Colby Sameshima
Colby Sameshima (she/her/ ʻ oia) is a systems change steward with four generations of roots in the ahupua ʻ a of Wailupe and the broader moku of Kona. She has been blessed to learn from many realms, from both the Western and Indigenous, the physical and spiritual. She has a double B.S. in Climate Sciences and Environmental Studies from Tufts University and an M.B.A. from UC Berkeley, but the most valuable knowledge she has learned has been from ʻ āina, kia ʻ i ʻ āina, and kahu ʻ āina. Her professional experience thus far spans social enterprises, entrepreneurship, technology, and impact investing, with experiences at Endeavor Global, Mana Up, Terner Housing Labs, Elemental Impact, and her own business Laua ʻ e Consulting. She is currently in the process of deepening her mana ʻ o in community organizing and policy, as Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto ʻ s Legislative Aide & Committee Clerk. She believes her kuleana is to serve as a bridge and translator between varying viewpoints and stakeholders. Evan is a proud Native Hawaiian recognized among “40 Under 40” for bridging advanced technology with indigenous knowledge to foster equitable solutions rooted in Hawaiian values. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai ʻ i, he holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering—with minors in Fine Arts and Entrepreneurship—from the University of Portland, specialized in Modern Native Nations studies at American University through the Washington Internship for Native Students (interning at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy and the National Science Foundation, where he focused on invention, knowledge transfer, and innovation), and earned a Certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University. As Director of Project Delivery at Shifted Energy, Evan deploys cutting-edge technologies in frontline communities, forges lasting partnerships to expand equitable access, and accelerates impact through internal innovation. He also sits on the DEI Council for the Association of Energy Services Professionals. Previously, Evan led sustainable infrastructure initiatives at Pacific Current and ENGIE. A dedicated cultural practitioner with Pua Ali ʻ i Ilima, he grounds his leadership in kuleana (responsibility) and a commitment to uplifting indigenous brilliance. Ikaika Perreira was born and raised in Kalāheo on the island of Kaua ʻ i. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, Brigham Young University Hawai ʻ i, Portland State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His strong desire to raise his ʻ ohana in his ʻ āina hānau brought him back to Kalāheo, where they continue to live today. Ikaika brings 20 years of experience in education, specializing in students with special needs and served on the boards of Ho ʻ ōla Lāhui Hawai ʻ i, a health center dedicated to serving the Kaua ʻ i community. Ikaika now serves as Chief of Staff at Ho ʻ ōla Lāhui Hawai ʻ i, where he is committed to advancing the organization's mission of improving the health and well-being of Kaua ʻ i residents. He focuses on initiatives that ensure sustainability and community impact, envisioning a future grounded in Hawaiian health and connectedness.
Evan Castro
Ikaika Perreira
ʻ Ōiwi Leadership ACCELERATOR
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