OUR PURPOSE

President

Tieri Paʻahana Bissen is an experienced financial professional and nonprofit leader with more than 25 years of expertise in accounting, tax regulation, corporate financial structure, and regulatory compliance. As the owner of an established accounting and tax practice in Las Vegas, she provides fiscal oversight, compliance management, and strategic financial guidance to businesses and nonprofit organizations. Her work includes budget development, labor compliance oversight, regulatory agency coordination, and ensuring adherence to federal, state, and contractual requirements.

In 2010, Paʻahana was appointed by the U.S. Census Bureau as Quality Control Director for the State of Nevada, overseeing field operations for Las Vegas, the largest Local Census Office in the state. In this role, she managed large-scale labor structures and compliance systems, reinforcing her reputation for operational precision and accountability.

Paʻahana has professionally guided multiple nonprofit organizations in structural development, compliance frameworks, grant strategy, sponsorship alignment, and long-term sustainability planning. As President of the Office of Living Arts, she ensures strong governance practices, fiscal responsibility, and mission-aligned growth.

Born in Pūnēnē, Maui, and part of the post-statehood migration to the continental United States, Paʻahana has spent more than five decades serving Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities across the continent. She has been a groundbreaking civic leader, including serving as the youngest and first wahine elected President of the Mainland Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and the first non-resident of Hawaiʻi elected as 2nd Vice President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. A recognized advocate for policies impacting Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders wherever they reside, she brings both cultural stewardship and disciplined fiscal leadership to her work.

Vice President

Vincent C. Souza is a seasoned executive leader with more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, operations management, sales leadership, and organizational growth. Throughout his distinguished career in the hospitality, travel, events, and entertainment industries, Vincent has demonstrated an exceptional ability to build high-performing teams, expand revenue streams, and guide organizations toward long-term sustainability and operational excellence.

A graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Asian Pacific History, Vincent brings both cultural insight and executive acumen to his leadership roles. His professional background includes serving as President of Hawaii Executive Planners, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Puppet Boy Entertainment in Las Vegas, Director of Sales for Maritz Travel Hawaii (Journey Hawaii), and as an international meeting planner and speaker within the global travel and hospitality industry.

Beyond his corporate leadership, Vincent has long been deeply engaged in community service and cultural stewardship. He has served as an Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commissioner for Clark County, Nevada, Past President of the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club, Co-founder and Board Member of Hawaiian Heritage Legacy, and Co-founder, Officer, and Board Member of the Office of Living Arts. He is also a dedicated Hawaiian cultural practitioner and Kumu Hula, committed to preserving and sharing Native Hawaiian traditions across generations.

As Board Vice President of the Office of Living Arts, Vincent offers strategic oversight, operational discipline, and a deep commitment to cultural preservation. His leadership reflects a lifelong dedication to strengthening community, advancing cultural continuity, and ensuring that living traditions remain vibrant and accessible for future generations.

Treasurer

Independent Civic and Social Organization Professional

Born and raised on the Island of O’ahu in Hawai’i and in Agana, Guam to parents, Mary Magdalene Levy and Kam Tong Suinn, and raised in her earlier years as a child by John and Catherine Teruko Moranha, Leimomi was immersed at a young age in the Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese Cultures. This heavily influenced her life’s journey. She is married to Asghar Joseph Khan.

Leimomi is a graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam and attended the University of Guam. She worked for the Air Force for over 44 years beginning her career at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and retiring as a Human Resources Manager in 2005 at Hickam AFB, Hawai’i.

A staunch advocate of sound laws impacting on the Native Hawaiian community, the Asian Pacific community, kupuna, and persons with medical challenges, Leimomi is known for her authorship of numerous resolutions and legislative testimonies on issues impacting on these groups.

She has served her Native Hawaiian community in numerous capacities including as President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, and the Kalihi Palama Hawaiian Civic Club; as Papa Lālā Kahuna (Director) and as the current Iku Ha’i (President) of the Royal Hawaiian Benevolent Society, Hale O Na Ali’i O Hawaii, ‘Ahahui Po'o.  She has also served as Chair of the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i; chair of the First World Hula Invitational Festival; and Chair of the Prince Kūhiō Parade and Festival. She is a former Miss Makaha and retired kumu hula. Other leadership roles have included being Chair of the No Vote No Grumble Coalition; Director, Kuli‘ou‘ou Kai Association; and Chair of the Legislative Committee, Moana Pacific, Association of Apartment owners.

She is the recipient of numerous awards, among which are the prestigious Air Force Award for Meritorious Civilian Service, Association of Hawaiian Civic Club’s Outstanding Hawaiian Civic Club Member Award, the O‘ahu County Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s Affirmative Action and Diversity Award, that was subsequently named after her; and most recently the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.