Mele Andrade Director of Community Engagement and Training

Mele grew up on the island of Maui, where she developed her skills in nurturing and supporting the children and families of her community. With over 19 years of experience, Mele continues to effect positive change through home visitation and child abuse and neglect prevention.

Mele is grateful for the opportunity to raise her four children on the island of Maui. When she is not working, she loves spending time with them.

In her role as Director of Community Engagement and Training, she supports the children and families of Hawaiʻi in building healthy and strong communities.

Mele earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Southern California. She received her MSCP, Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy, from Chaminade University.

Krystal Baba Family Engagement Coordinator

Krystal envisions sustaining her role by bridging her dedication to building community partnerships with her grassroots. Her passion to support local communities is driven by her upbringing in Waipahu, Hawaiʻi, which also motivated her educational path. She received a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, with a concentration in Management, from the University of Phoenix while juggling multiple community roles. Her work connects through domestic violence advocacy, underage substance misuse prevention, sexual violence prevention, and supporting various community coalitions. She truly does it all for her daughter and her family, including her fur babies.

Chevelle Davis Director of Early Childhood and Health Policy

Chevelle Davis was born and raised on O‘ahu and calls the ahupua‘a of Hono‘uli‘uli home. As the oldest of six in a blended family, she cherishes time spent traveling, sharing ‘ono food, watching movies, and making memories with loved ones—family, friends, and her cat Cleo.

Grounded in her passion for community, anti-racism, and equity, Chevelle serves as the Director of Early Childhood and Health Policy at Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network. She advocates for policies that help Hawai‘i’s families raise their keiki and care for their ‘ohana in healthy, safe, and supportive environments.

Chevelle holds a BA in Public Health, an MPH in Health Policy & Management, and is pursuing her PhD in Public Health with a focus on Community-Based Participatory and Translational Research at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She is also an alumnus of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar program, committed to advancing anti-racist, community-centered, and justice-informed policies that drive systemic change across Hawai‘i.

Philamer Felicitas Communications Strategist

A Hilo-born daughter of Ilocano immigrants, Philamer was raised on the Leeward side of Oʻahu and calls the ahupuaʻa of Hoʻaeʻae home. Returning to Hawai‘i after spending transformative years in Arizona strengthened her connection to ʻāina and community. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family, connecting Waiʻanae keiki to the kai, serving as a board member for NativeStories.org, practicing hula, and voyaging with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and ʻOhana Waʻa. Her lived experiences as a solo parent navigating childcare, housing, and Hawaiʻi’s cost of living fuels her advocacy for keiki and local ʻohana.

Philamer’s background includes leadership roles with BLM Phoenix Metro, Poder In Action, and the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce, where she developed bilingual education materials, led culturally grounded storytelling campaigns, and was involved in grassroots community organizing. At Arizona State University, she held key roles at the ASU Foundation, Enterprise Partners, and the ASU Office of Social Advancement, where she developed fundraising communications strategies, produced high-level multimedia content for stakeholders, and collaborated with world Indigenous leaders on creating a vision for a Global Conservation University.

Grounded academically in digital communications and guided by her belief in honoring kūlana and kūleana to people and place, Philamer centers people, purpose, and place in every project she leads and is committed to using storytelling as a tool for transformation to uplift the communities she honors and humbly serves.

Mai Kapuaoʻihilani Mei-Lin Hall Family Engagement Specialist

Mai was born and raised in Kalihi, Oʻahu. As a former preschool teacher, public school teacher, Hawaiian culture Kumu, and non-profit program manager, Mai brings a diverse perspective to the field of early learning, having served as an early childhood advocate for over 18 years. She has worked and volunteered in a variety of settings, including center-based care, family child care, family-child interaction learning programs, shelters, the Department of Education, and Kamehameha Schools.

Mai received both her B.Ed. and M.Ed. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with an emphasis in early childhood education and Hawaiian culture. She has served on the Executive Board for the Hawaiʻi affiliate chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (HiAEYC) for seven years, which fueled her advocacy efforts for preschool providers and children. Mai serves as the Co-Chair of the Honolulu Community Children’s Council (CCC) and as a parent representative on the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC), advocating for children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. As a parent of two children with disabilities, she is committed to improving systems, services, and positive outcomes for our keiki.

Le'a Hanawahine Strategic Events and Operations Coordinator

Le'a was born and raised in Waimānalo, Hawai'i, where she first learned the true meaning of mālama. Growing up in Hawai'i, Le'a has developed a lifelong love for nature, especially the beach, animals, and ʻono food!

Le'a is a recent graduate of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing and a concentration in Strategic Communications. During her undergraduate studies, Le'a completed the Pre-Health Sciences Program, was an active member of several on-campus clubs, and volunteered for organizations that focused on serving underserved communities. Le'a is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health and Master of Business Administration programs, where she looks forward to applying her studies to her work with HCAN.

From a young age, Le'a has always been passionate about working and volunteering for non-profits, such as Shriners Hospital for Children and the Special Olympics. She is more than excited to continue her work with Hawai'i Children Action Network, as she looks forward to serving the children and families of Hawai'i.

Jaki Knaus Director of Communications

Jaki Knaus is a skilled graphic designer by trade and an experienced marketing professional based on the mokupuni of O'ahu, moku of Kona, in the ahupua'a of Waikīkī.

After graduating from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa with a B.A. in Psychology, Jaki developed a successful career in marketing and started his agency in 2015. With over 13 years of experience in the field of design, Jaki has developed a robust skill set in various areas of creativity and technical expertise. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, working with notable organizations such as Hawaiian Airlines, the American Heart Association, AlohaCare, The Cathedral of St. Andrew and Priory, Pacific Health Analytics Collaborative, Māpuna Lab, Pohana ʻO Nā Wāhine, and Central Pacific Bank, utilizing his expertise and passion to benefit the community. A vast majority of his skills are self-taught, and he continues to learn new forms of technology every day.

During his free time, he enjoys fishing, practicing jiu-jitsu, playing video games, training his therapy dog, and spending time with his friends and family. Jaki is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and a proud advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights nationwide as an openly queer, transgender man. "Pilina first, always," says Jaki, placing relationships as an integral part of any transaction or interaction.

Diane Tabangay Anti-Hunger Advocate

Diane is the Anti-Hunger Advocate focusing on food insecurity and policy solutions to child hunger in Hawaii. In this role, she works collaboratively with public and private entities to address gaps and barriers to food access, including participation in Child Nutrition Programs. Diane’s entire work life has been dedicated to serving children and families as an educator and program administrator. She was born and raised on Oahu, educated through Hawaii’s public-school system, and earned a B.Ed. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education with an emphasis on early childhood education and school administration. Reflecting is her favorite pastime, as she finds great happiness in reminiscing about time spent with family and friends and staying in touch with them.

Malia Tsuchiya Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy Coordinator

Malia is a mother of five and a strong advocate for early childhood education. She spent nearly twenty years as a direct service provider, working as a family childcare provider, infant-toddler lead caregiver, and preschool teacher. She has vast experience in curriculum development, accreditation, and licensing procedures. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Child Development, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a focus on Child Development, and is currently completing her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership.

In recent years, Malia’s focus has been on community organizing, implementing systemic quality improvements, and developing the workforce and leadership. She is a firm believer in the need for systems approaches to solutions. Malia believes that through the work of a strong body of early childhood advocates, Hawai’i can make the systems changes needed to become a champion for the rights our children deserve.

Malia’s passion for early childhood has inspired her to reach out to the broader community to help advocate for the rights of young children, their families, and their communities. Growing up between Hawai’i Island and Kaua’i, Malia understands and respects the importance of strong communities as a foundation for the well-being of young children. Malia approaches life and work from a servant leadership perspective, seeking to empower the voices of everyone who desires to create a better world for our children. Who will advocate for the rights of our children, if not us, then who?

Courtney Velazquez Deputy Director

Courtney grew up in the red dirt of Central Oʻahu. She has 25+ years of experience working in government and nonprofit organizations in Honolulu and Seattle. Her philosophy is to get resources to changemakers and get out of the way. For more than 12 years, she worked alongside community partners to address houselessness, gender-based violence, and labor protections. Before that, she advocated with youth to access post-secondary opportunities and taught adult English language learners.

Courtney learned from community organizer mentors how to translate racial equity principles into actions. She is grateful to give back to Hawai'i--the place and people that shaped her earliest years. She received her master's degree in public administration from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and she speaks Spanish. She loves to travel, surf, fish, read, and celebrate at Bon Dances in the summer.

Gwen Whiting Program Manager

Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Gwen is an alumnus of the Hawai’i Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), where she honed her leadership skills and deepened her commitment to community development. With years of experience in developing inclusive and impactful programs, Gwen has established a reputation for her ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including schools, families, and local organizations. A deep understanding of the unique needs of local families and communities guides her work.

Currently, Gwen is focused on increasing awareness, enhancing accessibility, and promoting participation in the benefits and services available to families in Hawai’i. She is particularly excited about her involvement with initiatives such as the Preschool Development Grant Media/Outreach Campaign for Hawai’i, where she is helping to expand the reach of early childhood education opportunities and ensure that more families have access to the resources they need to thrive. Gwen’s goal is to foster a stronger, more inclusive future for Hawai’i’s keiki through empowerment, education, and community involvement.

Nicole Woo Director of Research and Economic Policy

Nicole is the Director of Research and Economic Policy. She focuses on the economic empowerment of Hawai‘i's families and children through initiatives such as the state budget, tax credits for working families, and food security programs. She has over two decades of experience in policy and research, focusing on childhood hunger, work-family support strategies, wages and economic inequality, and tax and budget policies. Her work has been conducted at non-profit organizations and think tanks in New York City, Washington, D.C., Bangalore, India, and Hawaii. Nicole received her B.A. from Harvard University, where she concentrated in Government.