MEET OUR STAFF

Alakaʻi O Na Papahana | Program Manager (nicole@kalohcc.org)

Aloha mai kākou, ʻo Nicole koʻu inoa. I am the Program Manager at Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona and I am super excited to work with the community of Oregon + Washington + Hawaiʻi + and beyond.

I am from Westside of Oʻahu and although I have created a life here on the continent, I will always call Waiʻanae home. I graduated from Portland State University with my Bachelor's Degree in Womenʻs Studies and Psychology, where my interest for community service and social justice began. I was also apart of the Pacific Islanders Club Student Organization for three years in hopes to use the knowledge that I gained over the years to serve the community I hold close to my heart.

As KALO’s Program Manager I strive to provide a wide variety of programs that are accessible but also brings a part of home to here on the continent. Through community health resources, youth programs, food accessibility resources, college-support, etc – KALO is here to do it all! In all, It is a great privilege to be apart of this team and work alongside these powerful wāhine!

Aside from working at KALO, I am also a proud small business owner specializing in wedding & portrait photography. For the past 4 years I’ve had the pleasure of working with such amazing people and traveling to the most beautiful places. If you are ever interested, here’s my website – www.shotsbyjxn.com!

Membership Manager (kuulei@kalohcc.org)

Aloha my name is Ku'ulei Galago and I am honored to be KALO's membership manager. I was born on O'ahu and raised on Maui. I am a proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools. I have been dancing hula since the age of 3. I am blessed to be a haumana of Halau Kekuaokala'au'ala'iliahi under the direction of Na Kumu Hula 'Iliahi and Haunani Paredes.

I graduated from Pacific University with my Bachelors and Masters of Social Work. I currently live in Springfield where I am happily married with three beautiful daughters and two fur babies named Aloha (dachshund) and Cali (German Shepard). I look forward to getting to know you and your ohana as we begin to build connection and community here in the pacific northwest.

Alakaʻi - Malama Ola | Community Health Programs (mandi@kalohcc.org)

Aloha mai kākou! 'O Mandi (she/her) ko'u inoa a me no Waipahu mai au. I am super excited to be starting my work as the Community Health Worker here at Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona and am looking forward to working with and creating programs that support overall health and wellbeing!

I was born and raised on the island of O'ahu and graduated from Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) with a Bachelor's in General Science. I continued on to pursue my love of movement sciences and got my Doctoral of Physical Therapy degree from George Fox University and, within my practice, discovered my passion for health justice and holistic wellbeing and decided to pursue a Master's in Public Health at OHSU/PSU. I am also a certified instructor for CPR and first aid and a facilitator for mind-body medicine practices. My vision and hope is to create health and wellness programs that address health inequity, promote accessibility, and create safe and empowered spaces for people to heal and thrive as individuals and communities.

When I'm not busy being a professional student, I enjoy being out in nature, practicing yoga, shooting photography, and spending time with family and friends. I am also a part of Hula Hālau Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani. I love meeting new people, so if you ever see me at the AloHā Resource & Community Center, always come by and say hello!

Alakaʻi - Mala/Meaʻai | Food Justice Programs (cj@kalohcc.org)

Aloha mai kākou! ʻO CJ koʻu inoa and I am the Food Justice Program Coordinator here for KALOHCC! I am from Wyoming and am an extroverted pastry chef who loves the outdoors! I am also a queer Black woman.

Working for KALO is one of the ways my love for food and my drive to nurture community intersect. Growing up, I watched and helped my grandparents coordinate massive community food drives and cooking days for the purpose of providing holiday meals for the elderly and disabled folks in my home town. I am fortunate to have witnessed so much community collaboration during my time on this beautiful planet. I believe that feelings of home, safety, and healing can be achieved by a plate of food that tastes like what grandma used to make.

I love performing stand-up, attending immersive art events, and competing in trivia competitions, but clothing swaps, themed potlucks, and food box assemby+delivery are my favorite kinds of social gatherings. I have hosted many of them throughout the years.

My work with the KALO and PCW (Pacific Climate Warriors) involves connecting culturally specific food (and clothing) access to the Hawaiian community in our corner of the PNW. I coordinate work days on our mala with our hard-working volunteers. We are growing kalo (taro) and have plans to grow more food that can contribute to traditional Hawaiian dishes. I manage our pantry and our closet as well. I am grateful to work for the Hawaiian community through KALO and enrich my existing knowledge of Hawaii while doing so!

Office Coordinator (isabel@kalohcc.org)

Lima Kākoʻo

Aloha mai kākou! My name is Mayma (she/her), and I am a proud member of MŌHALA's Youth Council. I'm seventeen years old and identify as Japanese. My family is originally from Osaka, Japan, but was born in Vacaville, California. In 2007, my family and I moved to the Pacific Northwest where we call Oregon home. I have been blessed with numerous relationships, opportunities, and memories that this Moku Honu has provided for me and my ʻohana. I have been dancing hula with the hālau, Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani a little over ten years, which has provided many awakenings to my puʻuwai on how important it is to continue the culture and existence of not only kānaka Hawaiʻi but of our ancestry. Fun fact is that one of my favorite foods (that I can eat in gallons) is ikura, but only the best is in Japan lol. Working in MŌHALA's Youth Council is my way of giving back to the community that has provided me a platform to learn and grow as a nihonjin here in Oregon. Through youth advocacy and civic engagement, the voices of our youth grow as we venture into the future!

Lima Kākoʻo

Aloha Mai Kākou! ʻO Chloe koʻu inoa, and I am one of the Office Assistance here at the KALO office. I have been staffed here since summer of 2022, but have been involved with KALO since 2020 as an active member and a director for Mōhala Youth Council. I was born in Torrance, California to my mom who is Mexican from East LA and dad who is Puerto Rican from Kona, Hawaiʻi Island. I have been living in Oregon since 2010 and began dancing hula with Hālau Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani shortly after in 2012. I am currently 17 years old and a Senior at Aloha High School.

Communication Support (jayden@kalohcc.org)

Aloha mai kākou, ʻo Jayden koʻu inoa and I'm the Communications Support at KALOHCC. I am beyond blessed to be able to stay connected with my heritage and share my manaʻo in story-telling with the Pacific Islander communities here on the continent.

I was born and raised in Wai’anae, O’ahu, where we have the best sunsets and beaches. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Advertising Management from Portland State University, which explains my love for visual and digital arts.

As the Communications Support, I primarily manage KALOHCCʻs social media channels (@kalohcc), photography/videography assets, advertising campaigns, and graphic design efforts used to promote KALOHCCʻs mission in amplifying the voices and practices of our lāhui. The best part about my position is being able to share the beauty and strength of the Hawaiian culture through a creative lens – flyers, reels, short-films, and photos!

If you donʻt see me with a camera in my hand, I'm usually cruising at the Oregon coast, eating all the foods in the world, watching Marvel movies, or adventuring nature with my wife and my puppy, Konapiliahi. I am also a new member of Hula Hālau Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani.