Board of Directors
Jan E. Hanohano Dill,
Vice Chair
Jan E. Hanohano Dill, Vice Chair, is a Native Hawaiian who has worked in the development, financing, and implementation of non-profit projects for over 40 years, and has spearheaded many successful new initiatives in the areas of preschool education through adult education. He has been involved in multiple grassroots efforts to promote the welfare of the Native Hawaiian community and recently retired as President and Director of Partners in Development Foundation after 23 years. Prior to joining MAF, Mr. Dill led the Oceanic Institute and worked on various environmental remediation and resource management projects. He has extensive experience in project administration and financial management, and has worked with numerous community, education, and economic development projects in Hawai‘i, nationally, and internationally.
Current affiliations: Weinberg Fellow; Advisory committee for the Henry & Dorothy Castle Memorial Fund; Advisory board for the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; President of Strategic Solutions, Inc.
Dr. Kaipo Perez III,
Board Treasurer
Dr. Kaipo Perez III, Board Treasurer, is a Native Hawaiian and Natural Resource Management Specialist at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. After completing his PhD in Zoology with a focus in marine ecology, he has worked for the past decade to minimize environmental impacts and ensure proper marine and natural resource management and conservation. He provides oversight for large-scale projects while ensuring compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations. He is also an active community member who shares his knowledge and expertise with youth, community members, and state agencies, helping to bridge the gap between science and traditional ecological knowledge.
Current affiliations: Selected member of the Fishers Working Group for the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR); Mayor Appointed Steering Committee Member of the Hanauma Bay Steering Committee; President of the Kaka‘ako Casting Club.
Craig Takamine,
Board Secretary
Craig Takamine, Board Secretary, was born and raised in Hilo and founded Takamine Construction with the vision to create a quality construction business that helps strengthen the Hawai‘i Island community. After building his business from scratch in 2003, he has continued to grow his company and in 2013 was recognized as Pacific Business News’ 40 under Forty. Having learned the importance of family and community connections from a young age, Mr. Takamine has generously given back to the community by building a new playground at Panaewa Zoo for families to enjoy and re-roofing the NAF Swimming Facility in just one day. He has also partnered with the University of Hawai‘i Foundation to provide an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a qualified student in the carpentry program at Hawai‘i Community College, where he had graduated top of his class and was awarded the Golden Hammer.
Current affiliations: Director/Government Affairs Chair of the Kanoelehua Industrial Area Association; Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Island Advisory Board Member for Easter Seals Hawai‘i; Advisory Board Member for Hawai‘i Community College’s Career & Technical Education Program; Member of the Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce; Member of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai‘i; Member of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce; County of Hawai‘i Banyan Drive Task Force.
Noelani Kalipi,
Board Director
Noelani Kalipi, Board Director leads the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects as Executive Vice-President of Progression Energy, specializing in floating offshore wind in Hawaiʻi, the Pacific region, and Asia. Progression Energy utilizes a relationship-based business model focused on inclusion and reciprocity with the communities it serves. Noelani also consults with organizations and businesses. She assists with project development and management, strategic planning, and meaningful community engagement. Noelani specializes in the areas of systems planning, food security, energy security, community empowerment, and helping communities to create and implement “courageous space” for difficult and emotionally charged discussions related to land use, ancestral knowledge, indigenous rights, economic development, and access to capital. She gained extensive federal policy experience working for US Senator Daniel Akaka in Washington, DC., and served on active duty in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Noelani has a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a law degree from George Washington University. She is married to Gaylen Kalipi and has two daughters, Hauʻoli and Kuʻuipo. Ms. Kalipi coaches fast-pitch softball and volunteers for various nonprofit organizations during her free time.
Current affiliations: Executive Vice-President for Progression Energy, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Arm (CASA) for Hawaiʻi, Member of the Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum, Member of the First Nations Futures Program, Executive Director for Kohala Institute, Board Member of PBS Hawaii, Board Member of Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, Board Member of The Daniel Kahikina Akaka Family Foundation, Board Member of Blue Planet Foundation
William (Billy) K. Richards, Jr.,
Board Director
William (Billy) K. Richards, Jr., Board Director, has served as director on several public service, Native Hawaiian and educational boards. He has held management positions in both the public and private sector, primarily in the field of aquaculture. He spent close to two decades at the Oceanic Institute, a private non-profit research organization. Currently, Billy is the Hui Nohona Manager for Administration for Partners in Development Foundation, a public not-for-profit company that serves the Native Hawaiian community through social and educational programs. He has been involved with Hawaiʻi’s voyaging community since 1975 and has voyaged aboard Hōkūleʻa, Hawaiʻiloa, Makaliʻi, Hokualakaʻi, and Hikianalia throughout the Pacific and around the world. He serves as a delegate to ʻOhana Waʻa, a round-table non-profit collaborative of voyaging organizations from all of the Hawaiian Islands. Billy is married and has a daughter who sailed with him aboard the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa, and who took part in the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage.
Current affiliations: Board and Council Member with the ʻAha Kāne/Native Hawaiian Men’s Health Program; Member of Bishop Museum Board of Directors; Member of Bishop Museum Association Council; President of Friends of Hōkūleʻa and Hawaiʻiloa; Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy; Maiden Voyaging Productions