Luana & Moloka‘i

As an elected fiduciary of the trust, my mission is still to work tirelessly to grow the trust and to expand the scope with which it serves its Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.  The goal of raising and sustaining the highest quality of life of the Hawaiian people is my ultimate mission. 

This will be accomplished by instituting a vigorous and thorough management of several important areas of responsibility within the purview of the trust:

• Greater care of OHA’s assets 

• Accountability and transparency of funds.  In order for OHA to function at the highest level, the Board of Trustees must work in harmony with each other. 

• A guiding principle of selfless service to others is one important way in which our Hawaiian values can enhance and improve the conditions of Native Hawaiians. With this goal in mind, it would be an honor for me to serve as your OHA Trustee once again. 

BACKGROUND

LUANA ALAPA is Native Hawaiian, and half Causasian, and is the daughter of Stanley Alapa and Kauana Kanahele of Laie, O‘ahu. 

While her father served in the United States Air Force, Stanley and Kauana was stationed in Agana, Guam when Luana was born. After his tour of duty ended, Luana and her two sisters spent part of their youth growing up in Laie, O‘ahu. 

She also spent her youth on the island of Moloka‘i as her father and his second wife moved to Kipu, and later moved to Ho‘olehua.  Luana is a proud graduate of the Kamehameha Schools. The value of a thorough and well-rounded education was instilled upon Luana by her late grandfather, Clinton Kanahele, a prolific author, educator, and scholar, as well as the Principal of both the Benjamin Parker and the Laie elementary schools.  He was an expert in the Hawaiian language and and was a member of the Latter-Day Saints - Mormon Church.  Luana continued to pursue higher education by attending the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. 

After graduating from College in 1985, she was crowned Miss Hawaii 1987 and had the privilege and the opportunity to travel the world promoting Hawai‘i and sharing her talent and her culture with people everywhere. Her rich and diverse background has endowed her with a special gift for interacting with people of various cultures and of understanding of her own cultural identity. In addition, her background and understanding of her own cherished cultural roots has enhanced her ability to embody the spirit of Aloha throughout the world. 

A natural-born leader, Luana believes in addressing challenges head-on, a characteristic that has served her well as she embarked on a career in as a professional Model and instructor. 

She opened up her own modeling school called L.A. Models, Hawai‘i. Luana instructed students of all ages the most effective ways in which to pursue a career in the industry.  Many of her students competed successfully in the International Talend and Modeling competition in New York and gone on to successful careers in the industry. 

Luana moved on into the world of retail and collaborated with her sisters to start their own clothing retail shop. Wanting to tap into the wedding industry, the family partnered with a bridal boutique shop where they remained for several years. Later, the sisters added a production company and Luana served as director and producer of fashion shows, state pageants and entertainment hula shows for her clients.

Luana spent over thirty years in the production and personal development industry, teaching developing the characteristics of:  poise, grace, stature, public speaking, personal grooming, proper etiquette, and job interview techniques, while educating and uplifting women, building their self confidence in order to realize their fullest potential.

Luana taught workshops like this on each island and had hopes to one day implement a program of this nature to help Native Hawaiian children develop and strengthen a positive self-image that would carry them through their early educational years as well as into their post high school years. These basic life skills are very important yet are not required, nor implemented in our current educational programs.  Luana also produced some of Hawai‘i’s top Pageant competitions to sold-out venues, with the sponsorship support of many business and local companies that continue to support her productions to this day.  These business attributes and personal qualities are essential with her goals as an OHA Trustee; to help Native Hawaiians realize their full potential as healthy, educated, career-driven positive individuals. 

Entrepreneurs abound in the Alapa family as older sibling, Laura Ohelo Alapa-Esterbrook, formed ALAPA HAWAII which features a successful line of jams and Ohelo  Mango Chutney and can be found in 22 local stores and specialty shops.  

Luana added another layer on to her professional life as she later settled into the world of Nutraceuticals as an independent sales rep. She also recently received her state license to practice Health and Life Insurance. Luana’s business acumen will be a welcome addition to the board of Trustees.  She has a reputation for getting things done through initiating tasks and projects and infusing enthusiasm in whatever she does. As a self-reliant, motivated Hawaiian woman, she is a true role-model to other women, through her inspirational talks on self-empowerment and maintaining a positive mindset.  These qualities will help Luana to bring a fresh new energy to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

MOTHERHOOD AND FAMILY LIFE -  Raising a family has been at the forefront of Luana’s busy life. She has dedicated her time and energy to being a role model for her children so she may raise strong, independent, kind, intelligent, God-loving children.  

She is a strong presence in the lives of her two children - Kyla Hee, 23 years old, is a graduate of Mid Pacific Institute, won the 2015 Miss Hawaii Teen USA title, is a professional model/actress, and attends the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Son, Marcus Hee is 19 years old, a scholar athlete and outstanding MVP Athlete of the year, Magna cum laude graduate of Roosevelt High school and currently attends Central Washington University. He is also a model/actor signed with Larson Talent Hawaii.  

Luana also became a foster parent of two Native Hawaiian siblings Hiilani and Matthew Haili.  Hiilani Haili-Finau is 26 years old, a graduate of Roosevelt High, married and mother of two beautiful children. Matthew Haili is 24 years old, graduate of Kaiser high, and is currently attending Trade school. Luana is active in other areas of her life.  

She is currently a Rotarian member of the E - Club Honolulu, where service to others is an important element in being a member. She has volunteered at several community service projects throughout the years but recently spent more of her free time with FOOD BANK Hawaii, an organization dear to her heart. Luana is also a member of the Toastmasters - Abe Lee Club, Ala Moana where she recently competed and won her district Speech contest. She is a sports enthusiast and active participant in volleyball, basketball, and is an avid tennis player winning a total of six separate state tennis championships and has been ranked on a national level. 

FAMILY ROOTS - Luana (and her sisters) traveled to Moloka‘i as teenagers to visit with their Father Stanley and Step-mother Shirley Alapa. Stanley settled down in Kipu, from 1975 to 1990  and later moved to Ho‘olehua on five acres of Hawaiian homestead land. Each sister was awarded five acres of Hawaiian homes land in Kalamaula. After their father’s passing in 2001, the Alapa sisters – Ohelo, Luana and Kau‘i -- maintained their father’s land ‘til this day. Luana’s grandparents are Clinton Kanahele and wife Agnes Kauana Sanford Kanahele, who is also related to the Kaleikini, Davis, Ka‘eo, and Meyer of Moloka‘i. Clinton Kanahele was an educated man of great character, integrity and spiritual Hawaiian. He is highly respected as a cultural expert and was often referred to by Mary Pukui, Hawai‘i’s renowned authority on the Hawaiian Language. Agnes Kauana Sanford, was a highly respected hula student under the Tutelage of renowned Hula Master, Puha‘aheo. Luana’s Uncle the late Dr. George Kanahele, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, obtained his Ph.D in Political Science from Cornell. His passion was bringing about transformative change in the hospitality industry. He was also recognized as a  distinguished historian and author of several books include Critical Reflections on Cultural Values and Hotel management; Ku Kanaka - Stand Tall: A Search for Hawaiian Values; Hawaiian Music and It’s Musicians; Emma: Hawai‘i’s Remarkable Queen; Waikiki, 100 B.C. to 1900 AD An Untold Story; And Restoring Hawaiianness to Waikiki. He was also one of the founders of the: Native Hawaiian Tourism and Hospitality Association in 1997 and was President of the WAIAHA Foundation, a nonprofit group created to promote traditional Hawaiian values in the hospitality industry.  

The late Edward Kanahele, graduate of Kamehameha Schools, younger brother of George, was a history professor and worked to preserve Hawaiian heritage. He was an active participant in efforts to protect ancient Hawaiian burial sites and remains. It was his passion to be able to return Hawaiian remains to Hawaiian land and was successful in convincing the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural history to return the remains of 85 Hawaiians. He was also married to Dr. Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele, who’s lifetime accomplishments include being a renowned Hawaiian Scholar, Practitioner, educator, author, Musician, community leader and was awarded the status of “Living Treasure of Hawai‘i”. Luana’s family roots proudly run deep in the core of her Hawaiian lineage. Running for OHA is certainly a “calling” for Luana, an opportunity to serve her Hawaiian Culture, the Hawaiian community and all of Hawai‘i.