A proud alum of Ka ʻŪmeke Kāʻeo, Hulali Puʻuohau - Cabanilla has moved on to higher academia pursuing her interests in aquaculture at the College of Agriculture at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She’s already got a headstart in terms of experience in the pursuit of her bachelor's degree as she’s been an intern with Hui Hoʻoleimaluō since she was in high school working in and out of the loko iʻa at Kaumaui and at Waiuli. Her passions are reflective in her creative and artistic skills along with her humility. Rain or shine, she’s right there at the loko iʻa putting in the work to make our community more sustainable by restoring our coastal areas – just as the Hui’s vision states – “Thriving Communities through Thriving Ecosystems.”

Born of the Oʻahualua winds and raised in the cold Kīpuʻupuʻu rain of Waimea and the nurturing Kanilehua rain of Hilo, Puaʻena Estocado began her journey in fishpond research as a sophomore at Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo and has continued her work becoming an intern with Hui Hoʻoleimaluō. From her initial project looking at growth rates of puaʻama in enclosed environments, Puaʻena has continued her interests in research and loko iʻa and now attends the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo studying Marine Science. As her academic journey continues, she intends to graduate and become a Kiaʻi Loko creating curriculum for educational programming and continue to study puaʻama.