From Left to Right: Pua Kauila, Mike Hanapi, Keomailani Von Gogh, Nona Beamer, Claire Duvauchelle (guests), Kapua Spencer and Hiko'ula Hanapi

KHF Board of Directors Biographies

Hiko'ula Hanapi: President

Hiko'ula Hanapi is an educator, having spent over twenty years teaching in the public school system, as well as private and government non-profit education programs throughout the State of Hawai'i. He has taught K-12 and community adult educational programs in areas of horticulture, ethnobotany, Hawaiian Natural history, Hawaiian culture, sovereignty and the arts. He is an accomplished artist who uses contemporary media to express his ideas and further the education process about Hawai'i's past, present and future. Hanapi's art has been widely exhibited throughout Hawai'i. He is one of the founders of the Keomailani Hanapi Foundation. Email the President.

Pualani Kauila: Vice President

Pualani is a native Hawaiian born and raised on Lana'i. She currently resides in Honolulu, O'ahu. She is a member of the Hale o Na Ali'i Hawaiian civic club, and a teaching assistant at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa campus in the Kamakakukalani Center for Hawaiian Studies. She received her Master's degree in Pacific Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa in 2005. She has been a great supporter of the KHF for many years as a volunteer. As of July 10, 2004 Pualani has become a member of our Board of Directors as our new Vice President. Email the Vice-President.

Mike Hanapi: Treasurer

Mike Hanapi was an Operational Specialist in the Federal Government for the Federal Aviation Administration for 26 years, as an Air Traffic Controller Journeyman, Training Specialist and 1st and 2nd level Supervisor, and lastly as a staff level Regional Advisor to 3 air traffic facilities in the Pacific region. Mike also spent 10 years with the State of Hawai'i Department of Transportation as an Assistant Airport Superintendent performing safety, permittees, property management and contract administration. His last 9 years to date have been as a sole proprietor. He is an active member of the Elks Club and sat on their Board of Directors as Chairman of House Committee and Bulletin Editor. He loves Hawaiian music and in backyard gathering plays his guitar. Mike is one of the founders of the Keomailani Hanapi Foundation. Email the Treasurer.

Kupuna Nona Beamer: Advisory Board Member

Kupuna Beamer is a retired teacher from the Kamehameha Schools. She comes from a rich family background of musicians, composers and dancers and teaches Hawaiian music and hula as taught to her from her family. She is a noted author of many children ' s books about her native Hawai'i and is a foremost story teller of Hawaiian myths and legends. She is a Native Hawaiian treasure. Kupuna Beamer is a cultural advisor to the Board of Directors of the Keomailani Hanapi Foundation.

Marc Mielke: Recording Secretary

Marc Mielke has been a Human Resource specialist at the University of Washington, Seattle for five years. As a disabilities specialist, his work brought him closer to people with disabilities whom he aided in finding employment. He left Seattle as a licensed massage therapist. Settling in Hawai'i in 1995, he specializes in deep tissue work and has been trained in lomilomi by Aunty Margret Machado. Presently, Marc Mielke is a lead massage therapist at the Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawai'i. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Keomailani Hanapi Foundation as the Recording Secretary and is one of the founders of Keomailani Hanapi Foundation. Email the Recording Secretary.

Leianuenue Niheu: Protocol Officer

Lei was born in Honolulu and grew up on the Papakolea Hawaiian Homestead. She has a BA in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawai'i, Manoa. She is a single parent and has been working in the health field as a certified and licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for eleven years, nine with a private ambulance service. She also works as an Emergency Room Technician (ERT) at one of the largest hospitals on O'ahu for eight years. She has studied hula from John Kaha'i Topolinski, studied chant from Kumu John Lake (in 1991, Lei was a recipient of a SFCA Apprenticeship/Master program with John Lake on chant and prayers, relative to ritual and ceremony and sacred places), and a few years later studied and trained with Kamuela Chun, a well respected chanter and cultural specialist. She was an original member of the founding of the Keomailani Hanapi Foundation (KHF) Board and after several years has returned to be Protocol Officer of KHF. Email the Protocol Officer

Past Board Members

• Keomailani Von Gogh   2000 - 2004
• Nalani Minton 2000 - 2003
• Kau'ilani Almeida 1998 - 1999

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