FNFP welcomes programʻs 10th cohort

Papa Ulana is FNFP's 10th cohort since the program's founding in 2006.

Oct. 22, 2015

Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth

The First Nations’ Futures Program (FNFP) celebrates a milestone this year, welcoming its 10th cohort.

The vision for FNFP is to develop well-balanced first nation’s leaders who serve their communities through important work in community, public or professional roles.

FNFP was founded by Kamehameha's Neil Hannahs, who initiated the program while serving as the director of the KS Land Assets Division in 2006. Hannahs worked with partners from Stanford University and indigenous communities in Aotearoa and Alaska to launch the program.

Today, it is an impressive collection of kanaka, dedicated to making a difference in their communities.

Fellows recently attended an orientation where they met and learned about each other and decided on the name of their papa. The inoa they chose was ulana, which means to weave, and represents the weaving of experiences, both individually and as a group, that they will have throughout the year.

In describing why they chose that name, Papa Ulana said in a statement, "Our cohort envisions the intricacies of weaving as symbolic of the intertwining of traditions and respect for indigenous ways of knowing. On our journey this year, we welcome the weaving and interconnecting of various sources of knowledge to merge and add to our foundation of ʻike."

The members of Papa Ulana (2015-16) are:

Maile Alau
A graduate of KS Kapālama, Alau holds a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Mary’s College of California. She currently is the executive director of Hawai‘i Maoli, a nonprofit organization established by members of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

Leo Kaniela Caires
Caires is a graduate of Maui High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine from the University of Wyoming, an M.B.A. from Chadron State College, as well as a certificate in Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies from Stanford University and is currently completing his doctorate of education from St. Thomas University.

Desiré Auguste De Soto
After graduating from Wai‘anae High School, De Soto went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University. She also holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu and a PhD in student, industrial and organizational psychology from Walden University.

Kiana Frank
Frank is a graduate of KS Kapālama. She holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of Rochester, a doctorate in molecular biology from Harvard University and is currently a junior faculty member for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at UH Mānoa.

Jaydene Renee Kaleʻalani Silva
A graduate of KS Kapālama, Silva holds an associate’s in arts from Leeward Community College and bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Studies from UH Mānoa. She completed a master’s in secondary education from Chaminade University of Honolulu, earned a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from UH Mānoa and is currently an instructor at Leeward Community College.

Shannon Kalei Toriki
Toriki is a KS Kapālama graduate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from UH Mānoa and spent time working for the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement along with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs before making the move to KS as a community investing manager.

The cohort’s full introduction is posted on the FNFP website.

Fellows are selected based on their past service to their people and potential to contribute even further. They will be a part of an international leadership network and are expected to apply their experiences for the betterment of their people.

Next up for this cohort is the academic component of the program at the First Nations’ Futures Institute at Stanford University.

“We will meet up with our Maori and Alaska native cousins where we will share, learn and grow together,” shared program director William Awa, Jr., a KS land education administrator.

While the program has already developed a strong network of fellows, many of whom frequently work with one another, there are still opportunities being looked at in the future.

Awa notes, “There’s much more work left to be done for FNFP.”

For an in-depth look at the program to see a list of past cohort members, read the story in KS’ I Mua Newsroom or go to www.fnfp.org.

At their orientation, fellows and program organizers came together in the wa‘a to start their journey together.