Our friends at AIANTA are presenting a webinar, Authentic Storytelling Through Architecture & Design – Hawai’i Style.
Storytelling not only happens through our voices, but also through the designs, art, and intentions of our buildings and gathering spaces. Award-winning Native Hawaiian architect Rob Iopa and Native Hawaiian entrepreneur Mālia Kaʻaihue will share their successes in retaining the essence of the Native Hawaiian story while working with national brands.
Learn how Native voices can be honored in any environment by celebrating the people of the place. Hiʻilani Shibata, AIANTA Pacific Region Board member and Lead Cultural Trainer of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NaHHA), will be moderating.
Mālia Kaʻaihue
Founder & President, DTL Hawaiʻi
Mālia Kaʻaihue is a highly recognized entrepreneur and an award-winning author who is deeply involved in culture and community. She attended the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa where she received a bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Studies and Language, as well as her master and doctoral degrees in Political Science.
Over the last several years, Pacific Business News has recognized Mālia as a Woman to Watch in 2013, Forty Under 40 Class of 2016, an Industry Leader in 2017, top 25 Women Owned Businesses in 2019, and most recently an awardee for Hawaiʻi’s Fastest 50 in 2020. In addition, Mālia was featured on the cover of Hawaii Business Magazine’s 20 For the Next 20 in 2019.
Robert K. Iopa
Chairman, WCIT Architecture
Specializing in planning, entitlements and design, Rob Iopa has honed his craft through years of experience with several noteworthy firms, including for the past two decades with his own, WCIT Architecture. Throughout his career, Rob has led and participated in the development of projects throughout Asia, South America, the South Pacific, and all of the major Islands of Hawaiʻi. Under Rob’s leadership and direction, WCIT Architecture has grown from a startup group into one of the largest firms in the state with an impressive international clientele.
Hi’ilani Shibata
Lead Cultural Trainer of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
AIANTA Pacific Region Board Member
The lead cultural trainer of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association(NaHHA), Hiʻilani Shibata has been sharing the essence of ALOHA with those who work in the visitor industry of Hawaiʻi for more than 20 years. An educator, cultural consultant and a practitioner of lomilomi - healing through the manipulation of the body- Hiʻilani understands the importance of taking care of the place and the native culture is the foundation to a healthy hospitality industry. As one of the AIANTA Pacific Region board members, she would like to encourage those in the Pacific Region to uplift their culture through authentic sharing with visitors as the travel industry is a vehicle of peace around the world.
About AIANTA
For nearly two decades, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) has served as the national voice for American Indian nations engaged in cultural tourism. In addition to serving as the voice for Indian Country tourism, AIANTA provides technical assistance and training to Tribal nations and Native-owned enterprises engaged in tourism, hospitality and recreation.