Hiʻilei Kawelo has been Paepae o Heʻeia’s Executive Director since 2007 after having served as an educator, facilities manager and Kū Hou Kuapā Coordinator for the organization. Raised in Kahaluʻu by her fishing family, she has been a student to the art and science of lawaiʻa and Kāneʻohe Bay her entire life.