The Mizu Wai project is grateful to be guided by an Advisory Board holding deep mana'o and 'ike of place.
Chanelle Lokelani Chin Tolentino has over 15 years of experience in education across private and public settings, working with all ages from K through higher ed. Rooted in the humanities with more than a decade in STEM, she currently teaches programming at the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu and founded Hawaiʻi STEM Labs — an education service business built on the belief that STEM strengthens community through universal design and the possibilities of AI.

Loke's interest and excitement for the Mizu Wai project runs deep. She spent part of her childhood in Keʻanae, a place her mother also called home — where her great-grandmother tended her property just across from Uncle Harry's fruit stand. Her tūtū was a weaver, a practice she never had the chance to learn before she passed.  Reconnecting with those stories and traditions is exactly why projects like Mizu Wai matter — for so many families across Hawaiʻi.
Maile Davis is a proud Maui mom, educator, and community advocate who believes deeply in raising the next generation with a strong connection to ʻāina, community, and culture. Rooted in Haʻikū, her work centers around creating meaningful spaces for families, keiki, and the community to learn, grow, and care for the places they call home. She currently works with Malama Hamakua Maui and Friends of Twin Falls, helping support community access, environmental stewardship, and educational opportunities grounded in aloha ʻāina.
I’m honored to engage with this project, (Mizu-Wai) that weaves together community memory, cultural practice, and conversations around Maui’s water systems in such a meaningful and creative way. I believe the value of this work is in its ability to preserve stories, spark dialogue across generations, and reconnect people to the deeper histories carried through land and water.
Jessie Kapeka Kekiwi-Aweau is a dedicated community organizer and cultural practitioner representing Nā Moku ʻAupuni ʻO Koʻolau Hui, a grassroots non-profit committed to protecting the historical, traditional, and ecological well-being of East Maui's Keʻanae and Wailuanui regions. Deeply rooted in ancestral stewardship, she plays a vital role in uplifting the traditional Kanaka Maoli lifestyle, supporting kalo (taro) farming, and protecting regional water rights. Her leadership extends to key community-driven initiatives, including the ongoing restoration and management of Keʻanae Uka—a nine-acre community campground and events facility where she contributes essential manaʻo (knowledge) and ʻike (insight) toward East Maui watershed monitoring and stream health. Through her collaborative efforts, Kekiwi-Aweau continuously bridges cultural heritage with active environmental conservation to sustain both the land and the people of Maui.
Moses Bergau Jr. is a lifelong Nāhikū resident, fisherman, kūpuna​ (elder) caregiver, and dedicated community leader serving as a member of the ʻAha Wai O Maui Hikina (the East Maui Regional Community Board). Representing the Nāhikū region, Bergau brings a deeply personal understanding of the historic impacts of stream diversions on local lifestyles and generations of residents. Through his role on the board—which advises the East Maui Water Authority on transitioning water management from private to public hands—he advocates for watershed protection and the restoration of traditional loʻi (taro patch) systems that historically sustained the local food supply. Guided by the practice of kapu aloha—acting with kindness, love, and empathy—Bergau focuses on collaborative, community-led stewardship to return essential water rights and ecological balance to the people of East Maui.