Tell us a little about your role as Executive Director of HCA.

At Hawaiian Community Assets, I see myself as a navigator and a connector, responsible for identifying the intricate puzzle pieces that come together to fulfill our mission. But a puzzle isn’t completed by one person alone—it takes the right hands, the right timing, and a shared vision.

My role is to ensure each piece finds its place by bringing together the right people—whether it’s our staff, community partners, or stakeholders—and providing them with the context, encouragement, and resources they need to move their piece into place. It’s about honoring the ʻike that already exists within our communities, elevating the strengths of those around me, and weaving together the relationships that turn vision into reality.

What are several of your top career accomplishments?

Strengthening the Foundation for Impact:

I built a strong administrative team to support our direct service staff, ensuring they could focus on what they do best—serving our community. By streamlining grant reporting, financial management, external communications, and staff development, we lifted operational burdens, allowing our team to be more present, effective, and connected to those we serve.

Pioneering Pathways to Homeownership:

I launched Hawaiʻi’s only fee-simple rent-to-own program, creating an innovative bridge between rental housing and homeownership. This initiative provides families with immediate housing stability while setting them on a clear, achievable path to owning their homes within two years.

Creating Space for Those Who Belong:

Leadership is not just about holding a seat at the table; it’s about making room for others. I have worked to ensure that voices historically unheard—whether from our community, our team, or our partners—are not only acknowledged but empowered.

How is Hawaiian Community Assets celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025?

Since HCA’s founding in 2000 on Maui, the organization has empowered over 21,000 residents through free housing education and counseling and assisted 7,306 underserved individuals in securing or sustaining affordable housing. As we celebrate our 25^th anniversary, we are launching a campaign to raise $25 million over the next 2.5 years. This will help us continue to champion the cause of affordable housing, opening doors for low- and moderate-income families, with a focus on Native Hawaiians, to access home loans and other financial support.

What were some important turning points in your career?

I have been fortunate to be able to serve Native Hawaiians nationally by advocating for changes in policy and decision making. I serve as the Treasurer of the Board for the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD). In this role, I oversee financial sustainability for the organization and work to increase funding, policy influence, and program development for historically marginalized communities. I also serve as Vice President for Maʻo Farms, providing support as they build their initiatives to guide young mahiai through work, education, and future housing.

I have also served on the Advisory Board of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, advocating for equitable policies that address economic disparities in our local communities. This advocacy has helped bring Native Hawaiian perspectives to federal housing and economic policy discussions, including the White House Rural Housing Roundtable and Congressional hearings, ensuring our voices are heard in critical policy decisions.

How do you use your voice, heart, and platform?

I do my best every day to be authentically me—whether that means speaking truth in rooms where the truth is difficult to say or taking a moment to acknowledge and uplift the inspiration and impact I see in others. I am often asked to speak as an expert, but I recognize that my expertise comes primarily from my own lived experiences.

When I speak, I make it clear that while I can share insights from my journey and the work I do, I do not claim to have all the answers. I believe in honoring both personal truth and collective wisdom, ensuring that I speak to what I know while creating space for others to share their expertise as well. I believe leadership is about honesty, presence, and connection, and I carry that belief in every conversation, every decision, and every opportunity to use my platform.