku‘uleinani in San Mateo, CA. My mother, Renee Ku’uleinani Price, the youngest of seven, was called on to assist and carry on this tradition in our family.
Due to my family’s background in hula, I basically grew up in halau and was taught from a young age the importance of traditional values and kuleana associated with hula and Hawaiian culture. I decided to attend U.H. to earn my degree in Hawaiian Studies, because I knew I had a kuleana to learn more and build upon the foundation my kupuna had set for me. It became clear there, that my kuleana and passion is in our community. I decided to attend law school to gain the tools and knowledge necessary to advocate on behalf of our people and our community.
I am currently finishing a fellowship with Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law at the Richardson School of Law. My fellowship project there has been to research and design a law school course centered on the instruction of the title search process and the history and evolution of land tenure and land use law in Hawai’i.
Shanna Willing
Welina Mai Kakou! ‘O Shanna ko’u inoa. He keiki o ka ‘aina wau ma ka ‘aina ho’opulapula ‘o Ualapu’e, Moloka’i. ‘O Moloka’i ku’u one hanau a me ko’u ‘ohana kekahi. ‘O Serena Mokiao laua ‘o Otto Willing Jr. ko’u mau makua. ‘O wau ke keiki ‘elua ma ko’u ‘ohana, ho’okahi kaikua’ana a me ‘elima mau kaikunane. ‘Ekolu a’u mau keiki, ‘O Kaleohokumanaiakalani ka hiapo (8), ‘O Kamehanaokala ka waena (6), a me Kekaimanaolaakaho’opi’i ka pepe (3).
Aloha Mai. Recently, I was blessed to have returned home to Moloka’i where I currently reside on the property of my Kupuna kuakahi in Ualapu’e. After graduating from Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama Campus in 1998, I attended Chaminade University and graduated with my Bachelors Degree in 2003 in Business Management. After working in different professions and especially with the Punana Leo Program, I returned to school and graduated with my MBA in 2010 from Chaminade University. Currently, I am the Financial Director at Moloka’i Community Service Council helping to serve the community of Moloka’i.
My future vision and plans is to help the Native Hawaiian Community and give back to the community what I have been blessed to have received. I am honored to be a part of the First Nations Futures Program and look forward to this opportunity.
