Paepae Staff
Angela Hi‘ilei Kawelo
Founder, Executive Director | email
Hi’ilei, a native of Kahalu’u, O’ahu became Paepae o He’eia’s Executive Director in 2007 after having served as an educator, facilities manager and Kū Hou Kuapā Coordinator for the organization for over 6 years. Raised in Kahalu’u by her skilled fishing family, she has been a student to the art and science of lawai’a and Kāne’ohe Bay her entire life. She is a 1995 graduate of Punahou School, and also received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Zoology from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
Keli’i Kotubetey
Founder, Assistant Executive Director | email
Keli’i, a native of Kailua, O`ahu is currently the ‘Āina Momona or CBED Coordinator. As such this former educator and fiscal manager of the organization is now responsible for bringing awareness of the fishpond to the community while also leading the production and sale of He’eia fish and limu. Keli’i is a 1996 graduate of Kamehameha Schools who received a BA in Economics from Whitman College and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Hawai’i.
Gigi Danner
Fiscal/HR Manager | email
Gigi grew up in San Diego, CA and moved to Arctic Alaska when she was 18 years old. She met and married a Hawaiian in Alaska, raised her family and lived there for 28 years. They moved to Hawaii in 2004, when their youngest son was accepted into Kamehameha Schools, and they now reside in Kane’ohe. Gigi has worked in HR and Accountant positions for the past 25 years with private, government and non-profit entities. In her spare time, she likes sewing for her 16 grandchildren and gardening organic ingredients for her Lapa’au products.
Keahi Pi’iohi’a
Kū Hou Kuapā Project Manager | email
Born and raised in Kailua, Keahi was first introduced to the fishpond in 2011 with UH-Manoa’s Malama Loko I’a class. He was an intern from January to May 2012 and then joined the Kū Hou Kuapā in June 2012. Keahi graduated from Kamehameha-Kapalama in 2006 and attended Santa Barbara City College before transferring to UH-Manoā. Keahi enjoys playing music and gigs throughout the state with various reggae bands.
Kealaulaokamamo Leota
Paepae Pōhaku Program Manager | email
A native of Hauʻula, Koʻolauloa, Mamo has extensive experience working with communities as a teacher and practitioner of cultural education and outreach. Mamo also seriously enjoys farming including loʻi and loko iʻa, and is a regular in the ahupuaʻa of Kahana helping with various mauka and makai food restoration projects.
Rachelle Tom
Paepae Pōhaku Education Assistant | email
Rachelle Tom is a native of Pālolo, Oʻahu, She is a 2011 Punahou graduate and an alumna of Seattle University and UH Manoa.In 2019, Rachelle began interning on site through KUPUʻs CLDP program as a Kū Hou Kuapā technician. Currently, she works as an educator with the Ka ʻAi Kamahaʻo Team. She enjoys working with children and being outside. In her spare time she likes exploring ʻāina, doing DIY projects and Hawaiian arts and crafts, growing food and native plants, rollerskating, surfing, and reading.
Ikaika Wise
Kū Hou Kuapā Technician
Ikaika was born and raised in Waimānalo and has been involved in different capacities at He‘eia Fishpond for quite a few years. Before graduating from Ke Kula `o Kamakau in 2008, he participated in various projects as a student and summer intern. He is currently a student at UH-Manoā and an employee with our Kū Hou Kuapā team. In addition to spending time with his ‘ohana, he enjoys playing sports and working out.
Kaʻeo Davis
Kū Hou Kuapā Technician
A native of Wailuku, Maui, Kāʻeo is the newest addition to our Paepae o Heʻeia ʻohana. Kāʻeo is the oldest of 13, and lives in Nuʻuanu. He is a 2010 graduate of Kamehameha Schools, was a Kū Hou Kuapā intern with Paepae o Heʻeia in 2017 and again in 2020 through KUPU’s year-round program. In his spare time, Kāʻeo enjoys woodworking, forging, reading, baking and playing video games.
