Marques Hanalei Marzan

President

Mr. Marzan is a Hawaiian and Oceanic fibers culture bearer and contemporary visual artist born and raised in Kāne‘ohe, Hawaiʻi. Acknowledged as a skilled practitioner within his community, Mr. Marzan serves as mentor and advocate for perpetuating Hawaiian fiber techniques and instilling indigenous values in his students. As the Cultural Advisor at Bishop Museum in Honolulu, he promotes the integration of indigenous mindsets and practices and recognizes the need to legitimize indigenous voices within the Museum field.

Nai‘a Lewis 

Vice Chair 

A dedicated champion of the creative arts in the Hawaiian community, Ms. Lewis is the Partnerships/Outreach Coordinator for Pacific Oceans Initiatives under the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, where she strives to amplify the role of islands, native communities, art and culture in global marine conservation.  

Nāpali Woode 

Treasurer

Mr. Woode possesses a strong background in accounting and has worked in finance, retail, service, and nonprofit industries. A consummate supporter of the perpetuation of Native Hawaiian culture, he formerly served as the Senior Vice President at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. He is an independent business owner, providing specialized accounting and consulting services.

Nicole Duarte 

Secretary

A visual arts administrator and writer, Ms. Duarte has worked with Hawai‘i-based artists and practitioners and is a champion of the arts community in Hawai‘i. She worked with Pu‘uhonua Society as a project manager and grant writer, 2016–2020, fulfilling a supporting role in CONTACT (exhibition) and in launching Aupuni Place (a mixed-use gallery space). She currently serves as project director for Hawai‘i Contemporary, an arts organization that presents the Hawai‘i Triennial.

Noelle M.K.Y. Kahanu

Board Member

An artist, curator, and educator, Ms. Kahanu possesses extensive program and exhibition experience, and was a part of the team that guided the historic restorations of Hawaiian Hall and Pacific Hall at Bishop Museum. From 1992–97, she served as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. under the leadership of Senator Daniel K. Inouye, where she worked on issues affecting Native Americans. In 2014, she joined the faculty of the American Studies Department at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, specializing in Public Humanities and Native Hawaiian Programs.

Maile Meyer 

Board Member

As a representative of Emma Aluli Meyer (founder of Young of Heart Workshop & Gallery, later Pu‘uhonua Society), Ms. Meyer is an intrepid entrepreneur whose businesses Nā Mea Hawai‘i, Native Books, and Arts & Letters provide vital support to and bolster the work of Kānaka ‘Ōiwi makers, practitioners, artists, and writers in Hawai‘i. As a former executive director of Pu‘uhonua Society, she conceived of and established key programs, including CONTACT, Aupuni Space, KĪPUKA, and Keanahala.