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Native Books Hui

  • Maile Meyer

  • Founder // Poʻo

    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 Michelle Suguitan Childers

  • Institutional Lead

    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

  • Book Buyer

    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

  • Videographer // Special Projects

    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.

  • Lihau Collier

  • Publication Project Manager

    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 Makana Benz

  • Web Sales // Arts & Letters Gallery Assistant

    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.

  • Sierra Keolanui

  • Receiving //  Off-Site Storage

    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. Responsibilities at Native Books include receiving orders, managing off-site inventory, social media, and talking story.

    Kona mau puke punahele: Akua Hawai’i, Aloha Betrayed, E Luke Wale Ē, & Sam Choy’s ‘Ulu Cookbook.

  • Lehua Leong

  • Events Coordinator

    Lehua is from Makawao, Maui but spent a lot of time in Texas where she developed a taste for country music and cows, but not cowboys. She is currently getting a bachelor's degree in Hawaiian Studies with a focus on Moʻolelo ʻŌiwi, and plans to pursue a master's in Education Administration. Her dream for the future is a school system that is oriented towards 'Ōiwi ways of learning and knowing, making sure the next generations never have to decolonize their minds in the first place.

  • Hema Kealohanuikaiama Watson

  • Bookseller

    Aloha mai! My name is Hema and I currently attend UH at Mānoa and work at Native Books. I love singing and making music with others and am looking to record a song. I also am politically active and do my best to support and uplift my community. I weave lauhala on the side when I have time and love to hang out with my friends playing games.

  • Lily Kamālamalama

  • Off-Site Event Lead // Bookseller

    Lily was born and raised in Ko‘olaupoko, specifically in Kailua and Kāne‘ohe. She has spent the last few years in Seattle, WA earning a bachelor's degree in Literature and Creative Writing and fell in love with the PNW book community. They returned home because they missed family, the warmth of the kai, Hawai‘i’s soft rain, and the mālie clouds that perch along the Ko‘olau mountains.

    Lily’s main responsibilities include off-site events / mākeke, wholesale orders, book transfers and deliveries, and frontline bookselling. Outside of Native Books she is also a book reviewer.

    When Lily isn’t slinging books, they love to play cards with their tūtū, play beach volleyball, and think about how memory could be the real multiverse. 

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