Supporting Committees

Our supporting advisory committees are small groups made up of vetted volunteers with relevant professional and/or personal experience in the fields that Kokua Project operates in. These committees offer critical knowledge and guidance- supporting KP’s growth and development. Our supporting committees help to strengthen our communities by bringing like-hearted people together for a worthy cause, promoting the spirit of "Kokua" and increasing our impact.

Educational Advisory Committee

The purpose of our EAC is to utilize the experience of its vetted, qualified members to successfully operate our Educational program (KBA) by providing guidance in the areas of: • DOE compliance • Curriculum creation and delivery • New program creation • Finding course speakers. Our EAC also helps to keep us informed with many of the challenges our keiki are facing within our public school system. Their insight is a crucial component in creating ways to support Hawaii’s youth and public education system

• Community Homelessness Concerns Liaison (3 years)

• Special Education Teacher/Assistant Teacher 5 years (Pearl Harbor Elementary and Hickam elementary)

• Stevenson middle school’s English Language Learner program (grades 6-8)

• Master’s degree in Special Education from UH Manoa

Karli currently works for the Hawaii Department of Education, serving her Aiea District as a full-time Community Homeless Concerns Liaison (CHCL). In her role, Karli mainly works within her designated district to support our local families and children identified by the state as coming from “unsecured/unstable housing” by placing them in the appropriate schools while also finding ways to source needed donations (school supplies/household supplies). (http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ParentsAndStudents/EnrollingInSchool/Pages/Resources-for-homeless-families.aspx.)

Her familiarity and in-depth understanding of Kokua Project's target beneficiaries and their challenges and opportunities within education is a critical component. What spoke to Karli most about joining KP was the opportunity to offer her experience in a way that goes beyond basic services and bare essentials—an opportunity to empower our youth in a creative innovative way.

• Likelike Elementary guidance counselor (1 years)

• Dole Middle School guidance counselor (4 years)

• Niu Valley Middle School guidance councelor (23 years)

• National Board Certified Teacher(NBCT) -School Counseling

• B.A., M.Ed., NBCT

• B.A. Psychology

• M.Ed. School Counseling
  

• Elementary School Teacher at Mililani ‘Ike Elementary

• 2nd Grade Teacher (2 years)

• 4th Grade Teacher (2 years) 

• Coach for Mililani ‘Ike’s Hawaii State Science Olympiad Team

• Member of the Social Emotional Learning Cadre for Mililani ‘Ike

• B.A. in Elementary Education from Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI

• Dean’s List (4 years)

• Recipient of the President’s Scholarship and an Acrobatics and Tumbling Athletic Scholarship 

“I strongly believe in the mission and vision of Kokua Project to help the youth of Hawaii.  I feel a great passion towards supporting children and their journey to reach their highest potential.  Part of my teaching philosophy is to create meaningful relationships with my students and to provide them with opportunities to develop lifelong skills.  Being able to do this for children outside of just my classroom, is a great privilege. The different programs that Kokua Project will offer allows me to continue to help others and opens up new ways for me to be a continuous learner.  I am excited to work with this organization and to see the impact it will have in our communities.” 

• MFA in Asian Theatre from University of Hawaii

• Directed and performed in Iranian plays such as Bahram Beyzai’s Puppets and Bijan Mofid’s The Butterfly, at Doris Duke’s Shangri La, Honolulu Museum of Arts, and UHM.

• Worked with the Doris Duke’s Foundation as a performer, director, and producer on seven occasions, including the #8x8 exhibition (2020-2021)

• 7 Po’okela Awards from Hawaii State Theatre Council

• 3 Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute Fellowships

• 2 Awards of Excellence in Asian Theatre

• Graduate Service Award from UH & Research Award from UHM Honors Program

• Outstanding Production Award at the 16th Mobarak International Puppet Festival

  Maseeh was born in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Honolulu at the age of 13. He is a professional theatre-maker and photographer. His goal as an artist, teacher, and activist is to create communication and enable understanding between people and cultures. He has taught and worked in theatre in the U.S., Iran, and China. During his university studies, he partook in extensive Asian theatre training programs and performed in a classic Japanese Kabuki, a Balinese modern shadow puppetry (Wayang Lystrik), and five Chinese Jingju plays. Maseeh has also co-directed and performed traditional Iranian comic improvisational form (Siah Bazi), marionettes (Kheime Shab-bazi), and glove puppetry (Jiji Biji) in Hawaii and Iran.

Playwriting and translation work for the stage include:

Mobarak’s Crush (2013)

• Collaboration on translation and adaptation of three Chinese Xiqu plays for Fights and Delights (2018)

• Children of Isfahan; which was presented the Best Play Award at the Play Builder’s Play Festival 2018.

Professional theatrical productions (director):

• The Gospel of Mark (2020)

• Children of Isfahan (2019)

• Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (2017)

Outside Consultants

• Teaching Yearbook, Digital Media, Participation in Democracy/ Modern Hawaiian History (Castle High School)

• Freshmen Advisor (Castle High School)

• Board of Director for HSTA (Windward Chapter)

• Head Rep HSTA for Castle High School Grievance Rep CHS

• M.A.T. Masters in the Art of Teaching Chaminade University of Honolulu
  SATEP Certified

• M.Ed Masters in Education Chaminade University of Honolulu

• B.A., Social Science Chaminade University of Honolulu

• A.A., Psychology Chaminade University of Honolulu

• A.S., Television Production Leeward Community College U.H.

• A.A., Agriculture Windward Community College U.H.

• HTSB: Teaching Licensure; CTE (Arts & Com.)6-12 , Soc St. 6-12

• APC member-at-large

• SCC member

• C4 Rep w/Dist Sup

Business Development Committee

The purpose of our BDC is to utilize the experience of its vetted, qualified members to help us successfully operate our organization and scale when appropriate. Our members are experts in their fields and work collaboratively with members of our main board to guide KP’s actions in the areas of: • Marketing/Branding • Growth/Development • HR related items (compliance, staffing, benefits, etc.)

Carolyn has spent several years as a volunteer team member for Camp Agape, a camp for children of incarcerated parents, helping children have a fun and carefree experience and connect with others who are just like them. She has also been a member of her church mission team, healing ministry, and women’s group.

Professionally Carolyn Pace is an interior designer, a career that spans two decades. In 2006 she opened her own interior design firm, Carolyn Pace Design, specializing in kitchen and bathroom design, space planning, and remodeling. Her passion in life is to make everything beautiful. She believes beauty is not just for the eyes, it comes from all the senses, how you feel, think, and respond to life and people.

In 2019 she teamed up with her son Grant to create Pace Space, a professional decluttering and organization service. Pace Space was born out of their own values and lifestyle of "less is better," a minimalist approach and philosophy they want to share with others. “It is hard physical work and takes patience and compassion to sift through personal clutter, but at the end of the day there is so much joy and freedom for clients.”

Carolyn will bring a stream of inventory to support KTS. Both Pace Space and Carolyn Pace Design welcome donated goods to support the Kokua Projects. As a single parent for many years, Carolyn understands the struggles many of these families go through both financially and socially. She worked long hours to support her family and many times her sons were on their own. Instead of having strong adult male role models in their life, they had their peers to learn from. Carolyn wants to be able to help change this for other children. With committed, talented, sincere role models, she believes the children will be inspired and will have bigger dreams for their future.

After operating Kona Paradise Candies for the past 20 years, 1989 – 2009; Wendy Loh is now retired into a business that allows her to travel to many parts of the world as she promotes stewarding your body the way God intended for us all going PLANT STRONG towards optimal health. While making Hawaii smile with her chocolates, Wendy represented 12 Board of Director positions serving in every way. As she is retired from chocolate making and her fund raising company, she has chosen to represent 4 of the 12 boards actively. She now is the first National Marketing Director for the state of Hawaii for the Juice Plus Company and leads over 200 distributors towards Prevention and Wellness. Extending into promoting and growing sustainable produce and vegetables, Wendy also represents the Tower Gardens and encourages all of Hawaii to step up to growing chemical free vegetables for our future generations. She responsible for bringing over 1000 Tower Gardens to this state to promote residential and urban farming. “Every Lanai Should Have a Tower Garden!”

Proud mother of two beautiful daughters, Cassandra and Angela, Wendy loves spending her time cooking healthy meals, surfing and traveling as she shares God’s light with everyone. Delivering bibles and wheelchairs with Joni Earecksen Tada and creating events to raise millions of dollars for those in need in Hawaii as well as building homes for the orphans of Uganda. I have been groomed to travel the world and to look after God’s children as well as the people of Hawaii.

Hosting a show entitled “Taking Your Health Back” Wendy gets to promote “Health” in many ways. Not just nutritionally, but emotionally, spiritually and financially. Health is what you make it. Now let’s take it back and work towards wellness. So Hawai’i…. “Let’s Grow Healthy Together….one lanai at a time!”

 “Alika” offers his skills and professional network to KP, carried by his passion for supporting our future through the next generation of keiki. Alika has a wide range of experience, from volunteer work in the nonprofit sector to a 10-year career within the Hawaii State Legislature. He's also a small business owner, passionately serving Hawaii’s residents through Visionary Inspections for over a decade. 

Throughout his professional career, Alika has been a successful fundraiser, involved in campaigns for NGOs such as MADD (2014-current) and serving as Director of Operations for the Board of the Lupus Foundation (2008-2010). Within his political career, he served the Legislature as Chief of Staff under Josh Green and Karen Owana. His experience in political campaigning goes back to 2004, working for candidates such former vice speaker John Mizuno.  

After a decade in politics, learning and understanding the challenges within the system, Alika has refocused his efforts to support our local communities through his personal business and volunteer work within the community. The broad spectrum of his experience makes Alika a unique addition to KP, serving our Board with high level guidance in all facets of the organization and its growth trajectory and compliance.

Alika has always had a passion for good food and holds a degree from Kapiolani Community College in Culinary Arts. He is also a certified lifeguard with a passion for real estate investing. He comes from a large family of seven; growing up he often found himself filling the gaps, caring for his younger siblings as a parent would. Alika’s huge heart and generosity truly shines through his years of dedication towards his family and loved ones.

Grant’s professional experience includes twenty years in roles of service with over a decade of experience in sales, business development, and several years in management/training. Previously employed by companies such as Tesla, Revolusun, and CEI Hawaii- Grant was able to grow in his understanding of the components needed to manage and scale a successful team and venture. After leaving the corporate world in 2019, it was a three-week volunteer trip to Rio’s infamous favelas that planted the seed in his heart to start what became- Kokua Project. With the organization formerly named “Thrive Global Hawaii” (https://www.we-trippin.com/) Grant volunteered and teamed up with several local NGOs (Projeto Escola Verde, Community In Action, Terere Kids Project, Impacto Das Cores, and others) for the purpose of supporting several of Rio’s neighborhoods, community leaders, and youth in: Ahuma, Cantagalo, Provedencia, Cidade, and Pavaozinho. Specifically, his work with the instructors and students at Terere Kids Project inspired him to return home and carry on the spirit of Kokua and Aloha he saw and felt in the hearts of so many he was blessed to meet in Brazil. After returning home to Hawaii, the calling to dedicate his life to the service of others started him on a two year path- bringing all of the building blocks and like-hearted people of Kokua Project together.

Grant's other volunteer work includes: Show Aloha project in 2020 for its second Kupuna and Keiki food drive (Aloha Stadium).