The 2011 Fellows

2011 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Judee Mae Leilani Aki

Judee is the Food and Beverage Manager for Hoaloha Na Eha Ltd. (Old Lahaina Luau, Aloha Mixed Plate, Star Noodle and Hoaloha Culinary Center) and has been for 13 years. Born and raised on Maui a graduated Lahainaluna High School class of 1993 and a 4-year boarder. She then attended Maui Community College and graduated with an Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts. Judee Mae’s family, culture, community and Hoaloha Na Eha Ltd. have raised and instilled true Hawaiian values which have made her the person that she today. Judee Mae wants to be a part of shaping Maui’s future to create and protect it for generations to come.

2011 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Kaimanamalie Lee Brummel

Born and raised on Maui, Kaimana is the product of a home dedicated to Hawaiian values and community. She strives to fulfill the responsibilities bestowed upon her by her ancestors, family, and community with aloha. She attended the Hawaiian language immersion school and graduated from Seabury Hall. A volleyball scholarship took Kaimana to Washington, DC where she attended The George Washington University and earned a BA in International Affairs and Geography.
As the Director of Advancement at her alma mater, Seabury Hall, Kaimana is deeply committed to fostering educational opportunities for Maui’s keiki. Her commitment to lifelong learning is exemplified by her certification as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in July 2023. She
also contributes her non-profit expertise and passion for Hawaiian culture as a member of the board of directors for Hālau Keʻalaokamaile and paddler at Hawaiian Canoe Club.
In response to the Maui wildfires, Kaimana became a community advocate and advisor, working alongside organizations such as Maui Rapid Response, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and the People’s Fund of Maui. Her work continues to bridge community, industry, government, foundations, and philanthropists.
In addition to her community efforts, Kaimana is a member of professional organizations such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Aloha Chapter, Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools Advancement Roundtable, and the Council for the Advancement and
Support of Education.

 Bio and headshot updated 3/13/2024

2011 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Mark Klemen

Aloha! My name is Mark Klemen. I was born and raised in Chicago, started working when I was 12 at the Chicago Board of Trade and Options Exchange and opened my own business, the Funky Buddha Lounge when I was 21. On Earth Day 2005, I opened the country’s first sustainably built (complete with solar-powered DJ booth) and uncompromisingly organic venue, the Butterfly Social Club. Three years ago, I sold my businesses and moved to Maui to be at the source of the most vital foods, the best water, and air on the planet! I am taking part in the fellowship to broaden my understanding of the environmental challenges we face on this island. I am excited to increase my network of concerned, informed and active citizens here on Maui! I believe we must be the source of the changes we need. We will have to work together to find effective and practical solutions to the challenges we face. It is my goal to help spread honest information and lead and inspire by example. I also hope that each one of us will make several changes to our lifestyles to immediately increase our beneficial impact on this island. For example, we all quite easily can make a pledge to stop buying disposable bottled waters in favor of refilling our own glass bottles and we can all carry a reusable bag to the store rather than receiving a disposable bag (whether its paper or plastic! : ).

2011 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Regina Lemm

Regina was born and raised in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania and lived in suburban New York before moving to Maui 22 years ago. While attending Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology conference in 2000 Regina was inspired to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Phoenix, Maui campus. She graduated with honors in 2004 with a B.S in Business/e-Business and is currently employed at Maui High-Performance Computing Center. She lives a rural, sustainable lifestyle including gardening, and lives with her husband and a small menagerie. Regina enjoys the beauty of Maui, walking and swimming, creative pursuits, and looks forward to the experiences of the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellowship. Regina is a volunteer CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) member at the Upcountry Maui branch.

2011 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Sarah McLane

With over two decades of experience, Sarah Bryan has a background in Geographic Information Systems data development, project design, curriculum development, grant management, and natural resource management fieldwork. She has worked collaboratively with private companies, national governments, non-profits, and grassroots organizations. Serving as an advisor to non-profit boards, Sarah fosters
long-term connections between practitioners and scientists. Passionate about making a positive impact, she is now focused on disaster response and recovery, contributing to the development of tools for quick decision-making. Currently based on the beautiful island of Maui in Hawai’i, Sarah is a Senior Disaster Services Analyst at the Pacific Disaster Center, where she provides data and technical assistance and serves as subject matter expert to internal and external clients on disaster mapping, risk and vulnerability assessment, and comprehensive disaster management.

Bio and headshot updated 3/13/2024

2011 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Derek Snyder

Derek teaches at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College (UHMC). He has been teaching at the University of Hawaiʻi since 2002. A lifelong learner, he is a proud graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi. In addition to teaching a variety of courses at UHMC, Derek also teaches dual enrollment courses at Maui High School. Ultimately, Derek strongly believes in the transformative power of education, and thus, his life mission is committed to making a positive impact on Maui through creating increased educational opportunities for the Maui community.
When not in the classroom, Derek enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, watching documentaries, and listening to music.

Bio and headshot updated 3/13/2024

2011 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Brad Thomas

Brad Thomas was raised in Hilo, HI. He went to Kealakehe High School in Kailua-Kona and thereafter moved to Maui to earn degrees in Electronic Computer Engineering Technology at Maui Community College, then a degree in Computer Science through American Sentinel University (online) and is now pursuing his Masters in CS. He now works at Maui High-Performance Computing Center as a contractor for the Air Force working as a High-Performance Systems and Networking Support Engineer. Brad loves living in Maui and desires to gain more knowledge of the land, history, and culture and is honored to be apart of Ka Ipu Kukui. He understands the significance of higher education, the community, and ‘ohana of Maui Nui and is happy to provide support in any way that he can. In his spare time he enjoys studying mixed martial arts, windsurfing, paddling outrigger canoe, and basically just getting away from computers.