New director aims to transform Hawaiian education and culture

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) held a significant meeting today, featuring the introduction of new administrative staff and discussions on resource management initiatives. CEO Kapohana Stacy Pereira welcomed attendees and introduced key members of the executive team, including Chief Financial Officer Ramona Henke and Interim Corporation Counsel Everett Ota.

A highlight of the meeting was the introduction of Kugule Anuhea Awo Chun as the new Director of Education and Culture-Based Learning. Awo Chun, who joined OHA earlier this week, brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning and cultural education. She expressed her enthusiasm for aligning OHA's strategic plan with her previous work in Hawaiian education, emphasizing her commitment to fostering systemic change for Hawaiian learners.

The meeting also addressed the Committee on Resource Management, where Trustee Weihai presented ten action items for approval. Among these was a recommendation to allocate $137,328.80 to the Karokaina Learning Ohana from the fiscal year 2024 core operating budget.

The discussions reflect OHA's ongoing commitment to enhancing educational pathways and resource management for the Native Hawaiian community.