The 2015 Fellows

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Lehia Apana

Born and raised on Maui, Lehia is an island girl with a wandering spirit. After graduating from Kamehameha Schools on Oʻahu, she continued her education at Loyola University Chicago, then Rome Center of Liberal Arts in Italy. She earned her master’s degree in Media Studies from the University of Sydney. Lehia has been writing about Maui for nearly a decade, beginning as a reporter, and later as Special Sections Editor, at The Maui News. These days, when she’s not flexing her writing muscles as Managing Editor at Maui Nō Ka ʻOi Magazine and Kāʻanapali Magazine, she can be found training for her next triathlon, surfing, or dancing hula with Pāʻū O Hiʻiaka.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Lauren E. Blickley

Lauren Blickley is the Hawaiʻi Regional Manager with the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation and supports the stateʻs four volunteer-based chapters spread across the islands. An ocean and outdoors lover from a young age, Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Science,
Biology and Spanish from the University of Miami (FL), and a Master of Environmental Science and Management Degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, concentrating in Coastal Marine Resource Management and Conservation Planning. It was through her involvement with Surfrider Foundation in college that her interest in marine sciences switched from data gathering and lab work to front-line, ocean activism. Lauren has spent over a decade working to protect Hawaii's marine and coastal environments. She is passionate about tackling plastic pollution, protecting beaches for future generations, speaking up for the ocean, and surfing perfect lefts.

Bio and headshot updated 3/13/2024

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Richard Carr

Richard grew up in Michigan, was a Firefighter for 7 years before traveling up and down the East coast opening restaurants. Richard is now the Deputy Director for Habitat for Humanity Maui, Inc. and is helping to provide affordable housing to those in need in Maui County. Richard is the Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Maui Non-Profit Directors and is on the Church Council as the Assistant Treasurer for the Iao United Church of Christ.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Irina Constantinescu

Irina Constantinescu is a Senior Engineer with Brown and Caldwell in Wailuku. Born and raised in Romania, Irina crossed the world and spent her college years and the beginning of her career in California before making Maui her home. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Southern California (USC) before completing her master’s degree in Water Resources at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Irina is a registered Civil Engineer in both Hawaii and California, as well as a registered traffic engineer in California. For a change of pace, she also completed her bachelor’s degree in French and has always been interested in both the technical and creative side of her professional career. She’s an active member of HSPE (Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers) and SWE (Society of Women Engineers) planning technical tours and events for Maui professionals. On her days off, she enjoys relaxing on the beach, reading, hiking, yoga, and plans to complete the Maui Marathon for the second time this September.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Arianna Feinberg

Arianna Feinberg is thrilled to be a fellow in Ka Ipu Kukui! Arianna works for her family business, Aloha Natural Brokers, selling organic and natural food throughout the state of Hawaii. She graduated in 2012 from Columbia University with a Bachelors of Arts in Sustainable Development. Arianna is passionate about the environment, food, and orchids.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Kathleen Hagan

Kathleen Hagan, MS, APRN-BC, CNE is a Professor of Nursing at UH Maui College and a student in Public Health at UH Mānoa. A California native, she embraced Maui as her new home after moving here 17 years ago with her husband to be close to warm water. She has a background in data analysis and enjoys the challenge of imposing order on and
discovering meaning from complex problems and datasets. She finds inspiration from travel, TedTalks, leadership books, live theatrical performances, and her teenage daughter. Her passions include health promotion, education, and environmental protection. She serves as
the Chair of the State Subarea Planning Council (TISAC), the Secretary of the Steering Committee for the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Coalition, and is a newly appointed board member of the Hawaiʻi Public Health Association (HPHA). She can often be spotted driving her blue electric vehicle with roof racks around the North Shore. When not working, studying, volunteering, or driving her daughter to school and sports, Kathleen can be found enjoying Maui’s natural wonders while swimming, bicycling, hiking, running, or SUP surfing.

 Bio updated 3/13/2024

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Amy Hodges

Amy is passionate about caring for Maui’s land, sea, and spirit. Her current work with the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council has shown her the importance of community-driven conservation and restoration efforts- always with the sharing of mana’o and aloha at heart. She strongly believes that the future of Hawaii’s natural resources lies in the hands of the community and that it is through the reaffirmation of the strong connection between Hawaii’s culture and environment that we will find success. She currently has the privilege to volunteer with many local community groups that are both physically restoring the island’s natural ecosystems, and also passing this important knowledge on to our keiki. Amy is eager to join the Ka Ipu Kukui program to learn more about how we can all work together on this island we call home. Amy is originally from Maine and graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in Art and Biology. She enjoys surfing, camping, and is a student of ‘olelo Hawai’i and ‘oli.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Nikki Schroeder

Nikki is a local girl, born and raised in Hawaii. While growing up in Upcountry, Maui, she enjoyed playing club soccer, traveling around the world with her family, and all ocean activities. Nikki was lucky enough to learn core values from her Kupuna, making her the person she is today. One of her fondest memories is going ogo-picking with her Grandparents at the beach. After graduating from Seabury Hall, Nikki set off to the Bay Area in Northern California, where she earned her BA in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College of California. Following graduating in 2010, she followed her heart back to Maui and began her career at Bank of Hawaii. Within her job, Nikki enjoys establishing relationships with the people of Maui and helping those in the community with their financial needs. Nikki considers Maui her home for life and is eager to help with preserving Maui’s pristine and beautiful environment. Aiding in the molding and shaping of Maui’s future is one of her main goals. Currently, Nikki enjoys spending her free time going to the beach, hanging out with friends and family, and exploring Maui’s precious surroundings.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Marc Takamori

Marc was born and raised on the Island of Maui. He graduated from Maui High School before matriculating to the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California where he majored in Computer Engineering and minored in Engineering Management. While there, he had the opportunity to do a cooperative education at Cisco Systems, Inc. in San Jose, California. After returning home to the islands, he worked at Oceanit Laboratories, Inc. in collaboration with Boeing and the Air Force Research Laboratory, on the High Accuracy Network Determination Systems (HANDS) program that deployed robotic telescopes around the world for use as sensors for Space Situational Awareness. Moving from the private sector to the public sector, he is currently at the County of Maui, Department of Transportation. There, he focuses his attention on facilitating the rapid, safe and economical movement of people and goods in Maui County. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of the Valley Isle. He enjoys traveling, hiking and tinkering with computers.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Johanna Valente

I’m the Habitat Conservation Plan Supervisor for the West Maui Windmills, owned and operated by First Wind Energy. I’m passionate about many forms of conservation, but I feel like it’s a great honor that my occupation allows me to work with endangered species in Hawaii. Before moving to Maui I volunteered for three years with the Peace Corps as an environmental advisor in Senegal, West Africa. I speak French, Puular, Wolof, and English. When I’m not working you can find me hiking around Maui or free diving off the south shore. Exploring the island in search of new places to enjoy its beauty has become a never-ending hobby.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Sean Walsh

Shortly after receiving his B.A. in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz in 2007, Sean pursued his dream of living in Hawaii. Quickly gaining a deep appreciation for the Hawaiian concepts of Ohana and Pono, Sean has dedicated the past 6 years as a behavioral therapist working to develop the life skills of special needs individuals, and enhance their capacity for independence and socialization with the greater community. Feeding his passion for social consciousness, Sean received a certificate of competence in sustainable energy from UH Maui College in 2009 and became project coordinator for two successive publications of the Maui County Green Book. After receiving his M.A. in Educational Technology in 2014 from UH Manoa, Sean began his work to furthering technological integration for the behavioral health profession, designing training seminars and developing utilization efforts while continuing his field work. Passionate about the power education holds as a catalyst for change, Sean remains firm in his belief that an open educational system for the community, which addresses current issues we such as sustainability, will have a meaningful impact on our island, enhancing quality of life across demographics.

2015 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow

Maria Katrina “Kit” Zulueta

Kit is the Communication Director for the Maui County Office of Council Services, which provides research and logistical support to the Maui County Council. She manages the Council’s communication efforts and official social media sites with an objective to increase civic engagement and encourage public testimony. Kit was formerly the Deputy Chief of Staff for the County of Maui Office of the Mayor, an Executive Assistant to a Philippine Senator and worked for Hawaii Public Television (PBS Hawaii). Her background is in film, graphic design and events management. Kit is the current vice president for the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce and the public relations officer for the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Hawaii. She is a member of the Filipino Association of University Women and was a delegate to the Fil-Am Young Leaders Program by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. She operates KitZulueta.com, a creative consulting business.