Lori Buchanan, Board President
Lori Buchanan is a born and raised Native Hawaiian from Molokai. She is a mother and grandmother who is passionate about environmental and cultural protection for the future generation. She currently owns and operates multiple small businesses on Molokai and serves as project coordinator for the Molokai Maui Invasive Species Committee. Lori has decades worth of professional experience in the field of environmental conservation in Hawaii and has received commendations in recognition of her work from the Governor of the State of Hawaii as well as from the County of Maui. As a passionate community advocate and volunteer, she actively participates in community issues and initiatives and has served on numerous boards and commissions including: Chair of the State Game Management Advisory Council, Chair of the Legacy Lands Conservation Commission, and Member of the State Office of Planning Marine and Coastal Zone Advisory Council, and current Chair of the Molokai Planning Commission.
Teresa Young, Board Treasurer
Teresa is an organizational and business development specialist with more than 18 years of experience supporting cooperatives, nonprofits, and small businesses throughout Hawai‘i and the Pacific Northwest. Her expertise includes leadership development, strategic planning, board governance, facilitation, conflict resolution, and cooperative business development. She Cooperative Business Development Specialist with The Kohala Center, where she provided training, coaching, and technical assistance to emerging and established organizations. She holds a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science from Bastyr University and is passionate about helping organizations strengthen leadership, build capacity, and create lasting community impact.
Kilia Purdy-Avelino, Secretary
Kilia is a native of Molokai, she is a wife and a mother of 4 beautiful girls who reside in Hoʻolehua on Hawaiian Homestead land. Kilia obtained her degree from UH Hilo and later moved home to Molokai to share her knowledge and to support our youth. She has been a Hawaiian Language and Culture educator for most of her adult life—and along the way created OLA Molokai, a grassroots homeschool-style learning hui. She has and continues to be a very important and valuable contributor to our Molokai community, serving tirelessly on many boards and volunteering much of her time with various groups. Kilia continues to promote education and how to live a sustainable lifestyle on Molokai, and always shares the important values and respect for Molokai and its precious resources.
Laʻa Poepoe, Member
Born and raised on Molokai, La’a Poepoe is a multidisciplinary cultural practitioner, mālama ‘āina advocate, an active community contributor, and a firefighter by profession. A self-proclaimed ʻprofessional volunteerʻ, La’a has previously served as the Chairperson of the Molokai Planning Commission, a member of the Molokai Island Burial Council, and a member of the Hawaiʻi State Marine and Coastal Zone Advocacy Council. La’a networks with many native Hawaiian organizations in various capacities, and is the president/director and a co-founder of Kūpeke Ahupuaʻa, a nonprofit based out of Kūpeke, Molokai.
Walter Mendez, Member
Hoʻolehua, Molokai
