Our Team

FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Miki Tomita Okamoto
Born and raised on Maui, Miki graduated from H.P. Baldwin High School, earned a B.S.E. in Biosystems Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and a Ph.D. in education at Stanford University. She has worked in education for 25 years as a teacher, administrator, curriculum developer, and researcher in public, charter, independent, post-high and informal education. Miki’s focus is on placing youth and communities at the center of transforming society’s challenges into opportunities for learning and invention, elevating the role of traditional, cultural and place-based knowledge and practice to the forefront of a regenerative society that holds ALOHA at its core. She is the named successor in ALOHA Response teachings and practice of renowned Hawaiian storyteller and cultural practitioner, Pono Shim.
She identifies as a descendant of Japanese settlers in Hawaiʻi, an indigenous ally, a student of traditional healers and practitioners, an entrepreneur and a maker. She has spent her life working to help create positive change for our planet and people, and is accompanied on her path by her daughter Mayumi and husband Jon.

CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
Hye Jung Kim Tano
Hye Jung was born in Busan, South Korea, raised in Mount Dora, Florida, and now resides in Maunawili, Hawaiʻi. Before transitioning to her current role, she gained valuable experience working with youth in various educational settings, including public, charter, and independent K-12 schools, such as Akaʻula School, ‘Iolani School, and the University Laboratory School. Additionally, she has held positions at the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu and Kapiʻolani Community College. Her journey has been enriched by the birth of her two children, Hayden and Haylee, as well as her supportive partner, DJ.
Hye Jung earned her Bachelor of Science degree in pure mathematics from the University of Central Florida and went on to pursue a Master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she was also a fellow in the National Science Foundation’s GK-12 program. Beyond her academic pursuits, she volunteers as a crew member with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and has served as an advisor for the Nā Kelamoku youth group.
Our Board

PRESIDENT
Herb Lee, Jr.
Herb Lee, Jr. , has been the Executive Director of the Pacific American Foundation since 2005 and President and Chief Executive Officer since 2018. Herb has led multiple highly-successful programs in youth leadership, career planning and development, STEM education and culture-based curriculum. At their place-based hub, Waikalua Loko, Herb and PAF have trained over 5,000 teachers statewide in over 150 schools and benefited over 100,000+ students and families to-date. PAF is recognized as a leading non-profit in the development and training of rigorous culture-based education programs for both Native Hawaiians and non-Hawaiian students.
Herb also has 30 years of experience as a community involvement specialist and has been a recording artist, Hawaiian musician, and a cultural practitioner for 40 years. He is one of the founders of the Waikalua Loko Fishpond Preservation Society a Kāneʻohe, O’ahu non-profit whose mission is education through the protection, preservation, restoration and perpetual stewardship of an ancient (400 year old) cultural resource. He serves on numerous Boards and community groups and in 2011 was selected to the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee Indigenous People Working Group and received the Historic Hawaii Foundation’s highest Preservation Award for the work at the Waikalua Loko Fishpond. In 2014 he was designated a Cesar Chavez Champion of Change, 1 of 10 recognized by President Obama, and was 1 of 3 to receive the Hawaii Maoli and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Ka Mana o ke Kanaka, the Spirit of the Hawaiian award. He has also been recognized with the O’o award from the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Honolulu’s Jerry C. L. Chang Peacemaker Award.

TREASURER
Keoni Lee
Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Keoni is a Native Hawaiian entrepreneur and community change agent. He co-founded ʻŌiwi TV – a media production company that leverages the power of media to reshape the narratives of the modern Hawaiian experience. He also co-founded Waiwai Collective, a contemporary Hawaiian gathering space that is growing a community and movement grounded in collective values and shared responsibilities to mobilize systemic change in Hawaiʻi. In his current role as CEO of Hawaiʻi Investment Ready, he is working to accelerate social enterprise impact and increase investment into Hawaiʻiʻs innovative impact sector.
Keoni is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, went on to Oregon State University, and also earned a MBA from the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His leadership accomplishments also garnered his selection in the Omidyar Fellows program and the First Nations Futures Program.
In addition to serving on the EI board of directors, Keoni also serves on the boards of Sustʻāinable Molokaʻi, Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School, and MAʻO Organic Farms.

SECRETARY
Christine Matsuda
Christine Matsuda is a communications strategist, working alongside Hawaii’s leading organizations to tell stories and shape ideas that make our community stronger. Born and raised on O‘ahu, Christine and her two young sons live in Makiki.
Christine is Bennet Group Strategic Communications’ senior vice president. A leader in the company since returning to the islands in 2011, Christine’s experience in complex issues management, strategic media relations, nonprofit communications and stakeholder engagement make her a valued colleague and collaborator. Her extensive background includes in-depth media coordination work as well as donor relations and fundraising cultivation expertise on behalf of her clients in a wide range of Hawai‘i’s business and nonprofit sectors. Previously with the Hawai‘i Foodbank managing donor events and fundraising campaigns, Christine worked with Washington D.C.-based Share our Strength and at Bon Appétit Magazine in Los Angeles.
Christine is a Punahou School and University of Southern California alumna; in addition to serving on the board of directors for Education Incubator, she also dedicates pro-bono time to several local nonprofits including Kanu Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i Songwriting Festival and more.

DIRECTOR
Brian Dote
Brian Dote is the founder of Tapiki, LLC, a Hawaii-based app-design and development company. Brian has experience as a designer, software engineer, and has been a co-founder, CTO, and trusted advisor for multiple early-stage technology startups. Brian worked at Apple, Inc. during which time he was awarded five patents for the iPhone and mobile web technologies. Brian has over 20 years of experience building and designing desktop and web applications and over 9 years of experience building mobile (iPhone, iPad, Android) games and applications.
Formerly, Brian was the Senior Vice President and Director of Mobile and Digital Commerce at Bank of Hawaii, and the first Chief Innovation Officer at Mid-Pacific where he was responsible for articulating a vision for educational and administrative use of technology throughout the school. Brian created the schools Technology Vision Statement and led initiatives in VR, AR, and other immersive technologies as well as in AI/data science, and entrepreneurship.
In addition to serving on the EI Board of Directors, Brian is a board member of the Advisory Board for the Academy of Industrial & Engineering Technology at Waipahu High School, the HOME Project, and Tinker & Do Academy. Brian was a 2017 honoree in Hawaii Business Magazine’s 20 for the next 20 and a Webby Honoree for his web development work on Springfield Town Center in 2009.
