Nathan Trump (President)

General Manager, Island Harvest

Born and raised in Kohala, Nathan Trump graduated from Kohala High School in 2010 before attending Wheaton College where he received a degree in International Relations. Nathan is the General Manager for Island Harvest, a Kohala-based farming company focused on macadamia production. Since returning home to Kohala in 2015, Nathan has worked as a part time tutor at Kohala Middle School and is the President of the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association.

Vicky Kometani (Vice-President)

Public Relations Relations Director (iRetired) – Mauna Kea Beach Resort

Vicky has 30-plus years experience in the Hawaiʻi hospitality industry in marketing, IT, and public relations. She recently retired as Director of Public Relations at Mauna Kea Resort. She is deeply committed to the Kohala community and has previously served on the Board of Directors for PATCH, Kohala School Community Council, and Board of Education Committee on Weights. She is the past Secretary/Treasurer for Kohala’s USA Swim team, Liquid Aloha Aquatics, and past North Kohala Vice President for the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce.

Beth Bohn (Secretary)

Small Business Owner

Beth was raised on Oahu in Kailua town. After graduating from Punahou School, she attended UH, Mānoa, graduating with a BS in English & minor in Art from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Beth spent 30 years in the hospitality industry in Hawaiʻi and the continent. She is an active member in the North Hawaiʻi chapter of 100 Women Who Care, and a Director for the group Remember thru Music. Beth enjoys participating in the Hawaiian arts of lauhala weaving and lei making and spending time in the ocean with her retired lifeguard husband.

Denni Keyes (Treasurer)

Small Business Owner

Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, Denni is a 2003 Kohala High School graduate. She has been an active a part of the community through school projects, organizations, religious initiatives, sports and extracurricular activities. She has an array of professional and business experience including healthcare, hospitality, title and escrow and is currently an active licensed Realtor with Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers. She brings a diverse set of skills with precise attention to detail, solution focused thinking, and a warm, friendly personality to the team here at the North Kohala Community Resource Center.

She along with her husband and three children still live here in North Kohala where his family has roots that go back several generations deep.

Cherie Haunani Caravalho

Special Education Teacher

I am an educator at Kohala Elementary and the Department Chair of the Social Education Department. I graduated from University of Hawaiʻi at hilo with a degree in History and received my Special Education Degree and teaching license from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

I am a human of Hālau Kawehileimamoikawēkiuookohala.

As a teacher I see the disconnect of our young ones from our culture and history and feel the importance of teaching them about all things Hawaiian.

Wendy Nickl

Kohala Middle School Educator

Wendy is a Hilo native who has been a resident of Halaula since 1991. She has been a public school teacher for 29 years and currently teaches at Kohala Middle School. In her free time, Wendy is a “taiko mommy,” a Staff Developer for AVID- a global non-profit educational organization, and a board member of Kohala Hongwanji Mission. Wendy has served as co-chairperson for Kohala Project Grad and volunteers with other community projects.

Jay Vega

Community Member

My name is Jay Vega. Being a fourth generation Kohala boy, my heart is for the elevation of Kohala youth. I’ve spent most of my adult life volunteering and participating in events and programs that aim to encourage and empower youth to see that they have gifts and talents to contribute to our community and our world.

Shani “Kai” Carvalho

Public Relations Director, Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Kai was born and raised in Paʻauilo, Hāmākua and holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Public Administration with a focus on Community Health, from the University of Hawaiʻi, West Oʻahu. Kai has served our community in the field of health care since 2010, as a health educator, tobacco treatment specialist, patient and youth advocate, and as Public Relations Director with Hāmākua-Kohala Health. Kai also serves as the Chair of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaiʻi, and is the co-founder of the Hawaiʻi Island Youth Academy. Volunteerism is of great importance to her and therefore she also serves on the Hāmākua Pop Warner Football Association for more than 8 years, in response to the growing need for safe spaces and mental health support services for youth in North Hawaii. The community work that Kai participates in can be directly connected to her love for the communities that have helped raised her, and the LOVE she has for her husband Casey and children Caleh, Līhau, Hāʻena, and Chael.

Todd Apo

CEO of a nonprofit organization

Todd has built a career focused on community engagement through roles in public companies, elected office, philanthropy, and real estate development. He has worked with grassroots groups, business leaders, and the Native Hawaiian community to build broad support for initiatives, overseeing media relations, corporate citizenship, and philanthropy. His career includes positions at Disney’s Aulani Resort, the Howard Hughes Corporation, The Resort Group, and the Honolulu City Council. He also spent time at Hawai‘i Community Foundation, working on policy efforts and disaster response. In July 2024, he was named CEO of ‘Iole, a Global Resilience Hub in Kohala focused on climate leadership. Todd holds degrees from Kamehameha Schools, Brown University, and the University of Hawai‘i, and serves on multiple nonprofit and industry boards.

Jensel Merice Jose

Kohala High School Student

Iʻm attending Kohala High School. I was born in the Philippines and came to Hawaiʻi when I was three years old. I am bilingual (I speak English and Tagalog). I love to play the piano and spending time at the beach.

Kenneth Matsuda

Kohala High School Student

I am a current Academy of sustainability Student Ambassador at Kohala High School and the current Hawaii State FFA President. I am an active participant within my community and have a strong connection to this place called Kohala.

Leelen Park

Executive Director

Born and raised in North Kohala on Hawai’i Island, Leelen obtained his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa and embarked on a career in the non-profit sector, starting with The Boy Scouts of America. In April 2020, he was approached to join The Food Basket, where he assumed the role of COVID-19 Project Manager, overseeing and executing islandwide Ohana Food Drops – a series of large-scale food distribution events. Over his tenure, Leelen spearheaded a total of 170 Ohana drops. He progressed through the ranks, first as Deputy Director for the Healthy Food Access Initiatives, later as Director of Community Engagement and Innovation, and finally ending his tenure with The Food Basket as Director of Development.

Michelle Kawai

Director of Operations

Fourth generation of Kohala, Michelle Kawai, former Program & Events Coordinator at Feed Hawaiʻi dba Kohala Village HUB. She graduated from Kohala High School Class of 1993 as student council President and attended Central Oregon and Hilo Community College. Michelle is an active community member and serves as the Treasurer for the Kohala Kamehameha Day Committee, a volunteer for the Kohala Reunion 2020 and the Kohala Country Fair committees. When she is not immersed in projects and events, Michelle enjoys going holoholo with the kūpuna, cooking and some quiet time at home with family and friends

Kathy Madsuda

Kohala Resilience Hub Coordinator 

Born & raised in North Kohala and a proud graduate of Kohala High School and Cannon’s Business College. She serves as Honorary Director for NKCRC, member of various community groups such as Health & Wellness, Culture & History, Agriculture, and the Kohala Community Plan. She holds positions as Youth Director at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Diocese Youth Committee, and Chartered Organization rep for Boy Scouts of America. Member of CERT, Kohala Neighborhood Watch, and the Vibrant Hawaii Resilience Hub Core Team, Kohala Okinawa Kenjin Kai, Hawaii United Okinawa Association Executive Council, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii, and Hawaii Island Leader, and board Secretary for Kohala Food Hub.

Annalene Williams

Projects Coordinator

Annalene moved to North Kohala at the end of 2012.  As a founding member of Kohala Radio (a current project of the NKCRC) and the Layout Editor for the Kohala Mountain News (a former project of the NKCRC),  she grew fond of the North Kohala community and loves playing a small part in various other projects that benefit the community of North Kohala.