Ma Cristina Chachie Abara

Maria Cristina Chachie Abara is a 1.5 Filipino American. Daughter, Sister and Scholarly Activist, She graduated with degrees in Psychology and Philippine Studies with concentration in Ilokano Studies from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She has developed two passion projects of hers that manifested in the last year which is her podcast and educational platform account.

Her podcast entitled, previously named, “Kasamahan Co.” to KasamahanCo is about stories of Filipinos in Hawai’i and curating the oral history of people from her age, and those older to document many of their experiences. Aside from her podcast, she works on creating content that showcases the Ilokano language and culture with her colleagues to keep that language from going extinct.

Chachie also advocates for the Filipino community in terms of mental health and for representation in terms of breaking taboo topics that are not as talked about into our own household. With her background in Psychology and Philippine studies, she hoped to manifest building a media revolution using her passion project to start a company that focuses on creating films, skits, and series that helps kickstart critical dialogue and conversation.

Calvin John Bagaoisan

Calvin John Bagaoisan is an accomplished Administrative and Media professional from Oahu, Hawaii. He is currently the Executive Secretary for See Dai Doo Society and a Video Journalist/Editor at KHON2 News in Honolulu. His outstanding work in media garnered him consecutive recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists, Hawai'i Chapter. Calvin is also a community-oriented Youth leader, contributing five years to the United Filipino Council of Hawai'i (UFCH). In 2015, he was elected Mister Pinoy Aloha, and in 2018, he received the prestigious Huwaran Award for Young Leader from Kalayaan Philippine-Hawaii International (KPHI). Calvin served as the Program Director for the Miss Oahu Filipina Pageants from 2018 to 2021 and currently holds a position as a Board of Governor under UFCH, showcasing his commitment to community service and leadership.

Rachel Cabanizas

Rachel Cabanizas is a Department Coordinator for Food & Beverage at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa. She provides assistance within different areas in the department including Restaurants & Bars, Culinary, Stewarding and Banquets. In her previous job positions, she has worked in hospitality and government relations in sales, food and beverage, and administrative and clerical work. She graduated with a BSBA in Travel Industry Management from Hawaii Pacific University.

Outside of work, Rachel volunteers her time with the Junior Chamber International (JCI) in Hawaii. Wanting to get into event management and connect with her Filipino heritage, she joined the Filipino Jaycees in Honolulu (FJCH) in college after hearing about the Filipino Fiesta from a family friend who was a former member. Since then, she has served in the board and took part in projects throughout the years, having also served in the state level with JCI Hawaii. Rachel is now with the Hawaii Kai Jaycees where she recently served on the board, wanting to give back to the Jaycees for all that has done for her giving members to the opportunity to develop themselves as leaders and individuals.

Kat Duran-Higa

Kat was born and raised in Kalihi to Filipino immigrant parents. She was enamored by design at a young age, and has always been deeply rooted in her community and cultural heritage. After graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Hawaiʻi - West Oʻahu, she spent five years in financial services marketing before transitioning into the tech industry. Currently, she's the Product Design & Experience Manager at Salesforce consulting partner, Terranox, where she helps client teams simplify complex business processes by fusing user-centric design with impactful business outcomes.

Beyond her day job, Kat's a member of the Filipino Jaycees of Honolulu and leads UXHI, a community she founded to elevate the field of human-centered design in Hawaiʻi and advocate for its value to local businesses. She actively educates, evangelizes, and fosters a community around user experience design through UXHI, and envisions collaboration as a key to tackling challenges and designing solutions that truly serve the people of Hawaiʻi.

Darlene Flores

Darlene Flores, a Kapolei native, serves as the inaugural Chief Financial Officer at DreamHouse Ewa Beach PCS, Oahu's rapidly growing charter school. Beyond her vital role in school operations, Darlene passionately engages with her community, providing identity development and social-emotional support through initiatives like Wahine Rising and Early College. Previously, as a Management Analyst at Child & Family Service, she skillfully managed a $15 million budget, directing funds to crucial family assistance and education programs. Having once been a recipient of these services as a young single mother, Darlene's personal commitment resonates throughout the organization, steadfastly advancing its mission and vision for the betterment of program participants.

Ryan Mandado

Dr. Ryan Mandado is an innovative and equitable school leader changing the face of public education. He was born and raised in Kalihi, Hawai‘i and is of Cebuano descent. Growing up in Kalihi taught him the values of community, compassion, and contribution. As the youngest CEO of schools in Hawai‘i, he helped to establish DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach - Hawai‘i’s newest and fastest growing public charter school focused on leadership and identity development.

He graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa as a Presidential Scholar and has honors degrees in American Studies and Mandarin Chinese. He completed his doctorate in Education Leadership and wrote his dissertation about the ecological approaches towards agentic school environments. Prior to becoming CEO of DreamHouse, Ryan worked for Google as a Senior Diversity Specialist and led the Culture Add program - a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program across all of North America.

Jasper Marcelo

I love my career: it is both my profession and passion. My grandparents and parents came over from Luzon, PI as cheap labor in Del Monte, Dole, and other plantation fields, harboring fruits and vegetables. My brothers and cousins are of the following professions: Medicine, Transportation, Real Estate, Engineering, Construction. My hope is that my kids will also have a career that functions as a profession and passion.

Constancio Paranal III

Constancio Paranal III is a legal and technology professional with strong focus on cybersecurity and digital transformation. As the Innovation and Technology Program Director at the Office of Economic Revitalization, he leads initiatives related to broadband and serves as the primary designee by the City and County for the State of Hawai'i's Broadband Working Group. In his role, Constancio engages key stakeholders and fosters collaborative discussions on Broadband and Digital Equity. With prior experience as a Program Coordinator for Unemployment Insurance Technology modernization at the State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Constancio understands the role of technology in driving social services for the community.

In addition to his many roles, he further contributes to the field as a Pacific-Asian Center for Entrepreneurship faculty fellow at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Constancio has been a resident of Hawaii for over a decade. His commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond his career; he co-founded the Finley Fort Foundation, a small nonprofit organization providing emergency financial assistance to families with pets in need and scholarship to veterinary students who need financial assistance.

Philippe Roque

Philippe Roque is the Office Manager for House Majority Leader Nadine Nakamura. He has lived in Ewa Beach for most of his life, graduated from James Campbell High School, and then attended the University of Hawaii - West Oahu (UHWO) and achieved a Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Sciences with a Concentration in Sociology. In his professional life, Philippe has used his professional experience to serve in several management/leadership positions, as a mentor, and as a community service volunteer. The best part of his presence is his positive attitude and tireless energy that he brings to the workplace. Philippe always encourages others and promotes a productive environment amongst his peers, colleagues, and associates. In his free time, Philippe enjoys an active lifestyle, reading/writing poetry, and riding motorcycles.

Kristina Viloria

Originally from Kaua'i, Kristina moved to O'ahu to attend college where she received her Bachelor's in Arts at the University of Hawai'i Mānoa and her Master's in Education at Chaminade University of Honolulu. She is currently a Middle School Academic Coach with DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach, PCS. In her new role she will be supporting and developing middle school teachers. Prior to her role, she taught social studies, English language arts, and special education.