The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has filled two more key leadership positions. Joining OHA’s executive leadership team are Kēhaulani Puʻu, who will serve as chief operating officer, and Kuʻuleianuhea Awo-Chun, who will serve as director of education and culture-based learning, a newly created position.
With the addition of Puʻu and Awo-Chun, OHA’s executive team is nearly complete. Filling key vacancies at OHA has been a priority for OHA Ka Pouhana (CEO) Stacy Kealohalani Ferreira since she joined the organization last November.
“I am delighted to welcome Kēhau and Anuhea to our administrative team! Both women bring considerable ʻike and experience to their new positions at OHA. As executive leadership positions continue to be filled, OHA is being infused with newfound energy and fresh perspectives which is helping to build our administrative capacity and move our Mana i Mauli Ola strategic plan initiatives forward,” Ferreira said.
Chief Operating Officer Kēhaulani Puʻu
In her new role, Puʻu will provide leadership and direct oversight of OHA’s Advocacy, Communications, Community Engagement, Land Assets and Research & Evaluation divisions. Puʻu is a 1990 Kamehameha Schools Kapālama graduate. She earned a B.A. from UH Mānoa double majoring in Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language, and a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Puʻu also has a teaching certificate from UH Hilo’s Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program.
She comes to OHA from the City & County of Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation where she served as deputy director since 2021. Prior to that, Puʻu was with Kamehameha Schools for more than 12 years, serving in various capacities – most recently as Kealakūlia Division director in the schools’ community education division. Puʻu has also served as a Hawaiian language instructor at Leeward Community College, a kumu at Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Nānākuli, and filled various roles at ʻAha Pūnana Leo, including teacher, curriculum project lead and interim director.
Puʻu, who makes her home in Waiʻanae, Oʻahu, said, “I have been privileged with opportunities and experiences throughout my life that I believe are meant for me to utilize to give back to my lāhui. I am excited to join the team at OHA and to be a part of work intended to achieve positive outcomes for our Native Hawaiian community.”
Director of Education and Culture-Based Learning Kuʻuleianuhea Awo-Chun
This position is part of OHA’s newly created Office of Strategy and Implementation, with the purpose of helping OHA increase capacity to achieve its strategic goals. Awo-Chun brings a diverse background and skill set in teaching, administration, curriculum development and research to her new role. She has a B.A. in English and creating writing from the University of Puget Sound and a master’s degree in teaching with an emphasis on secondary language arts from UH Mānoa.
Awo-Chun has extensive experience working with public charter schools, most recently serving as assistant school director at Mālama Honua PCS since 2019. Prior to that, Awo-Chun was at Hālau Kū Māna where she served first as a kumu and later as vice principal. Through her experiences with Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy (KVA), Awo-Chun has written culturally based curriculum focused on sailing, navigation and kilo (observation) for Hālau Kū Māna, Kamehameha Schools’ Hoʻolauna Program, as well as published a children’s book for a series commissioned by KVA called ʻUʻuku ka Hana, ʻUʻuku ka Loaʻa: The Story of a Hawaiian Tugboat Captain.
Awo-Chun, who is from Kailua, Oʻahu, has also presented at the World Indigenous People’s Conference on Education in Canada (2017) and in Australia (2022). “While leaving the Hawaiian-focused charter schools was difficult, I will continue supporting Hawaiian education through my new kuleana at OHA,” Awo-Chun said. “I hope that my experience and perspective can be of service to our schools and communities to strengthen and support learning for our lāhui.”
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