Mission
To revitalize and advance indigenous Hawaiian culture"

Who We Are

The emergence of intelligent stewardship to perpetuate and advance Hawaiian resources.

Our Story

As an organization, we translate the phrase “Pōhāhā I Ka Lani” as “the emergence of intelligent stewardship to perpetuate and advance Hawaiian resources” for our inspiration and guidance.

Behind the Name Pōhāhā I Ka Lani

The term “pōhāhā” and the phrase “Pōhāhā I Ka Lani” are found in moʻolelo from our past, primarily from the Kumulipo, Hawaiian creation chant.

Meet our Board of Directors

KŪLIA KAUHI TOLENTINO-POTTER

PRESIDENT & FOUNDER

Founder (Created Pōhāhā I Ka Lani in 2001 with the assisttance of her father, James Tolentino Jr.)

Professional Affiliations

High School and Middle School Hawaiian Studies, Hawaiian Language, Social Studies, and English Teacher. DOE HQT (Highly Qualified Teacher) in Hawaiian Language/Hawaiian Studies and Social Studies.
Farmer
Waipiʻo Valley / Rimlands Educator for Pōhāhā I Ka Lani: Sharing Moʻolelo, Place Names, Rock wall building, ʻAhu building, Lei Making, Chants, Songs & Hula.
Waipiʻo Taro Farmers Association member
Mayor Rothʻs Waipiʻo Advisory Committee representing as a lineal descendant of Waipiʻo Valley.

Family ties to Waipiʻo Valley / Waipiʻo Valley Rimlands: Pauahi, Luaʻehu, Kahinu, Kāhuli, Haʻiwahine, Manono, Tolentino, Meyer, Gabriel mā.

WALTER WONG

VICE PRESIDENT

Served on the Board of Directors for 1 year and working with our programs for 3 years.

Professional Affiliations

Master Hale Builder
Restores heiau such as Puʻukoholoa, Piʻilaniʻs heiau in Hana, Maui
Masonry
Educator working with schools such as HAAS and Kaʻū, community projects to teach the hana noʻeau of hale, ʻahu building and rock wall building.

Family ties to Waipiʻo Valley Rimlands: Ka ʻOhana Keawemauhili.

CAZ SHIM

TREASURER

Served on the Board of Director for 1 year and has been volunteering with our mālama ʻāina programs.

Professional Affiliations

– Director, Product Innovation EXPERIAN, Costa Mesa, CA

Define the product innovation discovery framework, which enables innovation cycle to produce more than five times the product output and helped reach business unit performance indicators in shorter timeframes
Lead the effort to refine and formalize the overarching go-to-market strategy for all new products and services, which is enabling internal teams to align on the product story and drive adoption of new products and enhancements
Senior Product Manager
Identify key market opportunities and position our ability to uniquely address underserved needs in order to help prioritize the collective efforts of our product output
Serve as the primary product contact with corporate partners to gain client insight to validate and test products as well as share our thought leadership around innovation and analytics leading to product validation and stronger partnerships.

DREW KAPP

Secretary

Served on the Board of Director for 9 years

Professional Affiliations

Teaches Geography att UHH and HCC
Hālau Hula Kūkūʻena
Uluākea
UH Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao, ʻāina-based learning and sustainabilitty, engage in ʻahupuaʻa research witht haumāna
Host for Ka Leo O Ka Uluau (Podcast)

FRANCIS SINENCI

BOARD MEMBER

Served on the Board of Director for 1 year but has been working with our programs for 7 years.

Professional Affiliations

30 years in the military, primarily in the U.S. Air Force, where he achieved the rank of Chief Master Sergeant
Master Hale Builder Creating the Code to ensure hale building will be able to be recognized as a permitted structure.
Restores heiau such as Puʻukoholoa, Piʻilaniʻs heiau in Hana, Maui
Masonry

Family ties to Waipiʻo Valley: Ka ʻOhana Tolentino. Founder Kūlia Tolentinoʻs grandfather comes from Maui, Family in Hana, Maui. Francisʻ mother is a Tolentino.

KAMAKELE "BULLA" KAʻILIWAI

BOARD MEMBER

Served on the Board of Director for 1 year and has been working in Waipiʻo Valley for 30 years with his ʻohana, Ka ʻOhana Fronda.

Professional Affiliations

Kumu Hula, danced for Kumu Hula JayJay Akiona and took over as Kumu Hula after JayJayʻs passing.
Musician, Song Writer, Winner of 1997 Clyde “Kindy” Sproat Storytelling and Falsetto Singing Contest. Grandson of Slack-Key legend Raymond Kane.

Family ties to Waipiʻo Valley: Ka ʻOhana Fronda

IKAIKA DOMBRIGUES

BOARD MEMBER

Served on the Board of Director for 1 year but has been volunteering to offer lāʻau lapaʻau workshops for our programs for many years.

Professional Affiliations

Kahuna Lāʻau Lapaʻau

Family ties to Honokaʻa

Behind the name

The name Pōhāhā I Ka Lani is inspired by lines in the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian Creation Chant. It was chosen by Kūlia and her makuakāne (father), James Tolentino Jr., for itʻs layered meanings, with itʻs meaning still driving the continued efforts of the organization.

As an organization, we translate the phrase “Pōhāhā I Ka Lani” as “the emergence of intelligent stewardship to perpetuate and advance Hawaiian resources” for our inspiration and guidance.

"From a culturally visual standpoint, when the lighting flashes in the sky that is “Pōhāhā I Ka Lani.” When the sunrises continuously no matter what type of weather lays before it, that too is Pōhāhā I Ka Lani. The protective relationship from the sky to human or from sky to earth defines our purpose with nourishing the land, taking care of our water resources, and in return being able to increase productivity. This productivity has been extended to our upcoming generations…."

Kūlia Kauhi Tolentino-Potter, President & Founder