Meet Our Team
Leialoha Kaʻula
Luna Hoʻokō | Executive Director
Aloha kākou! ʻO wau no ʻo Leialoha Kaʻula a he kama au ʻo ka pae ʻāina ʻoi kelakela ʻo Hawaiʻi. Born on the island of Oʻahu, raised on Moku O Keawe, and now humbly appreciate the lands of the Atfalati tribes in hopes to uplift their stories and community. As a hula practitioner, cultural practices and the stories of our ancestors is the foundation of all that we do. These practices and protocols that have been instilled since a young age continues to guide me each and every day. As a proud graduate of Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi surrounds all that we do and has allowed for me to carry what has been taught to me here in the Pacific Northwest. In 1918, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaʻole founded the Honolulu Hawaiian Civic Club with a vision to engage our lāhui in the need to be civically involved in matters that impact our community. Today, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs is home to over 60 chartered clubs that stretches across Hawaiʻi and Moku Honu (Turtle Island). Ka ʻAha Lahui O ʻOlekona or KALO is one of those proud organizations with a mission and a vision to carry out the work of our Prince. Living in diaspora is a challenge that so many of us are faced with and donʻt have the tools to navigate when it comes to how we can make an impact here in the Pacific Northwest. Our Aliʻi were world travelers - navigators! Here at KALO, my goal is to establish, grow, and maintain relationships within our communities here on the continent and in Hawaiʻi to insure our lāhui, ʻohana from Hawaiʻi, and our Pacific Island communities feel uplifted, seen, and heard. WE are the IMPACT and the CHANGE for we are ALOHA. - Maikaʻi ke kalo i ka ʻohā!
Our Administrative Team
Isabel Steinhoff
Luna Hana | Operations Coordinator
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Aloha kākou, ʻo Isabel Steinhoff koʻu inoa. I am the Office Coordinator here at Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona. Prior to joining the team, I had very little experience working with non-profit organizations, so I'm excited to explore a new territory while connecting and supporting our communities.
I was born and raised in North Kohala on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi and currently live here in Beaverton, Oregon. I graduated from Corban University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Marketing, which is how I ended up here in Oregon (and my sister lives here too!). With Corban being a predominately white institution, I longed for a sense of belonging while living on the continent. Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona was where I found it when I least expected to. It took moving away from home and finding this community to truly appreciate where I come from. I'm so grateful to be part of this ohana and look forward to what's to come.
Fun facts about me: I love food and finding new places to eat at. My top 3 bucket list places to travel to right now are Aotearoa, Australia, and Greece. And if I'm not out gallivanting with my friends, I'm most likely cozy at home watching a guilty pleasure rom-com.
Jayden Kepoʻo-Caspino
Luna Hoʻokūkulu Hoʻolaha
Communications & Marketing Manager
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Aloha mai kākou, ʻo Jayden koʻu inoa and I'm the Communications Support at KALOHCC. I am beyond blessed to be able to stay connected with my heritage and share my manaʻo in story-telling with the Pacific Islander communities here on the continent.
I was born and raised in Wai’anae, O’ahu, where we have the best sunsets and beaches. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Advertising Management from Portland State University, which explains my love for visual and digital arts.
As the Communications Manager, I primarily manage KALOHCCʻs social media channels (@kalohcc), photography/videography assets, advertising campaigns, and graphic design efforts used to promote KALOHCCʻs mission in amplifying the voices and practices of our lāhui. The best part about my position is being able to share the beauty and strength of the Hawaiian culture through a creative lens – flyers, reels, short-films, and photos!
If you donʻt see me with a camera in my hand, I'm usually cruising at the Oregon coast, eating all the foods in the world, watching Marvel movies, or adventuring nature with my wife and my puppy, Konapiliahi. I am also a new member of Hula Hālau Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani.
Lima Kākoʻo Administrative / Center Support
Sophia Sakaino
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Aloha mai kākou! ʻO Sophia koʻu inoa and I'm the Administrative/Center Support at KALOHCC! I am truly grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that helped raise me and shape me into the person I am today.
I was born and raised in Beaverton, Oregon, but my family lives in Kaimuki, O’ahu. I’m a junior at Southridge High School where I lead the Mock Trial Team and Pacific Islander Club. After high school, I plan to go to college to become a teacher to further serve my community and do what I love.
As the Administrative Support, I primarily maintain the AloHā Resource and Community Center and support KALO events. The Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community is beautiful in every way and it’s a privilege that I get to learn and serve this community through my work here at KALO.
Most people know me for being a hula ʻōlapa at Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani, a hālau I’ve been dancing with for over a decade. I’m also a director of KALO’s Mōhala Youth Council, an ʻōpio led group that strives to create the next generation of leaders through various programs, discussions, volunteering, and other community-building events. During my free time, I enjoy thrifting, trying new hobbies, and discovering new cute coffee/bubble tea shops with my friends!
Our Programs Team
Nicole Kepoʻo-Caspino
Luna Papahana | Program Manager
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Aloha mai kākou, ʻo Nicole koʻu inoa. I am the Program Manager at Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona and I am super excited to work with the community of Oregon + Washington + Hawaiʻi + and beyond.
I am from Westside of Oʻahu and although I have created a life here on the continent, I will always call Waiʻanae home. I graduated from Portland State University with my Bachelor's Degree in Womenʻs Studies and Psychology, where my interest for community service and social justice began. I was also apart of the Pacific Islanders Club Student Organization for three years in hopes to use the knowledge that I gained over the years to serve the community I hold close to my heart.
As KALO’s Program Manager I strive to provide a wide variety of programs that are accessible but also brings a part of home to here on the continent. Through community health resources, youth programs, food accessibility resources, college-support, etc – KALO is here to do it all! In all, It is a great privilege to be apart of this team and work alongside these powerful wāhine!
Aside from working at KALO, I am also a proud small business owner specializing in wedding & portrait photography. For the past 4 years I’ve had the pleasure of working with such amazing people and traveling to the most beautiful places. If you are ever interested, here’s my website – www.shotsbyjxn.com!
Alakaʻi No Nā Lālā / Membership Manager
Haunani Tomas
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Aloha! My name is Haunani (how-naw-nee) but I go by Nani. As the Membership Coordinator here at KALO, my hope is to help nurture the Pacific Islander community here in Oregon by creating the sense of community that I was looking for when I moved to Portland.
I grew up in Waimea and Waikoloa and then moved to Kea’au. Moving from the west to the east side of the Big Island taught me to appreciate an array of weather – a trait I’m glad to have developed for living in Portland.
As a graduate of Western Oregon University, I intended to use my degree in marketing and writing to work at a publication or media company. Instead, I found myself working in footwear and then pivoted into the wine industry. Today, I’m the current wine club manager at Chosen Family Wines in addition to running a small (and silly) stationery business: Wednesday Paper Co.
Movement is a daily habit for me and I love playing soccer, snowboarding, and yoga. I also enjoy sewing and learning how to make things myself. Food is mood – cooking is fun and eating is even better. Being healthy and happy are the most important things to me. I’m so stoked to live in Portland, which allows me to be close to the coast, the mountain, and the valley. Here, the food is delectable, the outdoors are vast, and the Pinot Noir is limitless. Even so, Hawai’i will always be home. Moku O Keawe Nō Ka ‘Oi.
Jolie Jessie
Lima Kākoʻo | ARCC Support
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Aloha mai kākou, ʻo Jolie koʻu inoa. I am the Administrative/Center Support at Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona. After many years of working for corporations, schools and other non-profits, I feel extremely Blessed and excited to be a part of the KALO family. I look forward to supporting the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community in Oregon and SW Washington. My goal is to help families by providing meaningful programs, events and a welcoming environment at our community center.
I was born an raise in Kailua Oʻahu and a proud public school graduate of Kailua High School. Go Surfriders! I went to University of Oregon ( Go Ducks!) and got my Bachelorʻs in Journalism. Although, I intended to go back to Oʻahu after I graduated, I met my husband at UO and stayed in the mainland. I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 20 years and raised my two kids there before making my way back to Portland, Oregon.
When Iʻm not working, you can find me curled up reading murder mystery books, walking my very spoiled St. Bernard dog Hoku or going to all the pop-up events around Portland with my daughter Janae.
Alakaʻi Malama Ola
Mandilyn Suzuki
Community Health Programs Support
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Aloha mai kākou! 'O Mandi (she/her) ko'u inoa a me no Waipahu mai au. I am super excited to be starting my work as the Community Health Worker here at Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona and am looking forward to working with and creating programs that support overall health and wellbeing!
I was born and raised on the island of O'ahu and graduated from Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) with a Bachelor's in General Science. I continued on to pursue my love of movement sciences and got my Doctoral of Physical Therapy degree from George Fox University and, within my practice, discovered my passion for health justice and holistic wellbeing and decided to pursue a Master's in Public Health at OHSU/PSU. I am also a certified instructor for CPR and first aid and a facilitator for mind-body medicine practices. My vision and hope is to create health and wellness programs that address health inequity, promote accessibility, and create safe and empowered spaces for people to heal and thrive as individuals and communities.
When I'm not busy being a professional student, I enjoy being out in nature, practicing yoga, shooting photography, and spending time with family and friends. I am also a part of Hula Hālau Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani. I love meeting new people, so if you ever see me at the AloHā Resource & Community Center, always come by and say hello!
Constance James (CJ)
Alakaʻi Māla / Meaʻai
Community Māla Support
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Aloha mai kākou! ʻO CJ koʻu inoa and I am the Food Justice Program Coordinator here for KALOHCC! I am from Wyoming and am an extroverted pastry chef who loves the outdoors! I am also a queer Black woman.
Working for KALO is one of the ways my love for food and my drive to nurture community intersect. Growing up, I watched and helped my grandparents coordinate massive community food drives and cooking days for the purpose of providing holiday meals for the elderly and disabled folks in my home town. I am fortunate to have witnessed so much community collaboration during my time on this beautiful planet. I believe that feelings of home, safety, and healing can be achieved by a plate of food that tastes like what grandma used to make.
I love performing stand-up, attending immersive art events, and competing in trivia competitions, but clothing swaps, themed potlucks, and food box assemby+delivery are my favorite kinds of social gatherings. I have hosted many of them throughout the years.
My work with the KALO and PCW (Pacific Climate Warriors) involves connecting culturally specific food (and clothing) access to the Hawaiian community in our corner of the PNW. I coordinate work days on our mala with our hard-working volunteers. We are growing kalo (taro) and have plans to grow more food that can contribute to traditional Hawaiian dishes. I manage our pantry and our closet as well. I am grateful to work for the Hawaiian community through KALO and enrich my existing knowledge of Hawaii while doing so!
Kahōkū Kaʻula
Traditional Health Worker
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Kahōkū serves as a Traditional Health Worker committed to bridging cultural practices with modern healthcare to support the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community. In this role, she advocates for holistic health by integrating cultural values, ancestral knowledge, and community-based approaches into wellness practices. Kahōkū also strives to be a trusted resource, providing guidance and support to empower individuals and families in their health journeys.
A second-year student at Pacific University, Kahōkū is majoring in Social Work and minoring in Public Health. She is also the Director of Health for Mōhala Youth, where she helps lead initiatives that empower and uplift the NHPI community. She is also an 'olapa of Ka Lei Hali'a O Ka Lokelani, having been dancing hula for 13+ years now. Kahōkū embraces the cultural practices that deeply shape her approach to wellness and connection.
As a Traditional Health Worker, Kahōkū focuses on fostering trust and connection within the community, providing resources, education, and culturally aligned support to address health disparities. Whether through organizing health events, facilitating access to vaccinations and screenings, or sharing knowledge rooted in ancestral practices, Kahōkū ensures that the NHPI community feels empowered in their health journeys.
Kahōkū upholds these responsibilities with aloha, pono (integrity), and mālama (care), striving to create a safe and inclusive environment for healing and growth. Dedicated to serving and giving back to her community, Kahōkū is excited about this incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
ʻAha Hoʻokō – Executive Board
Cheryl Dutro
Pelekikena
Jill Kakehi
Puʻuku
Kākau ʻŌlelo
Laʻakea Bryne
Nicole Lee Ellison
Luna Hoʻokele
Jonathan Cruz
Luna Hoʻokele
Luna Hoʻokele
Michael Aeto
Jennifer Ano
Luna Hoʻokele
Nā Lālā Hoʻokumu - Founding Members (Est. 2019)
Michael Aeto
Gabrielle Anderson
Ben Baker
Canya Barnes
Julianne Byrne
Chaunsey Chen
Tiffany Hart
Marianne Itkin
Erin Kaʻaiakamanu
Leialoha Kaʻula
Waialoha Marquoit
James Mattern
Brittany Rivera
Wiliama Sanchez
Kim Sherwood
Aaron Smith
Krystina Tabangcura
Nancy Thompson
Louise Wilmes
Selena Yokoyama
Kaliko Yokoyama
Donna Ching
Natlie Dutro
Garin Fukushima
Kerri Hanson
Kiele Harmon
Shane Hart
Mealoha McFadden
Uilani Nakoʻoka
Miechelle Nations
Lauren Oka
John Pacheco
Steffany Wong Pacheco
