Kēhaunani Abad

Vice President of Uluhiwa Strategy and Experience

Kēhaunani Abad, PhD, serves as vice president of Uluhiwa Strategy and Experience. She leads Ke Kula ‘o Kamehameha’s efforts to translate strategy into action by aligning culture, relationships, communications, advocacy, research, publishing, community engagement, strategic partnerships, and stakeholder experience. Working in collaboration with internal groups and a wide array of community organizations, Uluhiwa advances the Kamehameha vision of a thriving and self-determined lāhui.

The Uluhiwa group includes six divisions: Community Resource Centers, Kilo, Uluwelo, Lauhiwa, Kealaiwikuamo‘o, and Kamehameha Publishing.

Kēhau’s deep commitment to education, culture, and community — set in motion by her mākua, kumu, and kūpuna — has been her kahua for decades of service. She taught Hawaiian culture, Hawaiian history, and economics at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, served as a cultural specialist with Ho‘okahua, and was the director of Kamehameha Publishing within the Communications group. She also served as director of Community Engagement at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Prior to her appointment as vice president, Kēhau served as Hi‘ialo’s director of Kealaiwikuamo‘o, supporting collaborations with numerous Kamehameha Schools partners, including the Kanaeokana network of Native Hawaiian schools and organizations.

Kēhau is a 1982 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and anthropology and a master’s and doctorate in Hawaiian archaeology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. In her volunteer capacity, she assists communities in preserving Hawai‘i’s wahi pana, burial sites and historic buildings. She currently serves as chair of the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission.