Board Members
A little about our alakaʻi...
Monet Bisch
Aloha kākou, my name is Monet Nāpuaonālani Bisch. I was born and raised in the beautiful town of Waialua, Oʻahu. Growing up in a small community and near the ocean, my love for the ʻāina has always been huge. As a young girl, my parents always taught me to take care of what we are so privileged to have. Whether that be our plants, animals, parks, or beaches, the main idea was to mālama. With 2019 being a year full of change, I found therapy and happiness through my passion of giving back—working in loʻi and loko ʻia—building new relationships with those who have similar mindsets like my own. Through this journey, I have been able to reconnect and continuously learn more about my culture and this land we call home. In the future, I hope to take all that I have learned over the years of my higher education and aide in growing a local, sustainable business here in Hawaiʻi.
Click to view Monet's brief intro video.
Karli Rose Keanu
ʻO wau ʻo Karli Rose Nāpualeilani Keanu. I come from Koʻolaupoko and Koʻolauloa of Oʻahu. I call Kāneʻohe my home but currently reside in Kāhala, Kona. I am currently in my second year of college. I am on a journey of connecting to the land and Hawaiian culture through Aloha ʻĀina, learning ʻōlelo, and getting a higher education, all of which, my great-great grandparents were not able to do. I am determined to ensure regeneration and a better Hawaiʻi for my future keiki and for generations after them. I am beyond humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to make a difference starting now. Already, I feel connected to different places around the island, and feel it is my kūleana to mālama these places. I hope through this organization, others can begin to aloha and mālama the places that they connect to and find healing through aloha ʻāina, as I did.
Click to view Karli Rose's brief intro video.
Kaitlyn-Teige Kaimikaua
Aloha mai ‘o Kaitlyn-Teige Kaimikaua ko’u inoa. I was born on the island of Maui, and raised in Kāne’ohe, O’ahu. My major is currently undecided because my heart is torn between passion or profit. Therefore, I’m determined to discover a career that fulfills both desires. While I remain patient, and trust the process, I’m using this time to heal and identify my true interest. Growing up I was blessed with exposure to the Hawaiian culture, but I only recently started to cherish the value of these opportunities. I consider the series of events in my life leading up to the creation of this hui as alignment. This past year, I was fortunate enough to witness and grasp a greater understanding of the Aloha ‘Āina concept. After listening and learning, I questioned my personal contribution in the community. I found myself facing an identity crisis, being raised in Hawai’i, feeling unfamiliar with the place I call home. Since then I’ve been continuously seeking more knowledge and ways I can practice Aloha ‘Āina in my daily life. I hope to inspire younger, older, and my generation to recognize the importance of sustainability in these uncertain times. My intention is to hold a safe space for collective learning and restoration.
#376 E pūpūkahi— Be one of clump. Be united in thought.
Click to view Kaitlyn's brief intro video.
Kelsie Kuniyoshi
Aloha mai kākou ʻO Kelsie koʻu inoa, a no Mililani mai au, akā ke noho nei au i Mānoa. I am currently an graduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) in Curriculum Studies, specifically in the STEMS² concentration. I am also a recent graduate from UHM, earning a B.S. in Marine Biology, a minor in Botany, and a certificate with the Marine Option Program (MOP) in Marine Graphics. My current goals in education are to potentially earn a PHD in Hawaiian Ethnobotany with a focus on limu. As someone who was born and raised in Oʻahu, I was very fortunate to receive exposure and experience in ʻāina-based education from an early age. However, my ʻiʻini for conservation was truly galvanized in the summer following my high school graduation, in which i served as a Kupu HYCC intern. I am currently still exploring future career options, which is why I love Ka Lau o Ka Lāhui. As someone who initially started as a member, Ka Lau exposed me to many beautiful wahi and expanded my manaʻo through their online workshops. I still have a lot of learning and growing to do, much of which I look forward to doing with you all! ~He poʻi na kai uli, kai koʻo, aʻohe hina pūkoʻa (ON #905).
Chynna Chun
Anoʻai ke aloha kākou. ʻO Chynna koʻu inoa. ‘O Waipiʻo, Ewa koʻu one hānau. I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa majoring in Tropical Agriculture and the Environment (TAE). High school was a pivotal moment in my life where I was exposed to the world of Hawaiʻi agriculture and FFA and learned the value of living to serve and selfless leadership. My interest in conservation started when I served as a Kupu HYCC intern, in the same cohort as fellow board member, Kelsie. Finding Ka Lau O Ka Lāhui (KLAU) in college is one of my biggest highlights, as it gave me the space to de-stress and re-connect with ʻāina and people. I love how aloha ʻāina is therapeutic and healing to the soul and that even when life gets turbulent, there is always time to give back and to serve. I love learning from others, from the spaces that we connect to, and having meaningful conversations with others in KLAU. As I continue to explore my future academic and professional plans in agriculture, I know that KLAU will continue to be a safe and positive space where I can continue to grow my love and appreciation for aloha ʻāina work.
Click to view Luana's brief intro video.
Tehani Malterre
Aloha mai kākou, my name is Tehani Malterre and I was born and raised in Maunalua, Oʻahu, where I currently live with my ʻohana. I am currently finishing up my bachelor’s degree in Global Environmental Science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and I hope to continue my education with a master’s in Finance and hopefully, a certificate in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for conservation and the environment, and seeing the changes in Hawaiʻi and Maunalua as I grew up further solidified my desire to pursue a career solving the issues that face our communities and ʻāina here in Hawaiʻi. I am passionate about increasing my understanding of ʻāina and expanding my own perspectives through western science, Hawaiian culture, finance/risk-mitigation, community engagement, and hands-on restoration work with Ka Lau O Ka Lāhui. I feel very blessed to be a part of Ka Lau O Ka Lāhui as this group has given me the opportunity to reconnect to ʻāina through hands-on work and to also engage with the environment that I have learned about in my classes during my college years. I look forward to deepening connections with you all!
Cayli-Rose Santana
Aloha nō kākou! ʻO wau ʻo Cayli Rose Santana a no Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu wau. I recently graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where I studied Elementary Education and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. I grew up rooted in loʻi and māla, which is where my interest in our impact on the environment sprouted. Later, I began to better understand ʻāina as something which feeds, loves, and impacts us as well. My experiences with ʻāina–both in service and in quiet moments spent simply being–have led me to understand how essential pilina to ʻāina are to our relationships with ourselves, kūpuna, and community. I hope to play a part someday in sharing with Hawaiʻi’s ʻōpio the value of an education and experiences rooted in aloha ʻāina, especially as the world around us continues to change so rapidly. My passion for working with the land has only expanded in my time as a member with Ka Lau o ka Lāhui, during which I have enjoyed meeting genuine people, learning about conservation and plants, and better understanding who I am in the context of the lāhui. Ka Lau continues to be a space of immense growth and meaningful exploration for me, and I am so grateful to be able to grow with this group. I canʻt wait to continue this journey with you all!
