Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu (Kumu Hina) (‘ia) is a renowned Kanaka ʻŌiwi cultural practitioner, kumu hula, educator, and community leader. Rooted in ʻike Hawaiʻi, she is a powerful advocate for Hawaiian language revitalization, cultural continuity, and Indigenous self-determination.

Her work has reached global audiences through film, including Kumu Hina, Healer Stones of Kapaemahu, which uplift māhū identity, healing, and ʻike Hawaiʻi as living, sacred practice grounded in kuleana and aloha.

Dr. Kumu Lelemia Irvine (‘ia) is a Kanaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiian) scholar, cultural practitioner, and Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, where he is the first tenure‑track physics faculty member and a driving force for Indigenous‑grounded STEM education.

He co‑founded ʻAwa & Talanoa, an initiative that intertwines ancestral practices, relational dialogue, and Indigenous research to transform academic and community spaces with cultural integrity. His work bridges scientific inquiry with Indigenous knowledge, focusing on water sustainability, inclusive pedagogy, and culturally responsive STEM learning. Kumu Lelemia joined AISES in 2012 as a student of the Light The Pathways, and in 2023, was honored with the AISES Sequoyah Fellowship for his contributions to Indigenous STEM. In 2024 he helped establish the AISES UHWO student chapter, reinforcing his commitment to nurturing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander leaders in science and engineering.

Dr. Ponipate Rokolekutu is an iTaukei scholar and Assistant Professor in the Department of Race & Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University, where he advances Critical Pacific Islands and Oceania Studies through scholarship, pedagogy, and community engagement.

His work connects Indigenous epistemologies with critical colonial and post‑colonial analysis, examining the impacts of colonialism on land, sovereignty, and identity across Oceania. Rooted in Vanua and Talanoa pedagogy, Dr. Rokolekutu’s teaching and research invite reflection, dialogue, and collective transformation toward decolonial futures. He is also a recognized educator, award‑winning teacher, and community advocate supporting Pacific Islander students and initiatives in the Bay Area and beyond.

Kiliona Palauni (he/him) is a Hawaiian Studies kumu at Ka Waihona O Ka Naʻauao. Trained for over a decade by Kahu Lokoʻolu Quintero and Kumu Hula Ihilani Chu, he brings deep expertise in hula, oli, and cultural protocol. Kiliona works across the Pacific and U.S. diaspora to perpetuate Pasifika knowledge and has consulted and spoken with institutions ranging from universities to industry.

He holds an M.Ed. in Indigenous Education from Arizona State University and degrees in Pacific and Hawaiian Studies from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Kapiʻolani Community College.

Donato Fatuesi (she/her) is a Trans Pasifika actress, storyteller, and cultural visibility strategist rooted in Fa‘asamoa values of community care, humor, and collective healing. She is the co-host and producer of Island Fever Podcast, creating space for honest conversations on Indiqueerness, mental health, survival, and healing.

Donato helped build UTOPIA Washington through senior operations and communications leadership, strengthening systems of care for Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders. She also works in Hollywood media with PEAK Pasifika to advance authentic Pasifika representation on and off screen. Named an inaugural Creator for Change by the National LGBTQ Task Force, Donato speaks nationally on visibility, media justice, and the power of storytelling to foster dignity, joy, and belonging.

Kristian Fanene Schmidt (he/him) was born and raised in Porirua, Aotearoa while both his parents hail from Samoa. As a Fulbright scholar with degrees in Law, Education and Arts (Pacific Studies) and over 20 years of community service to inform his work as a writer, host, and consultant, he has partnered with the likes of Paramount, Disney, Amazon, Ubisoft, Netflix, and LucasFilm, sharing his expertise on representation, LGBTQIA+ issues, and the impacts of colonization throughout the Pacific.

He is the Executive Producer on Island Fever Podcast and Founder of the Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK); an organization committed to redefining, expanding, and honoring the richness of Pasifika experiences.

Sage Keʻalohilani Quiamno (she/her) is a Native Hawaiian entrepreneur, angel investor, and cultural strategist shaping equitable tech and leadership ecosystems. She currently leads communications and marketing at Yoodli, an AI-powered conversation practice platform, and continues her work as a PR and strategic advisor supporting early-stage founders. A former Senior Director of DEI at Amazon Prime Video & Studios, Sage has driven global culture transformation and advocates for inclusive leadership and organizational accountability.

She also co-founded Future for Us, a nationwide platform advancing women of color in the workplace, and serves on boards including Piʻikū Co.’s Speaker Series and Natives Rising, ensuring Native Hawaiian and Indigenous voices shape tech, public spaces, and philanthropy. Her work centers decolonial leadership, authentic allyship, and technology that serves rather than extracts from historically excluded communities.

Velonika Pome’e (she/her) is a Tongan-born model, digital storyteller, and advocate for climate and cultural justice. As the first Tongan model featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, she uses her platform to expand representation in fashion while amplifying Pacific Islander voices.

Blending editorial storytelling with community-centered advocacy, Veronica translates issues like ocean conservation, climate justice, and cultural displacement into powerful, accessible media. She is also the founder of Change in Love, a nonprofit uplifting self-worth, cultural identity, and collective care through storytelling and joy-centered representation.

Estella Owoimaha-Church (she/her) is a first-generation Black–Pacific Islander educator, artist, author, and organizer born and raised on Tongva land (South Central Los Angeles). A globally recognized leader with over two decades of experience in education, organizing, and the nonprofit sector, she was the first Samoan finalist for the Global Teacher Prize (2017), received the CTA Human Rights & Equity Award (2018), and was named California Outstanding Theatre Teacher (2020).

Most recently, Estella served as Executive Director of a national nonprofit advocating for Pacific Islanders in the U.S. She is the founder of Education Ensemble and co-creator of EN-ACT, empowering youth through arts, storytelling, and social justice.