Leadership

Dr. Kapua Lililehua Chandler, Namahana School Leader

Doctor of Philosophy, Higher Education and Organizational Change, University of California Los Angeles
Master of Arts, Higher Education and Organizational Change, University of California Los Angeles
Master of Education, Educational Administration, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science & Mathematics, University of Portland
High school graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu campus

As Namahana’s first School Leader, Dr. Kapua Chandler brings tremendous knowledge, history, and talent to the position. Born and raised in Kīlauea, Kapua is a kupaʻāina and lineal descendant of Koʻolau and Haleleʻa. In 2018, Chandler joined the Kauaʻi North Shore Community Foundation to plan and implement the community engagement process for creating a north shore charter school. This process led to the development of Namahana School’s values, mission, vision, and educational model.

Full Bio

Featured

BOARD CHAIR

Pam Murphy

BOARD CHAIR

An experienced manager with a unique blend of leadership and management skills, Pam began her career at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in California working in the ticket office and rose to become the first female general manager of a major ski resort in the country.

BOARD CHAIR

BOARD VICE CHAIR & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

Angie Bresnahan

BOARD VICE CHAIR & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

An attorney by training, Angie has worked as a child and family advocate in both the nonprofit and legal sectors. As a partner with the Illinois law firm of Holstrom & Kennedy, she had a diverse practice representing commercial and individual clients within multiple practice areas.

BOARD VICE CHAIR & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

TREASURER & FINANCE COMMITTEE

Jennifer Luck

TREASURER & FINANCE COMMITTEE

Committed to driving lasting community impact, Jen brings more than 17 years of experience in program management, multi-stakeholder negotiations, fundraising and land management to her current role as the COO of Common Ground in Kīlauea.

TREASURER & FINANCE COMMITTEE

SECRETARY & ACADEMIC COMMITTEE CHAIR

Mālia ʻAlohilani Kuala Rogers

SECRETARY & ACADEMIC COMMITTEE CHAIR

Mālia was born on O‘ahu and raised on the south side of Kaua‘i, where she currently lives in Keālia with her ‘ohana. She has been a teacher at Kawaikini Public Charter School in Puhi since the school opened in 2008.

SECRETARY & ACADEMIC COMMITTEE CHAIR

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Jonathan McRoberts

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Jonathan retired in 2019 after nearly 30 years as a successful financial adviser in Hawai‘i , first with Merrill Lynch and then with Morgan Stanley. In 2008, he was ranked the No. 1 retail financial advisor in Hawai‘i by Hawai‘i Business magazine.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

Alana Anuhea Nakahara Piliere

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

Anuhea’s entire professional career has been spent in academia, working to educate and serve the Native Hawaiian population. Currently, she works for the University of Hawaiʻi as a Distance Education Academic Support Specialist at Kauaʻi Community College.

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

FACILITIES & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Marion Paul

FACILITIES & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Marion, newly retired, was most recently president of Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance (KPAA). KPAA’s flagship program was Keiki to Career Kaua’i, an island-wide collective impact initiative to create great futures for all of Kaua‘i’s youth.

FACILITIES & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

Dr. Mehana Vaughan

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

Mehana is an environmental social scientist whose work focuses on indigenous and community-based natural resource management. She comes from Namahana and Kalihiwai Kaua‘i, at the intersection of Halele‘a and Ko‘olau.

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

Lindsay Leipuaahilehuaokalani Scott Wann

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

Lei is the Director of the Limahuli Garden and Preserve, part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kaua‘i, and in this position, she follows the path of her ancestors who were the historical resource managers of the Limahuli Valley for a millennium.

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

Namahana School Governing Board

Each Hawaiʻi State public charter school is required to establish an independent governing body to oversee its finances, operations and academic programs and to implement its charter. We are pleased to introduce you to the outstanding community leaders and professionals from Kauaʻi who are devoting their time, talent and expertise to the creation of the Namahana School.

“If there’s one thing that has characterized Namahana School from the start, it’s the incredible pool of talent, dedication, and passion that this project draws to it.”

Melanie Parker
NEF Executive Director

Namahana Education Foundation Board

Namahana Education Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization with the sole purpose of advancing Namahana School’s mission. In the near future, this includes managing the fundraising and construction process in order to build Namahana School’s campus, as well as generating ongoing community support to cover the school’s operational costs not met by the state’s per-student allocation. Namahana Education Foundation’s leadership includes established community leaders, as well as award-winning professionals in educational fundraising and philanthropic management.

Featured

BOARD CHAIR

Jessica Anne Kauionalani “Kauʻi” Fu

BOARD CHAIR

Kau‘i is a Kaua‘i native committed to the island community that raised her. She is currently Community Services Coordinator at the Waipā Foundation, a longstanding nonprofit whose mission is to restore Waipāʻs vibrant natural systems and inspire thriving communities.

BOARD CHAIR

BOARD VICE CHAIR, GOVERNANCE & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

Kathryn Nelson

BOARD VICE CHAIR, GOVERNANCE & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

With nearly 30 years of experience in philanthropy, Kathy recently retired from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation where she was the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy.

BOARD VICE CHAIR, GOVERNANCE & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

SECRETARY & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

Corina Davis

SECRETARY & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

Corina Davis is a highly experienced executive with a diverse background, having served as Senior Executive, Chief Legal Officer, EVP of Business Development, and Corporate Secretary over the past 15 years. She has demonstrated her leadership abilities in various settings, from startups to established public companies.

SECRETARY & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

TREASURER & FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

Saul Caprio

TREASURER & FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

With extensive experience in real estate and business development, marketing, consulting and financial services software, Saul is driven to contribute to the educational legacy of Kauaʻi’s North Shore.

TREASURER & FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

Lorrie Meyercord

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

Lorrie grew up on a farm in New Jersey, and her family visited the Hawaiian Islands when she was 6 years old, sparking a dream to live there one day. In 2015, she had the opportunity to fulfill that dream and move to Kaua‘i with her two young daughters, who both attend Hanalei Elementary.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

FACILITIES COMMITTEE CHAIR

Billy Eckert

FACILITIES COMMITTEE CHAIR

Raised in coastal Florida, Billy’s avid love for the ocean lured him to Kaua‘i in 2007. With a background in sales and marketing after 10 years in the surf industry, real estate was a natural fit. Billy has been a resident on the North Shore since his move here 15 years ago.

FACILITIES COMMITTEE CHAIR

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

Lorraine Mull

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

Lorraine “Lorri” Mull is a dedicated and passionate community member with a deep commitment to education on Kauaʻi. She brings valuable expertise to the Namahana Education Foundation Board, offering years of legal, nonprofit and fundraising experience.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

Palo Luckett

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

Palo Luckett has been active in the Kauai Real Estate Market for 20 years and launched Compass on Kauaʻi. He also has been active in the development of renewable energy and food sustainability endeavors throughout Hawaiʻi and Latin America. He is committed to the health and well being of Kauaʻi and its community, mauka to makai.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Sajid Siddiqi

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Sajid Siddiqi joins the NEF board of directors to offer his substantial leadership and financial expertise to Namahana's vision. Currently serving as CFO for Kaua’i Federal Credit Union, he leads strategic financial and capital planning, asset and liability management, commercial lending, and overall product and investment strategy.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Namahana Education Foundation Staff

Featured

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Melanie Parker

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Melanie relocated with her family to the North Shore of Kauaʻi after many years of working in the farm-to-school movement in Northern California.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Bridget Thorpe

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Prior to joining Namahana Education Foundation, Bridget worked with Schneider Electric for many years advising global Fortune 500s on renewable energy, carbon, and sustainability marketing initiatives.

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER