Kanoe Enos
Kanoe brings over 10 years of experience as a social worker to create a better life for residents of Hawaiʻi. Growing up at the Cultural Learning Center at Kaʻala Farms in Waiʻanae Moku, Oʻahu has helped Kanoe bring a culturally grounded approach to his many roles as a case manager, youth development worker, collective impact convener, and educator. Kanoe is rooted in place and is a tireless advocate for the natural resources, peoples and cultures that make Hawaiʻispecial. Kanoeʻs gifts include the ability to take cultural and community knowledge and weave it into tools and strategies that are effective, efficient, and pono. Kanoe has a degree in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, a Masterʻs Degree in Social Work, and currently teaches social work in the University of Hawaiʻi system. Kanoe serves onnumerous boards, community groups, and collective impact initiatives.
Jessica Kaneakua
Jessica Kaneakua currently works as a Partner at ʻAʻaliʻi Alliance. Born and raised in diaspora in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Dakhota lands and freshwater, Jessica came home to her ancestral piko in 2013. She moved to Molokai to do work in public health, then relocated to Hawaiʻi Island where she has worked in education, community, and non-profit sectors. She received a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Macalester College, a Master of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peopleʻs Law through the University of Oklahoma. She is considering pursuing a JD in Native American Law in the near future but is prioritizing rest and joyful experiences with her ʻohana for the remainder of 2023. When not making good trouble, she can be found with her keiki and kāne enjoying the brackish waters of Hilo. She lives with her ʻohana in the moku of Puna on Hawaiʻi Island.
Summer Keliʻipio
Summer is currently the Managing Partner of ʻAʻaliʻi Alliance and has 20+ years of experience working to build strong, resilient Native Hawaiian children, families, and communities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Pitzer College and Master in Public Affairs from the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Summer has worked in housing, public health, education, and social services organizations in Hawaiʻi. Besides managing the day-to-day and strategic activities of ʻAʻaliʻi Alliance, Summer is a member of the Princess Kaʻiulani Hawaiian Civic Club in which she served as president (2007-2016). Summer grew up in Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu where she still resides with her ʻohana.
Shelly Tokunaga-May
Patria Weston
Patria has experience in community practice and leadership roles over the last 15 years and is currently working part time as a therapist for Nohona Na’au Kūpono at Kahuku Medical Center. Past roles have included: Program and Strategy Officer for Consuelo Foundation, Executive Director for Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, team member with Islander Institute, Community Change Initiative Lead serving Windward Oʻahu with Liliʻuokalani Trust, and Crisis Counselor with the Sex Abuse Treatment Center. Each of these positions included the chance to move way outside of a desk in the office to combine direct service, community partnership, and strategy development. The chance to learn from and work alongside the community has been the greatest honor and guide. Patriaʻs passion is to facilitate increased access and connections between children, youth and families through safe, healing spaces and practitioners. Her passion is to nurture a sense of belonging and community engagement that can contribute to challenging and overturning unhealthy systems and oppressive power structures.