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.

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Kelsie Kuniyoshi

Aloha mai kākou ʻO Kelsie koʻu inoa, a no Mililani mai au, me ke noho nei au i Mililani. I am currently a Coastal Health Program Coordinator at Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, and recently graduated with my M.Ed. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) in Curriculum Studies, specifically in the STEMS² concentration. I also earned 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 NREM with a focus on biocultural restoration. 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.

Cayli Rose Santana

Aloha mai kākou! ʻO wau ʻo Cayli Rose. 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 in return. My experiences with ʻāina–both in service and in quiet moments spent simply being–have led me to understand how essential ʻāina is to our relationships with ourselves, kūpuna, and community. 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 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!

Skye Apao

Aloha mai kākou! I am from Los Angeles, California and I am now living in Kalihi. I graduated from UH Mānoa in May 2024 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. Throughout my years of college I was an avid volunteer with Ka Lau o Ka Lāhui and through this hui was where my aloha ʻāina journey started. Being in loʻi and doing different work that needed to be done across the host sites I learned how important it is to do mālama ʻāina. Doing aloha ʻāina was also a healing process for me, every host site that we went to I was able to find balance with myself and make meaningful connections with others. I also was able to learn the stories of the places, native plants and their uses and history. Through attending these workshops my commitment to the lāhui grew as my passion for aloha ʻāina grew. I believe that there is an importance in having a relationship with nature and being able to find balance within yourself. I am passionate about furthering my knowledge in this work and learning how I can incorporate pieces of mālama ʻāina in my future career. I am so excited to continue this journey with you all!