The Importance of Women (1)

Shaelene Kamaka'ala was born and raised in the ahupuaʻa of Punaluʻu, Koʻolau Loa, Oʻahu. She graduated from the Kamehameha Schools in 2005 and completed her Associate’s of Art Degree in Political Science from Marymount... [ view full abstract ]

Shaelene Kamaka'ala was born and raised in the ahupuaʻa of Punaluʻu, Koʻolau Loa, Oʻahu. She graduated from the Kamehameha Schools in 2005 and completed her Associate’s of Art Degree in Political Science from Marymount College, Palos Verdes, California in 2007, her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of San Diego in 2009, and most recently, her Juris Doctor Degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 2014. Shae is rooted and active in her community as the joint-co-founder of the Kahana Kilo Kai program, a grassroots and community-based ocean monitoring program. Kahana Kilo Kai’s vision is to build the community’s capacity to restore Kahana’s konohiki fishery and bring abundance back to the bay. Shae now serves in the public sector as the Community Based Fisheries Area (CBFA) Coordinator for DLNR DAR. In this role, Shae is working with all sectors to tackle complex issues for the successful institutionalization and implementation of co-management relationships for Hawai'i's nearshore fisheries.