Our Team
He pūkoʻa kani ʻāina (a coral reef grows into an island)
We come from many paths and perspectives, yet we are united by Aloha and Lāulima, a commitment to purposeful work, and a deep respect for meaningful connection
Kumu Kuʻualohanui Kauliʻa Founder, President and Board Chair,
Kumu Kalani Kaawa Flores-Hatt Vice President and Board Member
A proud kupa of Nānākuli in Waiʻanae, Paul Kalani “Boboy” Kaawa Flores-Hatt, Jr., stands at the intersection of ʻike Hawaiʻi, education, and community leadership. A respected kumu hula, professor, and cultural practitioner, his life’s work centers on place-based learning, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, and the cultivation of ʻike grounded in aloha ʻāina, guiding present and future generations through culturally rooted education, leadership, and service to the lāhui.
Born in ʻEwa, raised on Hawaiian Homestead lands in Nānākuli, and shaped by generations of ʻike Hawaiʻi, Kuʻualohanui Kauliʻa’s life has been guided by language, hula, and kuleana. Fluent in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi from childhood and deeply rooted in the traditions of hula, oli, and hoʻoponopono, Kuʻu carries the wisdom of kūpuna, the discipline of revered kumu, and a lifelong commitment to teaching, healing, and cultural continuity, ensuring the legacy of his lineage lives on through the next generation.
Kumu Kokoleka Burdett Sergeant-At-Arms
Kumu Kanani Cadaoas 2026 Conference President and Board Member
Kokoleka Burdett serves as Kiaʻi ʻĪpuka and Board Member of Ka ʻAha Hoʻolauna Aloha, bringing decades of leadership, discipline, and service to the organization. With more than 35 years of experience across military, education, and civilian sectors, his commitment to operational excellence, cultural preservation, and community responsibility helps safeguard the integrity of KAHĀ’s gatherings and mission in service to the lāhui.
Carole Puanani Ching Policies, Procedures, Grants, and Board Member
Fox Pōmaika’i Garcia-Deatry Chief Marketing and PR Officer, and Board Member
Kumu Makana Garma Secretary and Board Member
Kumu Keahi Kim Chief Finance Officer and Board Member
Ka ʻAha Hoʻolauna Aloha Board Member and Ho‘okō Palapala Carole Puanani Ching is a third-generation Chinese immigrant with roots in Oʻahu and Northern California. Since settling in Sacramento in 1988, she has led impactful nonprofit work, including serving as the founding Director of My Sister’s House, supporting Asian and Pacific Islander women and children affected by domestic violence.
Kumu Kanani Cadaoas of Ka Pa Hula O Ke Ola Nani serves as Luna Hoʻokele of KAHĀ 2026, bringing a lifetime of hula practice, leadership, and cultural stewardship to the gathering. Trained by esteemed kumu and shaped by decades of teaching and performance, her work is rooted in lineage, discipline, and aloha, guiding her haumāna to embody Hawaiian values and carry forward a living legacy of ʻike for future generations.
Fox Pōmaika’i Garcia-Deatry is the Chief of Marketing and PR Officer, leading marketing and communications, outreach, events, content, and media. A global communications executive, Fox has held senior leadership roles with Al Jazeera Media Network, the Movember Foundation, Outright International, and the National Institutes of Health. He serves as an advisor to the Society of LGBT Entertainment Critics and holds a graduate degree from The George Washington University.
Makana Garma serves on the Board of Directors of Ka ʻAha Hoʻolauna Aloha, grounding their leadership in aloha, kuleana, and a shared commitment to strengthening identity and uplifting the lāhui. With decades of experience in education, facilitation, and project leadership, and as a senior project leader supporting Kanaeokana and Kamehameha Schools, Makana brings ʻike, relational leadership, and cultural integrity to KAHA’s work, guided by the values of akahai, lōkahi, ʻoluʻolu, haʻahaʻa, and ahonui in service to future generations.
Keahi Kim serves Ka ʻAha Hoʻolauna Aloha as Treasurer and Board Member, offering steady stewardship rooted in integrity, transparency, and kuleana. Grounded in a professional background in accounting and corporate financial leadership, Keahi strengthens the organization through thoughtful strategy, fiscal responsibility, and clear governance, ensuring that resources are managed with care to sustain cultural practice, community trust, and future generations.