Kēhaunani Abad

Vice President of Uluhiwa Strategy and Experience

KĒHAUNANI ABAD, Vice President of Uluhiwa Strategy and Experience

KĒHAUNANI ABAD, Vice President of Uluhiwa Strategy and Experience

Kēhaunani Abad, PhD, was named vice president of Uluhiwa Strategy and Experience in November 2023. She and her team have kuleana for guiding KS’ strategic direction, facilitating important collaborations, sharing internal and external communications for our organization, operating Kamehameha Publishing, connecting us to our Hawaiian identity, and helping to ensure that each interaction with Kamehameha Schools leaves individuals feeling valued and enriched.

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.