Maile Meyer is the owner and founder of Native Books and Nā Mea Hawaiʻi. Read about her beginnings of Nā Mea Hawaiʻi and Native Books, Inc. here.

Lise was raised in Kalihi Uka, below the pink store.

They manage the institutional sales process and fulfillment for Native Books. Working with books about and by Hawaiʻi and the Pacific for over 7 years, Lise is also cultivating a skillset to care for Native Books' rare and out-of-print book collection.

Lise's favorite pastime is dream recollection. In addition to dreaming, they enjoy eating and reading, separately and sometimes together.

Sarah Kuaiwa is the book buyer for Native Books and our sister store, Na Mea Hawaiʻi. She is responsible for keeping the shelves stocked with beloved titles new and old. Sarah is also a trained historian and art historian specializing in nineteenth century Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian-language materials, and Hawaiian material culture.

Favorite books: The Kingdom and the Republic, The Musubi Book, Clouds of Memories, and Waimea Summer

Sancia Shiba Nash is a filmmaker and artist from Kīhei, Maui, ka pae ʻāina o Hawaiʻi.

Through time-based media, primarily video and sound, she helps to amplify lesser-known transpacific stories of place.

Oral history interviews and private/public archives provide the foundations for her collaborative practice.

Hannah is an occasionally unhinged human hailing from Kailua, Oahu. She is passionate about tea ceremony, pantaloons, and all things photography. When she’s not writing or thrifting, Hannah can be found at Arts and Letters Nuʻuanu, where she works as a Sales Associate.

One day, Hannah aspires to the creation of a healing center for teenage girls. Her all-time-favorite book in the collection is Nana Veary’s “Change We Must.”

Līhau Collier is a philosopher, writer, and kanaka ʻōiwi of Hawaiʻi.

She is inspired by mana wahine (powerful women), who make a positive difference for ka lāhui Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian people) and the world. Līhau has experienced the liberating aspects of maoli (indigenous) studies and with that, wholeheartedly became a part of our team. 

Her kuleana (responsibilities) include, editorial insights, design discussion, copyediting, proofreading, marketing, and distribution. She is empowered by each member of the hui, as each person's perspective helps shape her own.  Her favorite motto, “It's a kākou thing!”

Allison was born and raised on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.

She manages the web sales for Native Books, and assists in the management of the Arts & Letters Gallery. Although multifaceted and not short of interests, she doesn’t know what else to write for this bio. She hopes you understand.

Tiffany was raised on Muscogee lands aka Atlanta, Georgia. They manage small publications book buying at Native Books. Tiffany is also getting their PhD in Political Science, Indigenous Politics, and Museum Studies at UH Mānoa. She aspires to one day be able to provide food for family and community through spearfishing.

Favorite books: Mapping Abundance for a Planetary Future, Unsustainable Empire, Ē Luku Wale Ē, CONTACT, and Waves of Knowing.

Sierra was raised in Maunalua and Waiau Oahu. She is passionate about anything relating to the ocean and considers touching the kai to be a life essential.  She likes fish and poi, and sometimes feels like a big boy. Her current kuleana includes receiving new orders, transferring books to and from sister store Na Mea Hawaii, and talking story with anyone who visits the physical store.

Some of Sierra’s favorite titles: Aina Hanau, Aloha Betrayed, Canoes of Oceania, He Mau Nane Hawaii, and Kapaemahu.