Today's Guest Speakers
Bonnie Kanehunamoku Voyaging Academy Bonnie Kahape ʻ a-Tanner was born and raised in Kane ʻ ohe where her love for the ocean began. She got involved with the voyaging canoe Makali ʻ i in 1995 and has been sailing ever since. In 1999, she was a watch captain on Makali ʻ i’s historic voyage, E Mau e: Sailing the Master Home, which took Grand Master Navigator, Pius Mau Piailug home to his community in Micronesia. Following this life- changing experience, she helped to open Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School and launched the wa ʻ a Kānehūnāmoku, a 29 ft. coastal sailing canoe. This wa ʻ a was made in 2002, she was made to share, teach and practice the voyaging culture. Today the non-profit Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy teaches learners of all ages about the wa ʻ a and connects students to college and career opportunities in ocean-based industries. She holds a BA in Hawaiian Studies, a MS in Counseling Psychology, and an MA in Transformative Learning and Change. Bonnie lives in He ʻ eia, O ʻ ahu with her husband Halona Tanner, and their two daughters, Kaialea and Lehia. In 2016, Gov. David Ige appointed him to the Hawai ʻ i State Senate for District 1 following the unexpected passing of his father, the late Sen. Gil Kahele. During his tenure as a state senator, Kahele served as the majority whip, majority floor leader, and chair for the committees on Higher Education and Water and Land. In 2020, he was elected to represent Hawai ʻ i’s 2nd Congressional District in Washington, D.C., in the 117th Congress. Kaiali'i Kahele, Chair of OHA Board of Trustees Kaiali ʻ i Kahele was elected trustee for Hawai ʻ i Island in 2024 and elected OHA board chair the same year. Trustee Kahele is originally from Miloli ʻ i in South Kona. He is a graduate of Hilo High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from UH Mānoa while playing on the UH Rainbow Warriors men’s volleyball team. He also has a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. Kahele is a combat veteran, pilot, and commissioned officer in the Hawai ʻ i Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force. He is also a commercial pilot for Hawaiian Airlines.
ʻ Ōiwi Leadership ACCELERATOR
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