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Noʻeau Peralto, Executive DirectorDr. Leon Noʻeau Peralto is a generational descendant of the ʻāina of Koholālele, Hāmākua, Hawaiʻi, where he serves his community as the co-founding Executive Director of Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili (huiMAU). Noʻeau earned his B.A. in Anthropology from Stanford University, an M.A. in Hawaiian Studies, and a PhD. in Indigenous Politics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Rooted in over two decades of Hawaiian archival and ethno-historical research, starting with the moʻolelo of his own kūpuna, his dissertation explored the continuity of aloha ʻāina praxis in his home community of Hāmākua Hikina through the ʻāina- and moʻolelo-based resurgence work of huiMAU. As a cultivator of seeds and stories, Noʻeau draws upon the storytelling traditions of his ancestors to inspire collective action towards abundant futures for Hāmākua and all of Hawaiʻi.
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Haley Kailiehu, Director of Creative DevelopmentHaley Kailiehu was born and raised in the ʻili of Kukuipuka, ahupuaʻa of Kahakuloa, on the island of Maui. She is a granddaughter of Mary Keliʻipahulio Travis of Kainehe, Hāmākua, and the daughter of Alfred & Ina Kailiehu. Haley is a professional artist, and is a founding member and the current Director of Creative Development for Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili. As an artist and researcher, her work seeks to create community-based and ‘āina-centered experiences that allow current and future generations of Kanaka ʻŌiwi to re-learn and re-establish their kuleana and connections to our moʻolelo, ʻāina, and kūpuna. As the Director of Creative Development for huiMAU since 2016, Haley uses her creative gifts to cultivate aloha ʻāina through art, curriculum development, mālama ʻāina, and community organizing.
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Hānai Kanaka // Mahi ʻAi Staff
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Kodie Solis-Kalani, Hānai Kanaka CoordinatorMai ka ua Kanilehua, Kodie was born in Hilo, spending summers in Keaukaha, and being raised in her ʻohana home in the homesteads of Panaʻewa. She spent most of her childhood around food, exploring farms and running through the kitchens her father worked in. As an ʻōpio, she deepened her aloha ʻāina through numerous environmental education programs - ultimately leading to attending the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Kodie joined huiMAUʻs staff in 2019, and took on her role as the Hoʻoulu ʻAi Specialist at KaHua HoAMa in Waipunalau, Paʻauilo. As community need grew, she became the Coordinator for our Community Kitchen Food Distribution (CKFD) Program. In 2021, Kodie made this ʻāina kūpuna her home, living and serving in the Hāmākua Hikina community, and ʻauamo the kuleana of the Hānai Kanaka Coordinator - continuing to lead the CKFD Program and managing the huiMAU hub: Kahi Hānai Kanaka o huiMAU. She is proud to be able to continue the vision of Nohopapa Hāmākua by living, working, and raising her daughter in the ahupuaʻa of Paʻauilo.
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Melissa Frazier, Hānai Kanaka Specialist & Keiki Papa Program AssistantMelissa Frazier was born on Oʻahu and now resides in ʻOʻokala, Hilo Palikū. She is the daughter of Rudy and Marlene Palacol, wife to Genard Frazier and mother of two beautiful daughters, Azahrae and Ghenae. After graduating Melissa entered the work force and has had over a decade of experience working as a Deli Manager/Deli Assistant manager. She has also been employed at various sites as an after school program assistant (YMCA, BGCA and HoAMa). Melissa enjoys going to the beach, crafting, spending time with God, family and friends and also enjoys seeing smiles on the communityʻs faces when providing them with ʻai pono. Melissa joined huiMAU as the HoAMa Program Assistant in 2016, Keiki Papa Program Assistant in 2023 and now has taken on the role of being a Hānai Kanaka Specialist in the huiMAU Hub.
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Lucon Route, Mahi ʻAi SpecialistLucon Route was born in Pohnpei, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia. Later immigrating to Hawaiʻi at the young age of four, Lucon has spent the majority of his life in Paʻauilo, Hāmākua, where he had the opportunity to cultivate and strengthen his connections to his culture and community as a participant in huiMAU's youth programs. Lucon now has a B.S. in Agroforestry and Pacific Islander Studies from UH Hilo, and has gained valuable work experience through various internships with Kupu and huiMAU. Lucon hopes to use this foundation of experiences to help cultivate leadership skills among the youth of our community in hopes of helping cultivate sustainable practices for generations to come. Lucon interned with huiMAU from 2017-2022, and officially joined huiMAU's staff as a Mahi ʻAi Tech in July 2022.
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Tim Garren, Mahi ʻAi SpecialistTim Garren was born and raised in Fallbrook, California and now resides in Kapulena, Hāmākua, Hawai’i. Being raised in an agricultural town and rural community, Tim learned the inherent need for food sovereignty. After receiving a B.A. in Communications at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa, he sought out positions in the non-profit space. His passion for hoʻoulu ʻai and mālama ʻāina then led him to hold several positions in conservation, and find a wide array of farm work. Tim started with Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili as a Kupu intern in October 2021, and officially joined huiMAU’s staff in February 2023 as a Mahi ʻAi Tech.
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Hoʻonohopapa Koholālele Program Staff
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Bronson Palupe, Mālama ʻĀina ManagerBronson Palupe is from Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu, and now resides in Waimea, Hawaiʻi. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UHH) with a B.A. degree in Environmental Studies. Since graduation he has work experience as a research assistant for the Liko Nā Pilina Forest Restoration Project in Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi and a field assistant for the Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance (MKWA). He also has work experience as a field technician and field crew supervisor for the Hawaiʻi Island Natural Area Reserves Systems (NARS). He joined Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili as the Koholālele ʻĀina Restoration Coordinator in August 2019, and was promoted to Mālama ʻĀina Manager, in January 2023, with kuleana to lead huiMAU's ahupuaʻa restoration work across 1300 acres in Koholālele.
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Uakoko Chong, ʻĀina Education CoordinatorUakoko Chong was born and raised in Puʻukapu, Waimea, Kohala on the island of Hawaiʻi. She is the daughter of Alvin Chong Jr. & Ursula Chong of Waipiʻo and Waimea, Hawaiʻi. Being raised on the ranch and in the ocean with her ʻohana, she always gravitated towards working on ʻāina. Uakoko graduated from University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo with a B.S. in Marine Science and B.A. in Hawaiian Studies. She obtained her teacherʻs license for Hawaiian Language Immersion Schools in Hawaiʻi from the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Graduate Program. In Hāmākua, she hopes to inspire keiki to engage in practices of hoʻoulu ʻai, hoʻoulu iʻa, and hoʻoulu kaiāulu. Uakoko joined huiMAU as the ʻĀina Education Coordinator in June 2021.
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Kamalei Matsumura, Mālama ʻĀina Program & Data Management SpecialistKamalei Matsumura was born and raised in Puʻukapu, Waimea, Kohala on the island of Hawai‘i. She is the daughter of Neil Matsumura and Lovera Viloria and granddaughter of Jane Reyla and Clifford Matsumura of Paʻauilo. Her love for mālama ‘āina began at a very young age and was cultivated at her grandparents' home in Hauola, a nearby ahupua‘a in Hāmākua Hikina. Kamalei is a graduate of Chaminade University of Honolulu, where she obtained her B.S. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice. She is also the proud recipient of a M.S. with Texas Tech University in Natural Resource Management and Environmental Sustainability. Kamalei joined huiMAU as a Mālama ‘Āina Program Assistant in January 2022. In January 2024, she started in her new kuleana as Mālama ʻĀina Program & Data Management Specialist.
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