Our Team

ʻĀINA IS NO SMALL LEGACY | COMMUNITY-LED, COMMUNITY DRIVEN

WE HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Board of Directors

All binding decisions of the Trust must be made during properly noticed, regular Board meetings in accordance with the Trust’s Bylaws. These meetings are always open to Members, who are not only encouraged to attend and observe but also welcomed to share their manaʻo (thoughts, insights, and concerns) as part of the decision-making process. This ensures transparency, accountability, and alignment with the needs and values of the Molokaʻi community and ʻāina. Decisions are made through open dialogue, with a focus on consensus and cultural integrity.

The Molokai Heritage Trust Board of Directors is elected by the Voting Membership of the Trust. All Voting Members must be residents of Molokaʻi, many of whom come from generational families with deep cultural and ancestral ties to the island. Members commit to upholding the community-created Vision, Mission, Values, and Objectives of the Trust.

Board of Directors’ Bios

James Espaniola

“A dream is a dream if no action is taken. Action taken makes it achievable, so take action and join us, and we shall achieve together.”

  • Raised on Moloka’i, primarily in Maunaloa, James Espaniola has been involved in various conservation and environmental projects since 1999 after graduating from Kamehameha Schools on Oʻahu. Since 2016, he has been a State of Hawaii employee with the Department of Land and Natural resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DoFAW), Native Ecosystem Protection and Management (NEPM).


    James has led stream monitoring, animal and weed control; outplanting of native plants and building ungulate control fences to protect conservation areas across the state and is currently tending to a few different fencing projects within the East Molokaʻi watershed partnership as well as building the NEPM program on Moloka’i.

Zhantell Dudoit Lindo

“Wehe ‘ia ke alaula. No nahanauna nei”. (Opened the path of life. For the generation of this land)”

  • Born and raised on Molokaʻi, Zhantell is a proud native and generational descendant of Molokai’i. Zhan embodys a deeply rooted connection to this land and its people. Her unwavering advocacy for Moloka‘i’s kanaka and ʻāina reflects her identity as a bridge builder, teacher, community leader, visionary, and ʻāina warrior—ensuring that Moloka‘i is protected, well‑managed, responsibly thriving, and true to its heritage.  

    Zhan is the current Community Outreach Specialist for the County of Maui.  She is a 20 year veteran of  the Molokai Emergency & Disaster Management Team; the Former Executive Director for Habitat Humanity Moloka‘i and a Board Member of Hui O Kūapa; lokoiʻa restoration project.  

    This Moloka’i native is Skilled in local/state land‑use policy-making and a cultural ambassador through storytelling, music, and her Paniolo heritage. 

    Zhan is a founding member of the Moloka‘i Heritage Trust . She champions the community-led acquisition and management of over 55,000 acres of lands on Moloka’i; affirming her commitment to stewarding Moloka‘i’s future.

    Her life’s work —rooted in cultural legacy, public service, housing justice, environmental stewardship, and aloha—reflects an unyielding dedication to nurturing Moloka‘i’s land and people.

Malia Akutagawa

“This is about exercising our self-determination as an island. It is for our ʻāina kupuna, our keiki, and our moʻopuna to come.”

  • Malia Akutagawa, JD, ESQ, is from Manaʻe and was born and raised on Molokaʻi. Her ʻohana is of Molokaʻi since time immemorial, with roots in Pelekunu, Wailau, Kamalō, Manawai, Kahananui, ʻUalapuʻe, Kaluaʻaha, Pūkoʻo, Puʻu o Hoku, Hālawa, and Maunaloa. 


    As a child, Malia’s kūpuna and mākua inspired her to become a native rights and environmental law attorney. A graduate of Molokaʻi High and Intermediate School (1989); she pursued higher education and earned baccalaureate degrees in Philosophy and Biology from Whitworth University (1993) and a Juris Doctor and Environmental Law Certificate from the William S. Richardson School of Law (1997).

Hawaiʻiloa Mowat

“He Ali'i Ka 'Āina. He Kauwā ke Kanaka (The Land is Chief, Man is its Servant).”

  • Aloha. My name is Keolamauloaohawaiiloa Mowat. Many call me Hawai’i or Hawai’iloa. I was born and raised on Kapa’akea Hawaiian Homestead, Moloka’i where I still reside today. I am a 4th generation homesteader here in Kapa’akea with a beautiful wife and 3 beautiful children. I was born and raised to two amazing Aloha Aina warriors who played big roles in the protest against the bombing of Kaho’olawe and other big land battles of those days. Prior to the homestead life my Papa James “Jimmy” Lewis was born in Moanui, Moloka’i where several generations of Kupuna came from before him. Naming some of my  kupuna in Kamehamehanui ailu’au, Kapaliauweloa, Palemo, Lu’ukia and Kekio who were generational Konohiki from the east side of Moloka’i. From the east side to the south side one thing that never changed in my ohana is land stewardship. Aloha Aina was life and is life for me and my ohana. As an adult I served as Moloka’i’s first ever Maui County Park Ranger where I introduced the Park Ranger position to the Moloka’i community and worked with the community in the area’s of overall county parks safety, code enforcement and permits for over 30 parks and public right of ways here on Moloka’i. Some of my passion projects that I have been working on for the ahupua’a of Kapa’akea are Loko i’a restoration, limu restoration and cultivation, reforestation and axis deer herd management. I am excited to continue on the road of Aloha Aina o Moloka’i in a more organized and effective approach to preserve Moloka’i lands for our future generations. Aloha.

Hanohano Naehu

  • For the last 20 years, Hanohano Naehu has been a kia‘i loko, a fishpond guardian on the island of Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i. He is the caretaker of this environment in which he restores an aspect of Hawaiian aquaculture: a traditional, sustainable, ocean fishpond that itself presents other opportunities for creativity through the healing arts, sciences, and feeling spirituality.

    Hano, as he is referred to, is also a community educator, teaching ancient concepts in land stewardship and resource management. His ocean conservation work has allowed him to represent and be a voice for Hawai‘i and indigenous Pacific islanders alike. Hanohano is also the director for Hui O Kuapā 501c3. As an avid activist and artist for aloha ‘āina, he translates his passions through hip hop and lyrical messages under his MC name The Paniolo Prince.

Shanna Willing

  • Shanna Willing, of native Hawaiian ancestry, is a devoted mother of five and a passionate advocate for family values. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration from Chaminade University, achievements that underscore her commitment to education and professional excellence.

    Shanna dedicated 12 years of her career to the health care industry on Molokai, previously serving as the Interim Executive Director of the Molokai Community Health Center. Her work in this role highlighted her leadership skills and dedication to community well-being.

    Currently, Shanna serves as the Director of Finance for Sustainable Molokai, where she contributes to initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and sustainable practices for her beloved island community. Balancing her cultural heritage, professional life, and family commitments, Shanna continues to inspire those around her with her resilience, ambition, and dedication.

Nanette Grambusch

“Ma ka hana ka ike.” (In doing, knowledge is gained.) -Ōlelo Noʻeau

  • My kupuna and makua taught me that when an opportunity presents itself, you have to make a choice, study the situation thoroughly, ask for clarity, and make the best choice based on the facts presented. Do your part, do what is right. Trust your naau. Malama ka aina and the aina malama you! It is a reciprocal relationship - known as aloha aina.

    Born on Oahu at Kapiolani Hospital, Nanette Lehua Grambusch was raised on Molokai. Kaunakakai and Kualapuu School alumni. Graduated from MHIS 1978. Earned a BA in Hawaiian Language; MEd in Secondary Ed-Social Studies-US History; licensed to teach at the secondary and post-secondary levels in Hawaii. Served the Hawaiian community as an educator, researcher, community organizer, program organizer, and grant writer. 

    My most important roles in life - granddaughter, daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, wife, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother.

Wanette Kuuleipuaalaonaonaokeaumoe Lee

  • Wanette Lee, born and raised on Puʻukapele Avenue in Hoʻolehua Homesteads, is a lifelong kiaʻi of Molokai’s ʻāina and culture, with deep ancestral ties to Moʻomomi. The daughter of Wilford Leiala Lee Sr. and Jane Pahula Lee, and granddaughter of Hawaiian Renaissance spiritual leader Mary Wahineokalani Lee, Wanette was raised in a lineage rooted in service, spirituality, and aloha ʻāina. Her early life was shaped by working the land, tending animals, and learning kuleana and communal responsibility.

    As a young teen, she walked alongside kūpuna during the days of Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana and Hui Ala Loa—experiences that sparked her lifelong commitment to protecting Native Hawaiian rights and sacred spaces. Over the years, she has continued this kuleana, including helping to mālama and rebury iwi kūpuna across Molokai. She also served as a delegate to the Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi Constitutional Convention and, as a founding board member and treasurer of Hui Mālama o Moʻomomi, helped guide community stewardship of Molokai’s north shore.

    An advocate in substance abuse counseling on Molokai, Wanette integrates Hawaiian values into healing-centered programs for individuals and families. She also co-founded Pouhana o Nā Wāhine to address domestic violence in Hawaiian communities and represented Hawaiʻi nationally through the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, advancing Native Hawaiian healing initiatives.

    Today, she continues to serve Molokai as a certified counselor, guided by her ancestors and a lifelong dedication to healing, justice, and cultural preservation.

Raymond Hiro

If I cannot fix ʻem, I know who can.

  • Born and raised on the island of Molokai, Raymond Hiro is a lifelong resident of Maunaloa and a beloved figure in the community. A talented and well-known local entertainer, Raymond has been performing for over 35 years, sharing his music both locally and internationally. His musical journey began at the Sheraton Molokai and continued with the local group “Pound 4 Pound.” He has also been actively involved with Moana’s Hula Halau and has graced a wide variety of venues across the globe with his talent.

    In addition to his artistic contributions, Raymond brings valuable professional experience in management, human resources, and hospitality. From 1991 to 2008, he worked for Kaluakoi Villas, Molokai Ranch, and other hotel operations throughout Maui County. He later spent time on Maui from 2010 to 2012, working at the Sands of Kahana, before returning to Molokai to serve as Property Manager for Molokai Ranch. Today, Raymond is self-employed, pursuing his dual passions of music and hands-on work.

    Deeply rooted in his community, Raymond comes from six generations of family in Maunaloa. He is a proud father of six and grandfather to fifteen, with most of his family continuing to call Maunaloa home. His dedication to preserving the culture, traditions, and heritage of Molokai makes him a valuable asset to the Molokai Heritage Trust.

Advisory Directors’ Bios

Advisory Directors of the Molokai Heritage Trust are appointed by the Voting Directors to serve in a non-voting capacity, in accordance with the organization's bylaws. They are trusted members of the community who bring valuable expertise, lived experience, and guidance to the work of the Trust. While they do not vote on official board matters, Advisory Directors participate in discussions, offer insight on key initiatives, and may serve in officer roles, such as Treasurer (Puʻukū), when called upon. No more than five Advisory Directors may serve on the Board at one time.

Their presence strengthens the Trust’s commitment to community-led stewardship and ensures a broad range of voices are included in shaping the future of Molokai lands and heritage.

Jason Sykes

“This can be Moloka'i's defining moment—a chance to shape our own destiny and preserve the soul of our island for future generations.”

  • Jason grew up on Molokaʻi, splitting time between Kaunakakai and Wailau Valley. He is a proud graduate of Molokai High & Intermediate School, the University of Washington (B.A. Communications (Journalism), B.A. History (United States), and the University of Washington School of Law (J.D.) and is a practicing attorney and former journalist with deep roots in the community and a strong commitment to protecting his home and empowering the people of Molokaʻi.

    As a lawyer, Jason represents clients in complex intellectual-property, business, and civil-rights cases in courts across the country. He’s known for navigating fast-moving, high-stakes litigation and has led successful legal strategies in matters ranging from trademark and patent disputes to constitutional challenges and antitrust claims. Before becoming an attorney, Jason worked as a political consultant, speechwriter, and journalist, including time at The Wall Street Journal as a Fellow of the Washington Center for Politics and Journalism.

    Jason brings that same strategic mindset and commitment to justice to his role with the Trust. He is honored to give back to his home and dedicated to ensuring that Molokaʻi can protect its lands, chart its own course, and remain Moloka

Kaiuwailani Pettigrew

“Stay the course, but adjust
Stay yourself, but evolve
Stay humble, but lead
Stay hungry, but be grateful
Stay focused, but explore
Stay awake, but dream” - Eddie Pinero

  • After graduating from Molokai High School, Kaiu relocated to Honolulu, Oahu at which time she worked for First Hawaiian Bank prior to making the big move to Las Vegas, Nevada. 

    Kaiu attended Community College of Southern Nevada while working for The Venetian Hotel & Casino. 

    Kaiu is a proven executive level professional with progressively 22+ years of experience in the gaming, hospitality, and financial industry. Experience includes IT Compliance, IT Operations, IT Security & Cyber Security, IT Project Management, Finance Compliance, Anti Money Laundering (AML), Internal Audit, Finance Operations, Procurement, Warehouse Management and Gaming (Casino Administration, Players Club, Slot's, Casino Special Events).

    Kaiu has held positions in Las Vegas, Macau, SAR and more recently returning to First Hawaiian Bank here in Hawaii and has a successful track record of visionary, forward-looking leadership, execution, and delivery. Kaiu has extensive expertise in leading organizations in applying innovative solutions in support of the business by collaborating, recommending, and influencing decisions based on strong business cases and communication.

    Giving back to our younger generation is a passion of Kaiu’s. She continues to mentor, build, and support careers of our young Hawaii students whether in High School, University or in Entrepreneurship.

Staff Bio

The staff of the Molokai Heritage Trust are dedicated professionals who carry out the day-to-day work of the organization with deep aloha for the ʻāina and community. Rooted in Molokaʻi values, their responsibilities range from cultural preservation and land stewardship to education, outreach, and organizational management.

Each team member brings unique skills, ʻike (knowledge), and lived experience that reflect the Trust’s mission and the collective vision of its members. Guided by the direction of the Board and in close collaboration with community partners, MHT staff ensure that programs and initiatives are carried out with integrity, accountability, and a commitment to future generations.

Kawaipuna Kalipi

“Na wai ho’i ka ‘ole o ke akamai, he alahele i ma’a i ka hele ‘ia e o’u mau makua.” (Who would not be wise on a path walked upon by my parents and ancestors?)

  • Born and raised on the island of Molokaʻi, Kawaipuna “Puna” Kalipi has ties to Manaʻe and Hoʻolehua. Puna is the daughter of William “Tubz” Kalipi Jr. and Barbara Leinaʻala Hanchett Kalipi. As General Manager of the Molokai Heritage Trust, Puna brings deep cultural grounding, community connection, and a steadfast commitment to protecting what makes Molokaʻi, Molokaʻi.

    With a strong foundation in community and ʻike Hawaiʻi, Puna is a proud graduate of Pūnana Leo o Molokai, Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu, and Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Hawaiian Studies and Psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science.

    Puna’s leadership is rooted in the understanding that the relationship between ʻāina and kānaka is inseparable. She previously served as the Land Back Manager for Sustʻāinable Molokai, helping guide the community-led effort to return lands to local stewardship—an initiative that resulted in the formation of the Molokai Heritage Trust. Today, she continues to steward this vision, ensuring that the voices, values, and knowledge of the Molokaʻi community remain at the heart of decision-making for generations to come.

Heather Place

"I ka wā ma mua, i ka wā ma hope" (We look to the past as a guide to the future.)

  • Heather Makanani Place was born and raised on the island of Molokaʻi. She is a fifth-generation Ka Lawaiʻa ʻO Molokaʻi on the paternal side of her ʻohana, and hails from the east end of the island—Manaʻe— where subsistence living is a foundational part of her identity. From a young age, Heather was raised in the values of aloha ʻāina and kuleana, learning to gather, grow, and care for the land and sea alongside her ʻohana and kupuna. Those early lessons continue to guide her path, grounding her work in deep pilina to people and place.

    Her grandmother, a skilled lāʻau lapaʻau practitioner and limu gatherer, passed down a legacy of ʻike Hawaiʻi that Heather continues to carry with her today. That foundation—rich with traditional knowledge and intimate relationships with the natural world—inspired her passion for environmental stewardship, community outreach, and cultural resilience. Whether it’s through limu restoration or climate adaptation, Heather's work is rooted in the belief that the answers we need often live within the wisdom of our ancestors.

    Heather’s professional journey includes roles with Kupu Hawaiʻi, The Nature Conservancy, Pono Pacific, Molokai Livestock Cooperative, Sustainable Molokai, and now Molokai Heritage Trust, where she serves as the Stewardship Coordinator. In this role, she bridges the gap between cultural and natural resource management projects and the community—ensuring that stewardship efforts are not only effective but grounded in community voice, ancestral knowledge, and pilina. Her work focuses on restoring and protecting wahi pana (storied places), facilitating access for cultural practitioners, and supporting ‘āina-based education for the next generation.

    Across these positions, Heather has developed strong skills in project coordination, community planning, land stewardship, and environmental education. She has organized and led public workshops, collaborated with local and state organizations, and worked in rugged field conditions to restore and protect the ecosystems that sustain Molokaʻi’s people.

    Guided by her kūpuna, her community, and her ʻohana, Heather continues to dedicate herself to the future of Molokaʻi—fostering resilience that is rooted in tradition, built with care, and carried forward through collective aloha ʻāina.

MOLOKAʻI IS OUR KULEANA

We are not waiting for permission.
We are reclaiming, restoring, and reimagining—together.

Join us. Build with us. Walk this path with us.