MEET MICHELLE KA'UHANE
LEADERSHIP DELIVERING RESULTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY
I am the daughter and eldest of two children born to William Clarence and Valerie Gail Ka'uhane. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Kaneohe. I am a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and received my Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
Work History
President & CEO, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
January 2013 - Present
Deputy Director, Department of Hawaiian Homelands
July 2011 - December 2012
Executive Director, Hawaiian Community Assets
February 2006 - June 2011
Loan Officer, Hawaii Community Lending
June 2003 - January 2006
Community Involvement
Kaupea Homestead Association, President
Oahu Mokupuni Council, President
Ahahui Siwila O Kapolei, Member
Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Native Rights Chair
INPEACE, Board Member - Vice President
Hawaii Community Lending - Board Chair
Native Financial Education Coalition - Advisory Member
I am running to serve as an Oahu delegate in the upcoming Constitutional Convention because I believe I can positively contribute to establishing a Native Hawaiian Government. I am a beneficiary of the Hawaiian Homelands Trust residing in Kaupea with my 15 year old son, Saunders and my husband, Mark.
I have over 20 years of managment experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors with extensive knowledge in affordable housing, lending, financial education and community development. I have a solid track record of service to the Hawaiian Community in support of homeownership, small business development and training and capacity building for Native Hawaiian non-profits.
During my time at Hawaiian Community Assets, we helped over 500 families achieve and sustain homeownership and provided mortgage loans totalling more than $50 million.
In my current work, we continue to provide access to capital in underserved communities through grants and loans with a focus on housing, small business development, energy efficiency improvements and community based economic development projects.
I am actively engaged in supporting sound public policy impacting Native Hawaiians at the local, state and federal levels. I support the establishment of a Native Hawaiian Government that will seek recognition by the United States.
I acknowledge our past, embrace the reality of our history and look forward to the opportunity of participating at the upcoming 'aha to pave the way for a promising future for Native Hawaiians today and into the future. I will support a government by Hawaiians for Hawaiians.
