Cultural Practitioners

Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi Inc. is blessed to work with cultural practitioners who share their ʻike.

	Healani M. Cahill Hula & ʻOli Kumu Aunty Healani Cahill is the community development coordinator for the Queen Liliuokulani Childrenʻs Center (QLCC) on the Kona coast. A fierce advocate for the betterment of Hawaiiʻs keiki she has spent over twenty years working with Miloliiʻs youth. She is a cultural expert in traditional ʻoli and hula and works tirelessly on behalf of Queen Liliuokulaniʻs legacy to Hawaiiʻs orphaned and destitute children with those preference given to native hawaiian keiki.
	Shaftton Kuakahi Kaupu-Cabuag Hawaiian Language and Culture Specialist Shaftton Kuakahi Kaʻupu-Cabuag is a native of Miloliʻi Village. His inspirations and foundation are his grandmother Julia “Sweetie” Kainoa Kaʻupu, his ʻohana, and God. Shaftton is the oldest of 3 siblings and is the first of his ʻohana to attend and graduate college. He received his BA in Hawaiian Studies with a concentration in lingustics from Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani at UH Hilo in 2009. He continued his educational path and received his Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Education from UH Hilo in attending Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teaching Cohort. Shaftton is currently enrolled in one of UHʻs Masters program in Education and plans to complete it within the next 2 years. ʻO ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kūkulu. The foundation must be set before we can build. This ʻōlelo noʻeau is Shafttons driving force when teaching. He believes that with out the foundation of anything, one cannot build with stability. He is dedicating his time and efforts to help enhance the quality of life through hawaiian culture and language to give back to his place of birth.
	Willy Kaupiko ʻŌpelu Fisherman / Ocean and Marine Conservationist Wilfred Kaupiko is from Miloliʻi, the Last Hawaiian Fishing Village. He grew up in the community, he attended high school at Lahainaluna boarding program. After high school he served the country during the Vietnam war in which he served four years. During his early years he lived on Oahu in which he was a beach boy and life guard on Oahu, he paddled for Waikiki Beach Boys. He later returned to Miloliʻi to help his parents business and raise his family. Uncle Willy as many of his friends refer to him as is an avid ocean person and loves to fish & dive. He owns his own refuse removal business and hauls potable water. He attends the Hau’oli Kamana’o Church in Miloliʻi, and he continues to advocate for causes that protect the precious resources of Miloliʻi, especially the ocean. He is strong beleiver that it is your kuleana to malama your place and to be thankful for what you have, thus as a community leader he always works to protect the cause and fights for what he believeʻs is right.
	Uncle Meha Taetuna ʻŌpelu Fisherman Uncle Meha Taetuna is an avid fisherman and ʻōpelu fishing expert. He is committed to helping Miloliiʻs keiki learn the traditional methodʻs of ʻōpelu fishing. Uncle Meha also volunteers to teach the keiki other traditional practices like making an imu and preparing a pig for traditional cooking.
	Eddie “Piki” Hayward Canoe Paddler, Coach, Hawaiian Language Specialist Eddie “Piki” Hayward is a highly experienced canoe paddler and coach. A resident of Kailua-Kona he is a graduate of Honokaʻa High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo where he received his degree in Hawaiian Studies in 1995. He is fluent in Hawaiian language and is a Hawaiian language teacher at Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino in Kealakekua. A unique thing Piki does is coach and teach paddling at the school entirely in the Hawaiian language. A current coach and paddler of Kai Ehitu Outrigger Canoe Club with over 30+ years of paddling experience, he has crossed the Molokaʻi Channel 13 times. Piki has paddled for Kawaihae, Kamehameha, Kai ʻOpua and Puna canoe clubs and enjoyʻs spending time with his wife LeAnn and daughters Eleinā and Ashley. His nickname “Piki” means “Fiji” a reference to his Momʻs Fijian family lineage.
	Mildred Casuga Hālau Project Coordinator Mildred Casuga lives in Miloliʻi and works at Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau. She is an expert at the restoration and construction of traditional hawaiian hutʻs (hālau). In 2009 she was part of a team led by Jack Casuga that restored and rebuilt all the traditional halau at Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau. In late 2014 and 2015 she will be leading a team of community members to construct 3 traditional hālau at the community center location.
	Bill Rosehill Kalai Waʻa / Coach Bill Rosehill was born and raised in Kailua, Oahu. He was mentored in the art of koa outrigger canoe design and construction by several kupuna both hawaiian and tahitian beginning in 1975 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. He is a strong advocate for the construction of koa strip plank canoes (waʻa humu) to preserve the rapidly depleting supply of available 45ʻ koa logʻs in Hawaiiʻs forests. Bill co-built the koa canoe “Kunane” which is on display at the Keahou Beach Resort in Kona. He is the current president of the Kona Athletic Club and manages Kona Kanoes Hawaii. www.konakanoes.com
	Uncle John Kahiapo Aquatic Resources Specialist Uncle John Kahiapo is an aquatic resources specialist with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. He loves to volunteer time with the youth of Miloliʻi and has been a part of Miloliiʻs Lawaiʻa Camps since 2010. He lives in Hilo and is an aquatics and marine conservation expert.