About Us

EPIC was established in 2009 by a group of young Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (NHPI) leaders who recognized the urgency to address the growing needs of NHPI families. With experiences ranging from grassroots organizing to higher education administration, the founders prioritized building a strong and unified advocacy voice for Pacific Islanders. They set out to accomplish this by collecting and publishing disaggregated data to illustrate the needs of NHPI families; and establishing a pipeline of strong leaders who can be advocates and influencers in, and on behalf of, the community. 

 

Our Mission

EPIC advances social justice by engaging Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders in culture-centered advocacy, leadership development, and research.

 

Our Vision

We envision a world where Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders are thriving and empowered to realize liberation for all.

 

Our Values

  • Kuleana. We believe that responsibility and service are the pathway to leadership.

  • Tauhi vā. We hold transformational reciprocity as a core value and practice this by nurturing the sacred space that connects us to build a relationship that bears blessings in good and bad times.

  • Kommol. We prioritize gratitude as a habit of humility that recognizes interdependence and promotes connection.

  • Lototele. We model courage that is loud because our communities have been silenced for too long; it is joyous because when we raise our voices against injustice it is also a celebration of the best parts of our humanity that emboldens others to join us.

 
 

Our Board

Karalee Mahealani Vaughn

Co-Chair

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Sefa Aina

Co-Chair

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Iosefa Alofaituli

Board Member

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Inoke Hafoka

Board Member

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Trisha Kaleo’onālani Tamashiro Gray

Board Member

Tana Lepule

Board Member

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Naomi Tacuyan Underwood

Board Member

Keith Camacho

Board Member

Kiana Fuega

Board Member

Staff

Karla Thomas

Co-Executive Director

Jessica Kaneakua

Development & Grants Manager

Sina Uipi

Director of National Policy and Advocacy

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Taelani Camacho

Program Coordinator

Jimina Afuola

Advocacy and Civic Engagement Manager

Jada Quidachay

Administrative Manager

Meilyn Thompson

Faith-Based Coordinator

Olivia Anderson

Media Coordinator

Tasha Napeli

Project Resilience Intern