Mahiʻai waiwai (abundance cultivator)
Pilina:
~ Graduate student in Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
~ Former appointee, Mayor’s Office of Culture in the Arts (multiple roles)
~ Board member, Waimānalo Neighborhood Board
Moʻolelo:
ʻO Kailua kuʻu kulāiwi, ma ka ʻili ʻo Keahupuaʻanui. ʻO Malanai kuʻu ka makani, ʻo Kawainui kuʻu wai.
Born and raised in Kailua, Oʻahu, Moeʻata now resides in Waimānalo with her family. She is deeply involved in her community, serving as the secretary of Neighborhood Board 32 and as a member of the Hawaiian Affairs and Natural Resources Committee. Moeʻata holds a Bachelor of Arts in Hawaiian Studies and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa. During her undergraduate studies, she volunteered with the Waimānalo Limu Hui, learning the art of uhauhumu pōhaku and researching local varieties of limu endemic to Waimānalo. Raised in a family of musicians, the Paradise Serenaders, founded by her grandmother, Lawaina Mokulehua Gonsalves, Jayme-Lee has a deep passion for Hawaiian music and dance. She learned hula and ori tahiti at a young age, which has driven her passion for cultural arts. In her previous professional career, Jayme-Lee worked in the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, holding positions as Office Manager, Events Manager, and International Relations Specialist. Her diverse experiences and dedication to her culture and community continue to drive her professional and personal endeavors.