Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu

Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu is the current Ambassador of Culture for The Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement and engages both the Kanaka (Hawaiian) and larger (non-Hawaiian) community as an educator and spokesperson for matters of Hawaiian language, history, and culture. She is a staunch advocate and leader for her people, and currently has ongoing classes teaching Hawaiian men in the Hawaii incarceration system.

She also teaches cultural sensitivity and awareness sessions, that are inclusive of Hawaiian history and perspectives from a distinctly Kanaka point of view, to different branches of the U.S. American military onboarding to their Hawaii post assignments.

Wong-Kalu is also a Hawaiian composer and is credited for having written the song (Ku Haaheo E Kuu Hawaii) that unites her people in the pursuit of justice for land struggles in Hawaii. Her fllmwork earned American Oscar award Top 10 Nomination for Best Animated Short Film and has featured/produced/directed other award-winning films such as Kumu Hina, A Place in the Middle, Leitis in Waiting, Lady Eva and now Kapaemahu animated short and full-length documentary.

Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu is a caregiver for her mother, and remains active in Hawaiian circles, and in the Tongan Community as a member of the Siasi o Tonga Tauataina (Free Church of Tonga). She is also a founding member and Board President for Kulia Na Mamo NGO serving Mahu/LGBTQI+ and People of Color in Hawaii.