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Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

Two military officers stationed in Hawai‘i have been busted this week for sexually exploiting children.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawai‘i Ken Sorenson announced Tuesday that 22-year-old Rumaldo Valdez, former Navy petty officer, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for the possession and promotion of child pornography.

The following day, Sorenson announced a conviction in a separate, unrelated case: 44-year-old Ross Andrew Brown, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, was convicted on two counts each of attempted sexual enticement of a minor, attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted receipt of child pornography.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Valdez"}]

In the Valdez case, the FBI was first alerted to his reported activities in 2021, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children submitted a tip that several people were using a Discord server to produce and share child sexual abuse material.

According to a criminal complaint, a confidential source on that server told the FBI that one user — operating under variations of the username “Duck” — had coerced an underage girl into sending him a sexually explicit video, which “Duck” then used to blackmail the girl.

The source claimed “Duck” had thus manipulated the girl into cutting the word “duck” into her arm, which she filmed. “Duck” then shared the video online — the FBI special agent who wrote the criminal complaint stated that participants in such child exploitation rings often use such media, called “fansigns,” as “trophies.”

“Duck” had also previously been tied to an online group called “Greggy’s Cult,” a ring of people that produced and distributed similar material before seemingly disbanding around 2021.

In any event, the FBI had linked “Duck” to Valdez through his IP address and Discord email by 2024. In May of that year, agents seized his computer and hard drives from the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific in Wahiawā.

On Valdez’s hard drives agents found several encrypted files containing child pornography, including at least one involving the murder of an infant and multiple depicting a toddler being tortured.

Elsewhere on Valdez’s drives, investigators found multiple images and videos of children displaying variations of the “Duck” username.

Valdez pled guilty in October 2025 to possession of child porn. Much of the court documents surrounding his case are sealed to the public; however, a sentencing memorandum by his defense attorney argued that Valdez was a minor when he began his activities — only 15 or 16 when he first became involved in “Greggy’s Cult” — and that he had joined the Navy “to get away from the destructive online extortion that he was involved in and tried to build a productive future for himself.”

Nonetheless, Valdez was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.

“Let Valdez’s sentence serve as a warning to any other depraved and sadistic individuals who seek to harm and exploit children – there is nowhere for you to hide, no corner of the internet you will not be found, and no stone we will leave unturned to bring you to justice,” Sorenson said in a statement.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Brown"}]

Meanwhile, Brown’s arrest came following a sting by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division.

According to a criminal complaint, a CID agent posed as a 14-year-old girl in 2023 using the now-defunct anonymous social media app Whisper. The agent’s posts prompted responses by a user who was eventually identified as Brown.

During their online conversations, Brown repeatedly made sexual comments toward the agent, believing that he was flirting with a 14-year-old.

Eventually, they made plans to meet in person in April 2023 at Schofield Barracks. The agent requested Brown bring a specific type of gum, and Brown dutifully bought the gum en route, without knowing he was being surveilled. CID arrested him promptly at the rendezvous point.

At a trial in February, Sorenson presented 38 other sexually explicit conversations between Brown and people presenting themselves as girls as young as 12 years old, including explicit images purportedly of minors. At least one of those conversations involved Brown unsuccessfully attempting to meet with a 15-year-old girl for sex at an airport hotel in 2021.

While a jury found Brown guilty of six out of the 17 charges against him, he will not be sentenced until June 23. He remains in custody, despite several motions by his attorneys for his release.

“It is a profound breach of trust to both our military community and the public we serve, when a senior military officer commits crimes that exploit the vulnerable,” said CID special agent in charge Ruben Santiago in a statement.

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Courtfed

<title>Two military officers busted for child sex exploitation</title>

A Navy petty officer and an Air Force lieutenant colonel have been respectively sentenced and convicted for sexually exploiting minors online.

Two military officers busted for child sex exploitation

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Before the University of Hawai‘i men's basketball team embarked on its 2025-2026 campaign, Isaac "Big Fish" Johnson sat in a hot tub with some of his teammates. Life after basketball came up, and it was there that Johnson shared this particular season would probably be it for him as far as organized hoops is concerned. 

Following a two-year church mission in Ohio, Johnson began his collegiate career at the University of Oregon in 2021. The 7-foot center from Utah arrived as the No. 61 ranked player nationally in his high school class, according to ESPN Recruiting. But college ball was a different story at first, and Johnson played in just 14 games as a true freshman. He then transferred to Utah State, where he started 31 games in the 2023-2024 season but saw his role diminish the following year. 

With one year of eligibility remaining, Johnson hit the NCAA transfer portal one last time, landing with UH. The plan was to play for the Rainbow Warriors for one year, then get a job while supporting his wife, Audrah, an outside hitter for Chaminade's women's volleyball team. 

Johnson has started all 28 games for the Rainbow Warriors thus far, quickly earning fan favorite status. Whether it's an electrifying dunk, swished 3-pointer or an emphatic block, fans can be seen motioning their arms and performing a chomping motion in support of Big Fish.

Each game with the 'Bows has reminded Johnson why he began playing in the first place. He loves the sport. And he has a lot more to give to it. 

"Being here has ignited that fire back in me, and it feels amazing to be in that position and to have that love rekindled," Johnson said. "It's been pretty awesome.

"It's been consistently throughout the season, there's been moments and being a part of this team, meeting with this coaching staff that treats us like adults and like real human beings instead of a number. The community loves us so deeply. There's just so many little things that have helped grow it."

While being a member of the team has reignited Johnson's love for the sport, his play on the court has revived a program that was coming off a disappointing 2024-2025 season. The Rainbow Warriors went 15-16 overall and 7-13 in Big West play, missing the conference tournament entirely. Heading into their final set of home games in 2025-2026, the Rainbow Warriors are 21-7 overall and 13-5 in conference games. 

If the Rainbow Warriors were to defeat UC Riverside on Thursday and Long Beach State on Saturday, coupled with a UC Irvine loss on Thursday or Saturday, the 'Bows would be crowned Big West regular season champions. Two wins, regardless of UC Irvine's results, would guarantee the 'Bows a top 2 seed and valuable double bye in the conference tournament, which runs from March 11-14 in Henderson, Nev. 

Hawai‘i head coach Eran Ganot believes Johnson has a true shot at winning conference Player of the Year. His impact on the court is felt well beyond his 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. 

"Big Fish is up there for Player of the Year, and he's a guy who's come from winning programs, but now he's had to have the task of being a more impactful player on a winning program," Ganot said. "He's done that, and it's been fun to watch. And I think he has a bright future."

Following Saturday's home finale against Long Beach State, Johnson will be one of six seniors honored following the game, along with Harry Rouhliadeff, Gytis Nemeikša, Hunter Erickson, Dre Bullock and Yacine Toumi. Point guard Tanner Cuff is also listed as a senior but is expected back for the 2026-2027 campaign after a knee injury sidelined him in November. 

"Just to see all those guys smile, this is what they wanted, and they wanted to play for a good program, to have success as a team," Ganot said of his senior class. "Then the added benefit of doing it in this state with this fanbase, I couldn't thank them more. I always say this, and I'll say it again over the course of the week, people ask me about the seniors. Hire them. They're guaranteed. And number two, just very grateful for them, thankful that they're in our lives."

The Rainbow Warriors will head to Nevada for the Big West tournament next week, where they'll aim to punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years. Regardless of how the season ends, it won't be the end of Johnson's playing career. 

"Life is short. This is for Fish or anybody, whatever path they choose: Do what you love, where you love, with the people you love, and do it at a place where you can improve. Development's really important," Ganot said. "For me as a coach, you could see the joy, because he loves Hawai‘i, he loves his team and he loves the game, and so that's a big part of why he's improved, because he's happy, and that's a credit to the people of Hawai‘i, the University of Hawai‘i, his teammates, himself. Everybody deserves to be happy."

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Isaac Johnson 030426

<title>Hawai‘i men's basketball standout Isaac "Big Fish" Johnson rediscovers his love for the…</title>

Johnson, a senior transfer and one of the team's star players, has been one of the biggest keys in the program's turnaround in the 2025-2026 season.

Hawai‘i men's basketball standout Isaac "Big Fish" Johnson rediscovers his love for the game in Islands

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Government & Politics

WAI'ANAE — One conversation between a nonprofit and local government led to another to create the first Emergency Medical Technician or (EMT) program on the Leeward Coast. 

The five-month long program, which includes both classroom and hands-on training, started Feb. 2 with a cohort of 12 members, all from or with ties to West O’ahu. It purpose is to 

strengthen emergency medical services capacity, while creating career pathways for those on the West Side.

Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

The City and County of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services

 held a launch party Friday, celebrating the community-based initiative that “was a long time coming,” according to WCCHC Board Member Dan Gomes. There were nearly 75 officials, 

staff and community members in attendance.

Gomes, a longtime Waiʻanae resident, shared a personal story about a time when he needed an EMT’s help. “This profession will have a huge impact on so many lives,” he said at the Welcome Event Friday. “It’s a badly needed resource out here.”

WCCHC President and CEO Rich Bettini added, gesturing to the recruits: "Look at these folks here, these are our neighbors and friends. These are our family. So many programs require training to get into health care. You have to go all the way to town. … As one of the largest employers on the West Side, we employ over 700 people and want to make sure most of those jobs go to those in the community. And so, this is a step in that direction. There’s going to be more programs like this.”

Bettini recognized those present from Kapiʻolani Community College’s EMS program, as well as the mayor and his team, “who made this all happen.”

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi returned the favor, calling Bettini "one of his heroes," after ditching his script to give his regards. “If you get to a moment like this, understanding what this represents, the gratification … to see the vision of this become a reality, seeing what can happen when people collaborate and address a need."

"This is the beginning of something and you [the recruits] get to be that foundation to which we stand, to build on your success. This is powerful stuff," he continued.

Aloha State Daily spoke with Myrakle Nakea-Brown, a recruit from Nānakuli, about what the experience has been like so far. She said that the time is going by fast and that she’s enjoying the friends she’s been making along the way.

“It’s fun and involves a lot of studying. I’m learning a lot,” Nakea-Brown noted.

She told ASD that she has always wanted to be in the medical field, specifically as a registered nurse, so the new EMT program “is a stepping stone for that.”

Her advice to others who might be interested in the next cohort of this program is: Find your people. “They make the exhaustion, tears, struggle all of it worth it.”

Recruits are in the process of developing EMT skills, including proper cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques, trauma wound care and monitoring blood pressure and oxygen levels, per an announcement from the county. Come June, the county says recruits who complete the program “will meet all requirements for licensure as an Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B) with the state and be eligible to work as EMTs for the City and County of Honolulu.”

Honolulu EMS pays for recruits’ salaries and benefits while in the 

As of late 2025, “EMS has 249 first responders: paramedics, EMTs and dispatchers. There is a shortage of 24. An academy class of 19 recruits will start in early 2026,” 

WCCHC is committed to providing heath care education and workforce development, preparing "people from the community to serve its community," officials with the organization said. To learn more about existing training programs, 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

WCCHC EMS Program February 2026

<title>Partnership brings new EMT training program to West O’ahu</title>

Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, in collaboration with The City and County of Honolulu, have launched a program that offers both classroom and hands-on training, to strengthen emergency medical services capacity, while creating career pathways for those on the Leeward Coast.

Partnership brings new EMT training program to West O’ahu

A state proposal to limit the governor’s emergency powers has been lambasted as government overreach.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, then-Gov. David Ige made more than 20 consecutive emergency proclamations that suspended various state statutes without oversight from other branches of government.

 is a measure drafted partially in response to those proclamations, attempting to define what the governor or any county mayor can and cannot do through an emergency declaration.

But the bill has drawn controversy from individuals who believe the bill signifies an attempt to codify extrajudicial authorities for the executive branch.

 submitted in advance of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday excoriated the bill, with dozens calling it governmental overreach empowering the governor to activate sweeping powers on a whim.

“[SB 2151 hands] one person — the governor — near-unchecked power to declare emergencies, suspend our rights, enter our property without permission, lock us down, seize assets, or disarm us, all with too-little real accountability from the Legislature or courts,” read one letter by resident Dawn O’Brien, which echoed sentiments repeated through much of the testimony at Tuesday’s hearing.

However, this is not what the bill does. Karl Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the bill’s primary introducer, told the committee 

 that he intended the measure to restrict the governor’s powers, and that much of the opposition facing the bill appears to be misdirected.

“There’s been a lot of testimony opposed to it seemingly thinking that this bill was expanding the governor’s power and it is certainly not,” Rhoads said.

As currently written, the bill prohibits any emergency declaration from overriding the state’s requirement to respond to public records requests in a timely manner.

Ige’s early Covid proclamations suspended the Uniform Information Practices Act, which requires public agencies’ records to be open to public inspection and review. They also included a partial suspension of the Sunshine Law — which requires state and county boards to hold meetings open to the public — to allow for meetings to be held entirely remotely.

, in Feb. 2021, the UIPA was only suspended insofar as agencies did not have to adhere to deadlines. However, the partial Sunshine Law suspension continued.

SB 2151 specifically prohibits a governor or mayor from suspending deadlines to respond to UIPA requests, or deadlines for the Department of Health to provide various patient vital records. However, the bill allows for a “reasonable delay” for the DOH to provide the latter during extenuating circumstances.

For those laws that can still be suspended through an emergency proclamation, another section of the bill specifically details how those suspensions can be carried out. As stated in the bill, any suspension of law cannot last any longer “than the governor deems necessary for the execution of emergency management functions.”

The same applies for county laws and emergency proclamations issued by mayors.

For every law suspended, the bill specifies that any emergency proclamation must identify the specific statutes affected and explain why the suspension is necessary for emergency management.

Furthermore, the bill introduced by Rhoads would amend the emergency powers law to allow the state Legislature to terminate a gubernatorial state of emergency by a two-thirds majority vote. The same goes for county councils, which could vote to end a county state of emergency by a two-thirds majority.

The latest version of the bill also amends the statutory definition of “emergency” to specify that it must be an imminent threat of a disaster that could cause “catastrophic harm and immediate danger” and that could be averted or minimized through timely action. Rhoads said Tuesday that this precludes the possibility of the governor issuing emergency proclamations regarding homelessness, which Rhoads noted “has been with us for many years.”

This isn’t the first time Rhoads has attempted to pass a similar bill. Last year, 

 — which proposed much the same changes as SB 2151, with much less public opposition — came very close to passing, but failed in April over disagreements between the House and Senate regarding various amendments made to the measure.

But while the bill may not be an expansion of the governor’s powers, it has attracted criticism from other directions. Several testifiers argued that the bill still allows the governor or mayor to be the sole judge of whether something is an emergency, and to continually re-issue consecutive proclamations despite an existing statute that automatically terminates a state of emergency after 60 days.

Nor does the bill remove existing statutes allowing the governor to enforce quarantines against people believed to be infected with a deadly contagion, or to seize and destroy property, or to authorize unpermitted entry onto private property, or seize firearms, all of which dozens of testifiers have demanded to be changed.

On the other hand, several groups voiced support for the bill, including the Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i, which lauded the measure’s ability to both preserve the intent of emergency statutes while also checking the executive branch’s power.

The state Office of Information Practices, which responds to UIPA requests, took no stance on the measure, stating that the matter “is a policy decision for the Legislature to determine.” However, OIP confirmed that the suspensions of the UIPA during the pandemic “had a significant effect on requesters, agencies and OIP’s own operations,” with people experiencing long delays before receiving official responses to record requests.

The Senate Judiciary Committee took no action on the measure on Tuesday, with Rhoads deferring any decision on the matter until March 5. A corresponding bill, House Bill 2236, passed second reading in the House on Feb. 18, but has not yet been scheduled in that chamber’s own judiciary committee.

Capitol Jan 2026

<title>Emergency proclamation bill stirs controversy</title>

A measure intended to limit the governor's ability to declare a state of emergency has citizens warning that it does the opposite. But does it?

Emergency proclamation bill stirs controversy

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Business & Tourism

Arts & Entertainment

Kaula Lūʻau, a new theatrical lūʻau celebrating one woman’s family lineage, opens this Friday, Feb. 27, at Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina Resort in West Oʻahu. It is produced by Hawaiian Council and led by a Native Hawaiian creative team that includes Kipe Ebana, 

, Tiana Nonosina and Kayla Faʻamaligi. The performances will take place in a space next to Ulua Lagoon 4 and Ko Olina Marina, less than two miles from the recently closed 

“Everything about it from its design to who's producing it, who wrote the story, to the organization that's behind it — it's all Native Hawaiian led,” Kūhiō Lewis, president and CEO of Hawaiian Council, told Aloha State Daily. “It's rare that Native Hawaiians get to —  from start to finish — create and produce something like this. We’re excited to tell our own story.”

, is a Kapolei-based nonprofit that focuses its programs on business incubation, housing, policy, tourism and workforce development to support Native Hawaiians. Through a partnership with Ko Olina Resort — which includes Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa; Four Seasons Resort Oʻahu at Ko Olina; Beach Villas at Ko Olina; Ko Olina Golf Club; Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club; and Ko Olina Marina — 

 will have use of the land for the lūʻau, the marina that supports the lūʻau, and a parking area for 18 months free of rent, Lewis said. Proceeds from operations during that time will support the council’s work.

The space will see the activation of two stage productions in 2026: Kaula Lūʻau, starting this week, and 

the musical “Hawaiian Goddess: The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka,”

 which is set to debut in December. The musical is a partnership between Hawaiian Council and WitzEnd Productions, founded by Broadway producer 

. “Hawaiian Goddess: The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka” stars 

 as Pele and had its world premiere at the Native Hawaiian Convention in October of 2025.  

“In addition to the lūʻau, there is a partnership with [Native Hawaiian-owned] Hawaiʻi Nautical, which is a boat operator out of Ko Olina, so people can go on a sunset cruise and then come back for the lūʻau,” Lewis said.

Kaula Lū‘au provides jobs to a number of employees of Paradise Cove Lū‘au, which operated in Ko Olina for more than four decades before it 

. The new lūʻau has 27 cast members, 16 of which came from the Paradise Cove Lū‘au, Lewis said. About a dozen additional former employees of Paradise Cove Lū‘au will be joining Kaula Lūʻau as hosts, bussers and lei greeters, he added.

The costumes for Kaula Lūʻau were designed by Native Hawaiian designers: 

, of the brand Manaola, and Kiniokahokuloa Zamor

Kaula Lū‘au shares the story of Mahina, a young Native Hawaiian woman as she seeks to understand herself through stories passed down by her grandmother.

“The other thing is this is not your typical lūʻau,” Lewis added. “This is a theatrical lū‘au where there's a storyline of Mahina and her grandmother. Grandma shares Mahina's genealogy ... so as she's telling Mahina, your ancestors came from Tahiti, they came from Samoa — that's when the different acts come out. But of course, it's grounded in the Hawaiian culture where she lives today.”

There is singing. And a projector that makes some stars appear.

“When grandma tells her about the stars, the stars appear,” Lewis said. “And when Mahina points to the stars, it flickers.”

The idea for Kaula Lū‘au came up over lunch. Honolulu-based developer 

 is CEO and president of The Resort Group, which acquired 

Ko Olina Resort as the company’s flagship development on Oʻahu

 in 1997. Stone invited Lewis to discuss opportunities at the resort.

“He sees my name in the paper and reads about us so he invited me to lunch,” Lewis said. “He was telling me about how he wanted his resort to be more culture-based, more connected to Hawaiʻi, especially the West Side, where majority of Hawaiians live.”

Stone proposed some shacks along the lagoon where practitioners could lead weaving and other activities, but Lewis countered with a desire for Native Hawaiians to tell their own stories, he said.

“I looked at him, [and] said, ʻJeff, we don't need to go back to grass shacks.’” Lewis said. “I said, ʻI want to be the operator of a hotel. I want to be able to tell our own stories. I want land. That's what Hawaiians need. We don't need grass shacks.ʻ He was so enamored by my comment. He paused and he just was like: ʻWow.’ He goes: ‘Nobody's ever told me straight like that.’”

What followed was a partnership between Hawaiian Council and Ko Olina Resort.

“What you're seeing is what came from that conversation,” Lewis said. “He has given us everything we've asked for to be able to produce, to be able to do all the things that I've been wanting to do for years. And so, this is the power when you can connect with people that have the ability to support.”

The economic impact of the new lūʻau includes more than $5 million in contracts with local vendors and contractors, including a nearly $3 million catering contract with the Native Hawaiian-owned restaurant, Moani. There will also be local vendors and artisans from Nā Mea Hawaiʻi selling their products as part of the on-site experience.

The launch of Kaula Lūʻau will create 166 jobs, according to Hawaiian Council. When the musical opens in December, that number will increase to 342 jobs.

“There's so much power in us telling our stories,” Lewis said. “When you think about it, for generations, others have told our story, and so for us to take that back and for us to be able to be part of that storytelling, as well as the economics that support storytelling, is very powerful, for me. I also think it's educational. People come to Hawaiʻi because they want to feel special. They want to be a part of this culture that they fell in love with at some point in time. And I want to give it to them.”

Hawaiian Council has provided the cultural support for the lūʻau with its director of entertainment, cultural practicioners, senior advisor and more contributing to the production. The in-kind support from the council for this production “probably exceeds half a million dollars,” Lewis said. Ko Olina Resort’s in-kind contributions are close to $10 million, he added. That includes use of the land, the resources to start up, marketing support, and collaboration with hotels in the Ko Olina Resort area.

“It's very, very powerful,” he said. “And this lūʻau is only a small part of a much bigger vision that we have for the future of Ko Olina.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Lewis declined to share more details."}]

“But I can tell you that it's transformational,” he said. “And when you reimagine, and you re-envision a resort area over 500 acres and you think about: how do you make that Hawaiian? Because that's what visitors want. It's very transformational. It's a big investment, not just financially, but a commitment to a culture of people, and that's what's happening right now.”

Tickets start at $119 for adult standard and $249 for adult VIP, with kamaʻāina discounts for Hawaiʻi residents who use the code: HILOCAL30. There are also discounts for active-duty military, MAHALO20, and seniors, KAPUNA10. Tickets for shows through March 31, can be purchased for 50% off using the code: FIRSTWAVE 50. For more information, go to: 

Stephanie Salmons contributed to this story. 

Kaula Lūʻau

<title>Kaula Lūʻau launches in Ko Olina this week</title>

A new immersive cultural performance that is a partnership between Hawaiian Council and Ko Olina Resort will debut on Friday, Feb. 27, in West Oʻahu. Kūhiō Lewis, president and CEO of Hawaiian Council, shares how the idea for the production started with a lunch meeting.

Kaula Lūʻau launches in Ko Olina this week

 sets out to create a strategic plan for the next three to five years, the nonprofit is lending an ear to the communities it serves.

Now through March 6, community members on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi may take

 that will assess unmet needs and help guide MUW’s funding and focus areas. Responses will be confidential and data will be returned back to the public, according to CEO Jeeyun Lee. 

She notes that the purpose of this type of outreach is to allow the organization to “move with intention.”

“You can have all the resources at your fingertips in terms of funding, but if you don’t use it intentionally and if you don’t invest it in spaces where there is going to be a return in investment to community, it can make zero impact,” she told Aloha State Daily. “So, how do we then take that information and find impactful ways to implement [programs] with the resources we have and continue to also bring in fresh, new resources into our community?”

Lee added that MUW’s $100,000 grant from 

the state Legislature under Act 310 (SB 933)

 will continue to support food security and housing initiatives.

MUW’s four areas of interest include financial security, healthy community, youth opportunity and community resiliency.

Disaster preparedness and resiliency planning remain crucial as the community recovers from the Lahaina wildfires. Gas cards for fire survivors, for example, is something MUW implemented that directly impacted more than 500 families in need of transportation support .

“A lot of these issues that we are facing now, we were facing pre-fire. They’ve just been exacerbated exponentially," Lee said. "We really want to hear from our families, our nonprofits, our small businesses. We want to reflect the community at-large

More data collection will strengthen our ability to advocate at the county, state and philanthropic levels; we want to reinforce that our role is to be a trusted convener.

“Not reacting moment to moment, but really creating a system that is functional, that gets elevated in times of crisis. I think that’s what we’re going to get out of the survey,” she said, adding that the last time they conducted one was in 2017.

“We're overdue and I’m really excited to make sure the work we’re doing aligns with community.”

Lee, a West Maui resident, said she turned in her survey, and “it was quite quick, about 5 minutes to do.”

“No vote no grumble,” she said with a smile. “You are your strongest advocates. And so, all of us can uplift our voices in [this] simple way.”  

Originally from Michigan, Lee said her first exposure to nonprofit work was at age 16 at the YMCA. From there, she pursued a master’s degree in social work, specializing in international and community development, and later lived on Oʻahu for a decade before moving to Maui nearly 9 years ago.

“I just felt called to raise my son where he’s ancestrally from and rooted,” she said. “

 took me under his wing and had shared, ‘Ask your son what he wants to do’ – he was 3 at the time. I had that conversation with him, and I went back to uncle and he was like, ‘I have a feeling Maui is going to need you and your skillsets,’ and it gives me chicken skin. He unfortunately passed, but Maui United Way was an opportunity with aloha as part of its value system. It was a full circle moment, and ever since, it has felt like he’s been watching over us."

With more than 20 years of nonprofit experience,

"to contribute back to the community I’m a part of," she said.

Lee joined MUW as its director of impact and became interim CEO in July 2025 prior to assuming the role full-time in December. As CEO, she oversees more than 60 programs and a budget of $5 million.

During her tenure, the organization distributed more than $12 million in funding to local nonprofits and community members, serving over 87,000 residents across Maui County. 

“My mother used to tell me, ‘Jee, you’re never going to be rich, but you sure are rich in the people that you have around you,’ and to me that’s the most wealth you could possibly have.

“I’ve just been blessed to have an incredible network. … I’m still learning, too, what it takes to be a good leader. Honing the craft of supporting your team, board, community, from a genuine and authentic place. It is a kuleana and privilege to be in the space that I’m in.”

She aims to leave this world better than she found it. “My goal, at the end of my life, is to be able to look my son straight in the eye, and say I did the best I could.”

Maui United Way team 2026

<title>Maui United Way seeks community input for strategic plan</title>

The organization has launched a survey for Maui County residents to help inform its next steps. The deadline is March 6, and it takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Aloha State Daily caught up with CEO Jeeyun Lee about the purpose of this outreach method and ongoing priorities for the year ahead.

Lisa Eller

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