HUI HO'OULU KAIAULU
Our Community Outreach Team
Mia Waiʻaleʻale “Liʻi” Sarsona - Community Outreach Manager
Mia Waiʻaleʻale “Liʻi” Sarsona was born and raised in Waimānalo, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu. While Waimānalo is her one hānau, her ancestral roots tie back to Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island and Hanalei, Kauaʻi. Liʻi is a proud graduate of Ke Kula o Samuel Mānaiakalani Kamakau, LPCS class of 2019. She also graduated from Windward Community College with her Associates in Hawaiian Studies and Liberal Arts the same year she graduated high school.
Liʻi is currently a Hawaiian Studies major at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is also a recent ʻūniki graduate of Hawaiian healing practices under Ka Pā o Lonopūhā. In high school, she was privileged to represent the voice of her generation on numerous occasions. It is for that reason that she has committed her time to empowering ʻōpio to use their voice as well as uplifting those voices in spaces where ‘ōpio often go unheard.
As of January 2020, she serves as the Alakaʻi of Hui Hoʻoulu Kaiāulu or Community Outreach Manager at Mana Maoli. She is honored to be able to give back to the Hawaiian focused charter school community that raised her
Moea Kekauoha - Community Outreach Mentor
Born and raised on the island of O'ahu, Moea grew up in Kaimukī along with her two sisters and brother, later moving to Kāne'ohe in her early teenage years. Moea grew up in a musical and athletic household, and took volleyball at a young age.
After graduating from 'Iolani School in 2016, she continued her studies and athletic career at Menlo College in Northern California. A small, private business school, she found herself drawn to digital marketing, content creativity, and branding. Moea graduated in 2020 with her Bachelor's Degree in Business with a focus in Marketing. She continued to live in the Bay Area and then returned back home to Kāne'ohe, O'ahu after connecting with Mana Maoli in 2021.
At Mana Maoli, Moea is a part of Hui Ho'oulu Kaiaulu or the Community Outreach Team. She focuses on the social media side of things as well as communicating with external partners.
Anela Tolentino - Community Outreach Assistant
Born and raised in the city of Kaimukī, Anela grew up with her older brother and her mother. As she grew older, she became surrounded by karaoke and her brother and his friends playing the 'ukulele, where she found her love for music.
She graduated in 2019, finding an increased interest in social media and digital marketing, after growing up in beginning of the digital age, and have always had a connection with the Hawaiian culture and wanted to help amplify their voices. With her interest, she became a Communications major at the University of Hawai'i Mānoa and interned with Mana Maoli in her first year. While interning with the nonprofit, she learned a lot about the Hawaiian culture and people, along with the digital aspects of a company.
Today, she has been with Mana Maoli for almost 3 years, holding the title as Community Outreach Assistant, focusing on the social media and outreach side of the company, while also floating around and doing video and editing work with the Mo'oz.