Meet The Staff & Board

Alice Kaahanui: Executive Director

Since 2018-Present

Alice Cabael Ka’ahanui, born and raised on Molokai, earned her BA in Communications/English from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Alice has worked in education (elementary, high school, adult & higher ed) and development in both public and private schools over 4 decades. She was Office Administrator/Manager for Kamaka Hawaii, Inc, Hawaii’s legendary ukulele crafters before returning to Molokai in 2017 and is co-owner of Molokai Bred, a homestead farm and services business.. Her community service has included Chaminade University of Honolulu Alumni Team, Core Group Member of the Hawaii Statewide Filipino STD/HV/AIDS Prevention Project, three term President of the Molokai Little League, Advisor to the Molokai Fil-Am Youth Organization, Outreach Coordinator for FilCom CARES, and Molokai Middle School SCC Member. She is currently Hawaii Museums Association Board Secretary, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Arts First partner, Ola Hawaii Community Engagement Core (CEC) Advisory Board member, Kaunakakai Filipino Association President, and Ho’olehua Homesteaders Association member.

April Maddela: Studio Manager

2017-Present

April was a part of the first group of Molokai Community College students to take ceramics classes at MAC in 2013. Later as an AmeriCorps volunteer for MAC, she learned in-depth about the art of ceramics and how to operate a studio. She received an AA degree in Liberal Arts from Maui Community College: Molokai Education Center. She has taken nurse’s aide courses and is also an Attendant Care/Care Giver for Ohana Health.

Misty Mollena: Assistant to Studio Manager

2019-Present

‘Iolani Kuohoa:  President

Served since 2020-Present

‘Iolani Kuhoa is a 3rd generation Molokai homesteader. She is the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program
(HLIP) teacher at Molokai Middle School and Molokai STEMworks  teacher. She serves on the boards of the middle school’s
Community Council, the Hawaii Environmental Education Alliance, and other national organizations. ‘Iolani was named Hawaii
Association of Middle Schools Educator of the Year in 2014. As a panelist at the 2019 Hawaii Energy Conference and Exhibition,
Kuoha shared, “We were taught by our kupuna, our elders, how to survive, how to mālama, how to care for our land and how to
respect the aina, the ocean, and what it provides for you.” She and her daughter enjoy creating floral arrangements and lei haku.

Vice President: Kala’e Tangonan

2022-Present

Director Kala’e Tangonan was born and raised on Molokai and vows to never leave. “Molokai is my home.” Throughout childhood she was enamored with art and nurtured this love through high school art classes – photography, painting, drawing – anything Molokai High School had to offer. This foundation led her to an AS in Liberal Studies from MCC-Molokai, then a BA in Art from UH-Hilo.
Upon returning to Molokai, Kala’e opened her own business, Kupu A’e, featuring wearable art that has been featured locally, nationally, and internationally via fashion shows and multimedia. Kala’e and her ‘ohana create screened original pieces and hand painted batik pieces from her shop at Holomua.

Kalae especially enjoys sharing her love of art with children and says, “Helping to foster this love is important. Being on Molokai and doing what I LOVE and blessing my community while doing it is what it is about.”

Dan Bennett: Treasurer

Served since 2010-present

With over 40 years experience as a studio potter, Dan is a founding member of Molokai Arts Center and the owner of Bennett Pottery. Dan is a retired school teacher with over 40 years of teaching experience. He continues to lecture part time for Molokai Education Center, Maui College, and University of Hawaii as well as teaching adult pottery classes at Molokai Arts Center. He comes to us with a strong history of community service on the island of Molokai serving on the Nature Conservancy Earth Day Committee, as a judge for the Molokai Keiki surf meets, an announcer at Molokai High School athletic events and a member of Hui No‘eau. Dan is also a member of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

 Secretary: Judy Mertens

Since 2020-Present

In 1965 Judy and Bill Mertens arrived on Molokai to work for the Libby plantation before leaving to grow pineapples in Asia. While in Hong Kong, Judy started a successful coffee kiosk business with ten employees. In 1994, the Mertens leased 12.5 acres in upcountry Maui and established Anuhea Flowers, becoming a major supplier of protea. Judy developed the retail portion of the business, designing arrangements to be shipped all over the US. She also opened Anuhea Flowers which featured upcountry artists and sold their work. In 2014 she helped found the Makawao History Museum as both Vice President and a board member, and also served on the Makawao Community Association Board.

Served  since 2021-Present

Betty West, one of the founders of the Molokai Arts Center, returns to the Board she served on in the early years. Betty has been an instructor and host (position created during COVID) at the MAC, primarily with the Alu Like Kupuna program. She comes with 50+ years of experience in ceramics, 30+ years in retail & manufacturing, and is an active member of her church and our community. She currently participates in the Hanai A Ulu/Foster Grandparent Program. She shares that all of her current activities including ceramics, “keeps me learning and progressing.”

Instructors at Molokai Arts Center:

Dan Bennett, Master Potter, Adult Ceramics

April Maddela: Studio Manager

Misty Mollena: Studio Assistant, Keiki Instructor

Ceasar Caberto, Jr.: Keiki painting and Instructor

Betty West: Kupuna Instructor

Studio Hosts: Lil MacMillan, Misty Mollena

Ceramics Instructors: Dan Bennett, Kim Markham