Jess Kēhau Lucas
He kama no Kamāwaelualani, ʻ o Manokalanipō nō ia. Hānai ʻ ia i ka malu o Wai ʻ ale ʻ ale, ʻ o Kawaikini ka piko luna. No ke ahupua ʻ a i kaulana i ka lau kapalili a me nā wai ʻ ekolu, ʻ o Makaweli ho ʻ i. Milia e ka makani Waipao. Ho ʻ ōla i ka ua Kapa ʻ ahoa. A i ke alo ho ʻ i o Kanekula. Kēhau Lucas is an educator, advocate, and a fierce champion for lāhui vibrancy. Deeply rooted in the values of aloha ʻ āina and ʻ ike kūpuna, her work highlights the transformative power of culturally-grounded education in shaping kanaka identity and fostering resilience. With a deep aloha for ʻ ōlelo Hawai ʻ i and a commitment to perpetuating Hawaiian knowledge systems and practices, Kēhau empowers keiki and ʻ ohana to reconnect with ancestral wisdom, cultivating pride, purpose, and strength. She envisions a resilient and thriving lāhui where the richness of our ancestral traditions is woven with modern, innovative approaches to learning and community-building. Guided by this vision, she strives to create lasting change—advancing a Hawai ʻ i that uplifts and serves kanaka maoli. Born and raised in 'Ewa Beach and 'Aiea, Kayla is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus and has served as a school counselor for the past 8 years. Starting her career in Bellevue, Washington, Kayla led multiple initiatives advocating for students of color to bring awareness to important conversations around racial equity. Moving home and now giving back to her roots in 'Ewa Beach, her work focuses on prioritizing students' mental and emotional health. Kayla's dedication at Ka'imiloa Elementary has contributed to the counseling department being a Recognized ASCA Model Program, which distinguishes school counseling programs across the United States. In addition, her counseling team continues presenting at a national level around their work creating systemic structures to support student attendance. Personally, Kayla fills her cup by dancing Tahitian for Ma'ohi Nui so that she can pour into her son Hausten's cup. Kayla holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Northern Colorado and a Masters of Education in School Counseling from Seattle Pacific University. Born and raised in Kailua, O’ahu, Kehau’s flight attendant parents developed her love of travel and her aim to embrace open perspectives. An alumni of Kamehameha Schools and Chaminade University, Kehau holds career experience in customer service, entrepreneurship, human resources, fitness, nonprofits, and general operations management and leadership. Kehau enjoys quality time with her two children (17 & 11), husband (she’s a proud fire wife) and two dogs, and feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to truly develop deeper bonds with them during their five years living in Naples, Italy and exploring the bigger world around them. Since her return to Hawai ʻ i, she has been looking for ways to re-ground herself in her home and solidify her strengths and capabilities for the best part of her career path. Being consistently in a leadership role, she has learned where improvements are needed and is excited to take on that challenge with her peers in the ʻ Ōiwi Leadership Accelerator program.
Kayla Chung
Kehaulani Volhein
ʻ Ōiwi Leadership ACCELERATOR
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