The Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ (OHA) Board of Trustees and administration celebrated staff who met service milestones, honored two end-of-the-year retirees, and recognized outstanding employees at its Christmas Pāʻina on December 19 at Nā Lama Kukui, its headquarters in Honolulu.
Beneficiary Services Agent Kauʻikeaolani Wailehua was honored for her 25 years of service to the organization. She was the longest serving among the staff who were recognized this year.
Two OHA staff retiring on December 31 were also recognized.
Beneficiary Services Agent Roy Newton has been the backbone of OHA’s Maui office for 28 years. He has devoted countless hours to community outreach, talking with people, listening to their needs and offering support with genuine care and humility. He is also an ordained kahu and serves at Maluhia Church, continuing his lifelong commitment to uplifting others.
Compliance Manager Kai Markell has worked in various positions at OHA over the past 21 years. His expertise has shaped decisions on hundreds of projects, court cases, repatriations, iwi kūpuna protections, and preservation efforts. Outside of work, Markell is known for his captivating online storytelling and photography.
Newton and Markell are both bearers of valuable institutional knowledge and experience which they have shared with those who will carry on their work going forward.
OHA’s 2025 fourth quarter (October, November, and December) Alakaʻi Awards were also presented that evening. Each quarter, Alakaʻi Awards are presented to an employee and a supervisor who embody the organization’s values through their actions, leadership and decision-making. A peer-nominated award, it recognizes individuals who demonstrate commitment to OHA’s mission and who consistently go “above and beyond.”
Fourth quarter Alakaʻi Award recipients were Director of Economic and Business Resilience Poni Askew who received the supervisor award, and Ka Wai Ola News Publications Editor Puanani Fernandez-Akamine, who received the employee award.
Fernandez-Akamine was also named the 2025 Alakaʻi Award Outstanding Employee of the Year. Colleagues say she inspires excellence, pono living, and ethical integrity. Her writing and editing skills have established an enduring legacy of outstanding journalism and storytelling for OHA, exemplified by Ka Wai Ola’s numerous awards from the Indigenous Journalists Association.
Interim Director of Land and Integrated Assets Lori Walker was named 2025 Alakaʻi Award Outstanding Supervisor of the Year. Described as an accessible leader who models excellence and humility, under her leadership OHA has secured millions in project funding, and she has boosted lease revenues to advance land acquisition and development initiatives.
All awardees recognized on December 19 were noted by their nominators as being inspirational and dedicated employees.
The end-of-year holiday gathering celebrated the ʻOHAna with aloha, music, pilina, and a donation drive to support two Hawaiian-serving nonprofit organizations: Pūʻā Foundation and Makana o Ke Akua.
 Board of Trustees and administration celebrated staff who met service milestones, honored two end-of-the-year retirees, and recognized outstanding employees at its Christmas Pāʻina on December 19 at Nā Lama Kukui, its headquarters in Honolulu.){kind=link}