Carolyn Melenani Kuali`i
ckualii@gmail.com

EXPERIENCE

Kua`aina Associates, California and Hawai`i
Executive Director/Founder
1987-Present
Kua`aina Associates is a consultant group whose purpose is to conduct activities that bring forth the true essence of indigenous cultures and traditions through consultant services in program development, organizational development and special projects. Consultant services include; technical and capacity building assistance in organizational development, program development, and coordination with activities related to art and culture. Organizations served: Advocates for California Indigenous Languages, The Kahanamoku Family Foundation, The Hana Cultural Center, The Lahaina Surf Club, The California Indian Basket Weavers Association, California Indian Storytellers Association, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Give Away Songs, Inc., Native California Network, Southern California Indian Centers/JTP, Office of Minority Health and Resource Center, and individual artist and culturist.

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, Oakland, CA
Capacity Building Assistance Specialist and Regional Partner Coordinator
2002-2006
NNAAPC is a National Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) provider funded under a cooperative agreement with the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, and funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Administration. CBA focused on organization and program development for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities; tribal/native serving organizations, and state health departments in the area of behavioral health. Job responsibilities included the over site of a seven partner coalition which included the development of a logic model, work plan, and program budget; grants management, evaluation and assessment, program consultation; and site visits, coordination of face-to-face coalition meetings and regional trainings/summits. Position also included the following: development of written materials and curriculum specifically designed for Native populations and HIV; coordination of regional and national presentations and trainings related to cultural competency, HIV/AIDS case management, risk reduction and health promotion. Other responsibilities included coordination and facilitation of a Community Advisory Group, Harm Reduction Network of Native providers, regional and national trainings, and the development and piloting of a national Native leadership project - Native Leadership Empowerment Advocacy and Participation (NLEAP).

Ka Meheu Ohu O Ka Honu, Inc, Maui, Hawai`i
Assistant Director
1996-2001
Ka Meheu Ohu O Ka Honu, Inc. is a private non-profit whose mission is to perpetuate Native Hawaiian culture through the revitalization and retrieval of Native Hawaiian material culture and practices. Assistant Director's responsibilities included; grant writing, grant and fiscal management, program development, and coordination of program activities and special projects. Special projects included Native Hawaiian protocol and ceremonial events throughout the U.S. and the Pacific.

Maui AIDS Foundation, Maui, Hawai`i
Hawaiian Community HIV Case Manager
1994-2002
Maui AIDS Foundation is a private non-profit AIDS Service Organization providing direct services to the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Position specialized in HIV/AIDS case management services targeting Native Hawaiians, American Indians and Alaska Natives under the Ryan White CARE Act, Special Projects of National Significance. Case management responsibilities included; assessment and facilitation of financial, psychological, legal, and benefit programs; health care facilitation and referrals through direct and ongoing contact with clients. Position provided specialized services to marginalized client populations such as the mentally ill, drug misusers, women and children, gay, and transgender individuals. Also responsible for program development and support groups, managing client data, grant reporting, community networking, Statewide Care Planning Committee member, and collaboration with Native Hawaiian and American Indian elders, healers, agencies and community leaders.

Community Health Outreach Work to Prevent AIDS (CHOW Project), State of Hawai`i
Secretary/Treasurer-Board of Director
1999- 2002
The CHOW Project is a nationally recognized needle and syringe exchange program based on the harm-reduction model which is funded by the State of Hawai`i, Department of Health STD/AIDS Prevention Branch. The Secretary/Treasurer's responsibilities included over site with organization's budget and policies /procedures; and providing direction for organization's sustainability and growth.

State of Hawai`i, Community Care Planning Group, State of Hawai`i
CPG Member
1995-2000
The Community Care Planning Group was a statewide group whose responsibilities were to develop a comprehensive plan for HIV/AIDS care services, including those provided for under the Ryan White CARE Act. Committee involvements included; the Special Populations Committee that made recommendations to the state concerning Native Hawaiians, women, drug misusers, the chronically homeless and the mentally ill; also responsible for authoring language specifically pertaining to Native Hawaiians that was included in the Ryan White and State contracts.

EDUCATION

• Acceptance/Graduate Program in Historical and Cultural Preservation-Department of History, University of California, Riverside, 1994
• Post-Baccalaureate Studies in History-School of Humanities, University of California, Irvine, 1993-94
• B.A., Social Sciences/Cultural Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine, 1993
• A.A., Liberal Arts, Rancho Santiago Community College, 1989
• Apprentice, Under Cahuilla Elder and Native Scholar, Katherine Silva Saubal (National Women's Hall of Fame Recipient and Smithsonian Lifetime Achievement Award), 1992/1994

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Professional Recognitions and Honors:

• Induction, Living Voices, The National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institute - 1998
• Diplomatic Liaison to the American Indian and Alaska Native Nations, Ka Lahui Hawai'i
• Appointment, Pacific Island Liaison/Representative for the State of CA, Department of Developmental Services - 1987

Program and Curriculum Development:

• Development and implementation of organizational and program needs assessments and surveys
• Curriculum Development Contributions - HIV/AIDS Case Management Manual for Providers Serving Native Americans, Alaska Natives & Native Hawaiians; HIV Prevention, Early Intervention, and Health Promotion - A Self-Study Module for Health Care Personnel Serving Native Americans; Native American HIV Care: A Training Platform, HIV/AIDS Case Management Manual for Health Care Personnel Serving Native Americans; HIV Prevention Community Planning Guide for Natives, BESAFE-A Cultural Competency Model for American Indians, Alaska Natives & Native Hawaiians.

Productions/Presentations/Trainings:

• Director/Curator - art and cultural exhibit, The Lifework and Collective Song of Sam Kaha`i Kaai
• Coordinator - Delegation of Native Hawaiian Weavers for CA Indian Basket Weaver's Association
• Original member of the California Advocates for Indigenous Languages
• Hawaiian liaison/organizer - Treaty Signing Conference with American Indian Nations/Native Hawaiians
• Cultural Program Specialist, Native American Investment, Inc.
• Coordinator and facilitator - Cultural exchange and protocols between Native Hawaiians and Native Americans
• Coordinator for the recruitment of California Indian and Native Hawaiian students for inclusion - Native American Intertribal Preparatory College, University of CA, Irvine
• Coordinator - Cultural programs for the Native American Intertribal Preparatory College, University of CA, Irvine
• Planning Committee Member - United States Conference on AIDS
• Coordinator - Native American Institute, United States Conference on AIDS
• Coordinator - National Marty Prairie Annual Award
• Maui Island Coordinator - Film Documentary "Hawaiian Warriors", Discovery Channel
• National Presenter and Trainer-HIV/AIDS Case Management, HIV Prevention Interventions, Cultural Competency and Train-the-Trainer
• Consultant and Trainer - Rapid Assessment, Response and Evaluation (Community Driven Research Method - Office of Minority Health National RARE Project))
• CDC's Science Based Interventions: Safety Counts, Public Option Leader, SISTA, and Community Promise

Research:

• West `Oahu RARE Project - HIV Risk Factors Among Native Hawaiian Meth Users
• Ethno History Research-Native Hawaiian and California Indian Connection
• Ethnography team member/Baja California - University of CA, Irvine
• Research Assistant-Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Health - University of CA, Irvine