Keliʻikanoe Mahi

Keliʻikanoe Mahi was born and raised on Oʻahu, graduated from Kamehameha Kapālama, and earned her degree in Hawaiian Studies focusing on the Hawaiian language from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She has her teaching license in Secondary Education but has taught in both Hawaiian and English almost all grade levels through her 22 years in the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Education. Keliʻikanoe taught at Hilo High School, Keaukaha Elementary (when the Hawaiian language immersion program was housed there), and most recently Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikamalino since 1998. She was the Vice Principal at ʻEhunui for 11 years and served as the Principal up until 2020 when she pivoted careers. She currently is the Executive Director for a non-profit organization called Hiki Ola, which provides educational engagement for students and community outreach around reforestation at Kealakekua Mountain Reserve. She is also serves as a member of the Kona Soil and Water Conservation District board.