Kaipo Leopoldino is a respected educator, cultural practitioner, and performer who has dedicated his career to inspiring others through Hawaiian culture, education, and the arts. As a teacher at Saint Louis School and a kumu, he is committed to mentoring the next generation while sharing the values, traditions, and stories of Hawaiʻi.

A dynamic public speaker and master of ceremonies, Kaipo is known for his engaging presence, quick wit, and ability to connect with audiences of all ages. His work as a comedian and actor complements his passion for storytelling, allowing him to educate and entertain while celebrating Hawaiian culture with authenticity, humor, and heart.

Mike Buelsing is President of PacMar Technologies, where he leads corporate business development, oversees Pacific Marine's product subsidiaries, and manages the company's intellectual property portfolio. Since joining the Pacific Marine family of companies in 2010 as a mechanical engineer, he has helped guide the organization's growth and innovation across Hawaiʻi's maritime industry.

One of Mike's signature accomplishments was leading the planning, construction, and relocation of Pacific Marine's waterfront operations to Honolulu Harbor's Pier 24. What began as an undeveloped parcel has become a modern ship repair and maritime industrial complex powered by its own microgrid and nearly an acre of solar energy, allowing the facility to operate independently of the utility grid.

Mike earned both his Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. He also holds a 100 Gross Ton U.S. Coast Guard Captain's License.

A longtime leader in Hawaiʻi's boating community, he previously served as Commodore of the Waikīkī Yacht Club and remains an advocate for maritime innovation and ocean stewardship.

Kumu Hula Keʻalohi Reppun is the Director of the Kuaihelani Learning Center for ʻIke Hawaiʻi at Punahou School, where she leads efforts to deepen students' understanding of Hawaiian language, culture, history, and ʻike Hawaiʻi. Through her leadership, she has helped strengthen meaningful connections between education, cultural practice, and stewardship of ʻāina.

In 2025, Reppun was selected as one of the Obama Foundation's Asia-Pacific Leaders, a prestigious leadership program founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama that brings together emerging changemakers dedicated to ethical leadership, civic engagement, and community impact across the region.

The recognition reflects her commitment to preserving and advancing Hawaiian knowledge while building partnerships that benefit future generations.
As a kumu hula, educator, and cultural leader, Reppun continues to inspire students, educators, and communities through her vision of education rooted in Hawaiian values, language, and place.

Born and raised in Honolulu and of Hawaiian-Chinese ancestry, Marion Lyman-Mersereau is a retired educator whose career has spanned more than four decades. She taught middle school ethics and government while also serving as a yoga instructor, paddling coach, outdoor education director, and Peace Corps volunteer in Palau, where she spent two years promoting education and cross-cultural understanding.

Marion is the author of Eddie Wen' Go: The Story of the Upside-Down Canoe, a children's book inspired by her experience aboard the legendary voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa when it capsized in the Kaiwi Channel during the 1978 voyage. The story was later adapted into a stage production performed at Hawaiʻi Theatre and the University of Hawaiʻi's Kennedy Theatre, introducing new generations to the lessons of voyaging, resilience, and teamwork.

Through education, storytelling, and a lifelong commitment to Hawaiʻi's ocean traditions, Marion continues to inspire others to embrace adventure, cultural understanding, and the enduring spirit of exploration.