Team — Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association

Meet the NaHHA Team

A team serving Hawaiʻi across Hawaiʻi.

NaHHA’s team serves the community and the visitor industry across Hawaiʻi.

MĀLIA SANDERS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kapolei, Oʻahu

Mālia has recently been recognized with the 2022 Social Impact Entrepreneur of the Year Award and featured as one of AIANTA’s Native American Leaders in Cultural Heritage Tourism. Mālia is also a 2022 Pineapple Award recipient which recognizes her contributions in hospitality leadership in Hawai‘i.

Mālia is a founding member and Alakaʻi of ʻAha Pūlama Pāʻū Hololio, a Hawaiian Pāʻū Riding Club, the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, and the Chair of the annual Holokū Ball.

KAʻIULANI SPENCER

ADMIN COORDINATOR

Kīhei, Maui

Kaʻiulani has practiced hula under the instruction of Kumu Hula Kuʻualoha Kaulia and has been a lifelong advocate for Native Hawaiian culture and ʻāina-based (land-based) learning. Kaʻiulani also serves as a member of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu exercising her civic engagement. Kaʻiulani also enjoys spending her free time in voluntourism and is a Maui community advocate. She believes that assisting Native Hawaiians in achieving success in tourism and hospitality endeavors will provide economic benefit and will build strong and sustainable communities.

KANOE TJORVATJOGLOU CUP-CHOY

PROGRAMS STRATEGIST

Kailua, Oʻahu

Kanoe is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools and George Mason University, where she received her BA in Global Affairs, with a concentration in Global Governance and double minor in Business and Conflict Analysis & Resolution.

Kanoe serves as a Programs Strategist developing NaHHA’s incubator programming cohort experiences that grow tourism product and support circular economy.

JENNIFER ARMSTRONG

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Makakilo, Oʻahu

Jen is a graduate of Pacific University and holds a BA in Media Arts with an emphasis in Journalism and a minor in Creative Writing. Jen also holds an MA in Communications from Hawaiʻi Pacific University.

Jen is an Accredited Public Relations professional with the Public Relations Society of America and is a media specialist in public relations and communications supporting NaHHA in her roles as our Public Relations Officer.

HIʻILANI SHIBATA

CULTURAL TRAINER

Waianaʻe, Oʻahu

Hiʻilani was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where she received her BA in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language). A lifelong learner, Hiʻilani has spent the last 25 years in both formal and informal education.

As one of NaHHA’s cultural trainers, you can catch Hiʻilani in one of our many training sessions throughout the month including Hoʻokipa Hawaiʻi Style and the Wahi Pana series and in customized training sessions.

KAINOA HORCAJO

CULTURAL TRAINER

Wailuku, Maui

Kainoa was born and raised in Wailuku, Maui. He is a graduate of the University of San Diego where he received his BA in International Relations. Kainoa balances cultural practices with lifelong indigenous learning and has spent the last 20 years building "bridges" between people, cultures and industries.

As one of NaHHA’s Cultural Trainers, you can catch Kainoa in one of our many training sessions throughout the month including the Wahi Pana series and in customized training programming.

JOSEPH PEKELO RECCA

CULTURAL HISTORIAN

Honolulu, Oʻahu

It is with a humble heart that the ʻohana of the NaHHA mourn the passing of one of our own, Joseph Pekelo Kekipi Bright Recca. Given the title of Kumu for his historical and cultural contributions to the legacy of the organization, Joe Recca, affectionately referred to as “Uncle Joe”, served as our Waikīkī Cultural Historian and as a Lamakū Hoʻokipa (Cultural Resource) for NaHHA for 25 years. Uncle Joe was well known for his walking tours in Waikīkī, where the rich history of this wahi pana would come to life through the weaving of his moʻolelo (stories).

Sep. 22, 1946 – Nov. 18, 2022