About Us
Our Inspiration
For decades, our kūpuna and key 'ohana members have worked tirelessly to retain and preserve our lineal connection and access to our 'āina kupuna of Hīlea, Ka'ū, Hawai'i. Over the years, many hands have contributed to the reclaimation and restoration of our ahupua'a thus inspiring the creation of this non-profit, 'Aumaka Hīlea. Named for the many descendants of the land, 'Aumaka Hīlea was officially established and launched in January 2025.
We look forward to sharing in the work of our kuleana to our 'āina, 'ohana, and kūpuna with you all through our existing work.
Our Mission
Our mission is to perpetuate the ancestral spaces of Hīlea, Kaʻū, Hawaiʻi and its unique history through environmental and cultural restoration while providing educational grounding for Hilea descendants, Native Hawaiians, and the broader community.
Our Vision
Rooted in our lineage from Hīlea, we envision a future where our ancestral lands are preserved and thriving—where the cultural, environmental, and community wealth of the ahupuaʻa are restored to honor the legacy of our kūpuna, uplift ʻohana, and empower future generations of cultural stewards and educators.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
[2026]
MEMBER
BOBBY STIVERS-'APIKI
I am proud to serve on the Board of Aumaka Hilea, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history, educating future generations, and fostering connection among the descendants of Hilea, Ka‘ū.
Born in Honolulu and put up for adoption at birth, I was raised in Damon Tract and Kailua, O‘ahu. I’m the son of Clement K. Apiki, and the grandson of Basil K. Apiki and Juliet Nohokula (Kahiwa) Apiki of Ka‘ū. I graduated from Kailua High School (1967), earned my degree from Hawaii Loa College (now Hawaii Pacific University, 1971), and completed the University of Hawai‘i Business Management Program in 1979.
I dedicated 32 years to the YMCA of Honolulu, retiring in 2004 as Vice President of Program and Training. I led the opening of the Waipahu YMCA storefront in Westgate Shopping Center and later opened the Leeward YMCA at the former Waipahu Sugar Mill in 1990 as its founding Branch Executive Director. After relocating to Kona, I served as a Program Specialist and later as Branch Executive. In 2006, I moved to Hilo to lead the Waiākea Settlement YMCA, eventually becoming its President and CEO, retiring in 2010—and returning in 2014.
At age 60, while visiting O‘ahu, I experienced the life-changing joy of reconnecting with my birth family after six decades. I met my cousins John Omerod and Marvalene K. Apiki, later reuniting in Hilo with my aunt Clara Omerod, cousin Dianne Ondo, and their families. This emotional journey highlighted the deep importance of ‘ohana, identity, and belonging—values I now carry into my work with Aumaka Hilea.
MEMBER
JOHN OMEROD
MEMBER
Kapela Eli
Kapelaonāaliʻi Eli is a proud Hawaiian wife, mother of 4, daughter, sister and friend. Her ʻohana hails from Hāna, Māui (maternal kupunahine) & Kaupō (maternal kupunakāne) where her lineal kuleana to ʻāina kūpuna continues. She was raised within a strong and closely knit Hawaiian ʻohana in Waiʻanae & Nānākuli Oʻahu where her grounding in ʻohana, aloha and mālama began. After graduating from Waiʻanae High School, she pursued a Bachelorʻs degree in Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language at UH Mānoa (2008), a dual language Hawaiian medium teaching license through Kahuawaiola (2015) and a Masterʻs degree in Language Revitalization & Indigenous Pedagogy from UH Hilo (2017). Kapela is a lifelong student and teacher of Native Hawaiian education focused on the areas of place-based moʻolelo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi revitalization and indigenous pedagogy. A passionate advocate for Native Hawaiian culture and education, Kapela is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing ʻike kūʻuna (traditional knowledge) through empowering Hawaiian education, cultural programming, and youth leadership within Native Hawaiian communities.
MEMBER
LEILANI BLANKENSHIP
With over 12 years of combined experience in the legal field, Leilani has held various roles, including serving as Program Coordinator for the West Hawai‘i Teen Court through the YWCA, supporting youth from Kohala to Kaʻū. She also worked with the law firm of Shim, Tam, Kirimitsu, Kitamura, and Chang in Honolulu, Oʻahu and holds a degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.
One of her greatest personal accomplishments is raising three children who have excelled both academically and athletically. Two currently attend the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo—one actively volunteers at Hilo Benioff Medical Center, while the other contributes to research within the university's Geology Department. Her youngest, a WHS Class of 2025 graduate, is an intern with Aumaka Hilea and plans to attend UH Hilo in Fall 2025.
Throughout the years, her children have also volunteered to mālama their Papa Apiki Hale in Kaʻū. It has been deeply rewarding to watch them grow with a strong sense of cultural identity, learning to honor and respect their Hawaiian heritage and values.
MEMBER | TREASURER
CHRIS OMEROD
MEMBER
ROSANNA MAMONE
MEMBER
Kaulana Eli
Kaulana Eli, born and raised in Nānākuli and now residing in Waikahekahe, Puna, is a devoted educator, cultural practitioner, and advocate for Native Hawaiian empowerment. He maintains a deep physical and spiritual connection to his ʻāina kūpuna in Hīlea, Kāwā, Kaniahiku, and Nāpoʻopoʻo, where he continues to mālama kuleana and ground his work in ancestral responsibility. Rooted in the values of ʻike kūʻuna (traditional knowledge), Kaulana champions the revitalization of ancestral practices as a foundation for education, leadership, and self-identity among the Hawaiian lāhui. His work spans community engagement, cultural programming, and youth development, supporting emerging leaders in reconnecting with their heritage and embracing their kuleana to uplift the lāhui. Guided by ʻike, aloha, and resilience, Kaulana envisions a future where Native Hawaiian voices are strengthened, traditions are honored, and generations are empowered to lead with purpose.