Board of Directors
Marques Hanalei Marzan is a Hawaiian and Oceanic fibers culture bearer and contemporary visual artist born and raised in Kāne‘ohe, Hawaiʻi. His skill, knowledge, and experience are highly acknowledged within his community where he serves as a mentor and advocate, promoting sustainable gathering practices, perpetuating Hawaiian fiber techniques, and instilling indigenous values in his students. Marzan broadens his understanding and awareness of indigenous perspectives through active cultural exchange and through these interactions, he strengthens his commitment to his culture and champions the ideals of continuity and innovation.
Naiʻa Lewis is an artist and healer born and raised on the southeastern shores of Oʻahu. She is the founder and CEO of Salted Logic, an Indigenous women-owned media collective that draws on her two decades of work in global marine conservation, including Papahānaumokuākea and Big Ocean. She is a graduate of Punahou School and holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. A daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother, she creates experiences that center belonging and imagination, grounded in the truth that resilience lives in community.
Mr. Woode possesses a strong background in accounting and has worked in finance, retail, service, and nonprofit industries. A consummate supporter of the perpetuation of Native Hawaiian culture, he formerly served as the Senior Vice President at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. He is an independent business owner, providing specialized accounting and consulting services.
An artist, curator, and educator, Ms. Kahanu possesses extensive program and exhibition experience, and was a part of the team that guided the historic restorations of Hawaiian Hall and Pacific Hall at Bishop Museum. From 1992–97, she served as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. under the leadership of Senator Daniel K. Inouye, where she worked on issues affecting Native Americans. In 2014, she joined the faculty of the American Studies Department at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, specializing in Public Humanities and Native Hawaiian Programs.
Maile Meyer loves reading and has a vivid imagination. She went to Punahou School, Stanford University and received an MBA from UCLA. She “married brilliantly, to an Italian with a Hawaiian soul,” and started a book distribution business as a young mother. In the 1980s she “opened good ideas and closed bad ones” and in the 1990s she set up a makersʻ collaborative with 18 entities. She is connected to permeable and inclusive community-based entities including, Nā Mea Hawai'i, Native Books, ʻAi Pōhaku, Aupuni Space, KEANAHALA and Puʻuhonua Society.
Gabrielle Ahuliʻi Ferreira Holt is the librarian at Hanahauʻoli School in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. She has a MLIS from the University of Hawaiʻi and a BFA from the University of British Columbia (situated on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm [Musqueam], Skwxwú7mesh [Squamish], Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh [Tsleil- Waututh] nations). She is the author of the Hawaiian Legends for Little Ones series (BeachHouse Publishing), Hi’iaka and Pana’ewa: A Graphic Legend (Capstone, MN) and worked with development studio Literary Safari as a work-for-hire writer to create an original commissioned text for a Big 3 educational publisher.