About this speaker
Mehana is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a Bachelors Degree in Conflict Resolution and a Masters Degree in Hawaiian Studies. In her early years, she worked in youth education as program coordinator for Nā Pua Noʻeau – Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children. She also was a research consultant in Papakū Makawalu at the Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation, under the direction of Dr. Pualani Kanahele Kanakaʻole. Most of her career was spent in higher education in the University of Hawaiʻi system where she was the Academic Advisor and then Lecturer at Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies and an Instructor of Hawaiian Studies at Windward Community College. Mehana has held several Executive roles at various Native Hawaiian Organizations like the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as the Director of Community Engagement and Advisor to the CEO and in her current role as Senior Advisor to the CEO at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Mehana currently oversees, Lahaina Wildfire Recovery efforts as Cultural Advisor to the Army Corps of Engineers, Cultural Sensitivity trainings for businesses and the U.S. Military, and Youth Civic Engagement, ʻAha ʻOpio. Mehana brings a breadth and depth of relationships with Native Hawaiian communities, leaders, schools and businesses both locally and internationally.
