Tyler Gomes

Chief Administrator, Hawaiian Council - Honolulu, HI

Tyler Iokepa Gomes is a resident of Maunawili, Oahu and the Chief Administrator of Kilohana at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, where he oversees the organization’s transformative approach to destination stewardship in the visitor industry.  Kilohana was recently awared a $27M contract by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in which Gomes will be responsible for supporting the HTA in their destination management work. He most recently served as Deputy Director to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, an appointment made by Governor David Ige in 2019.  During his time at DHHL, Gomes initiated controversial proposals, like the legalization of gaming on Hawaiian Home Lands, in order to shift the discussion on the Department’s dire need for additional funding.  As a result, under the Ige administration, DHHL was the recipient of the largest infusion of legislative funds, $600 million, in its 100 year history. Prior to serving at DHHL, Gomes worked for Elemental Excelerator – a non-profit funding climate technology deployment in Hawaii and abroad. Gomes began his career serving as a Public Defender for over four years after graduating from the William S. Richardson School of Law with a JD and Certificate in Native Hawaiian Law in 2012 and from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2009 with a Bachelorʻs Degree in Olelo Hawaiʻi.