Tieri Pa’ahana Bissen
(President)
Co-founder of OLA, Tieri Pa’ahana Bissen has had a life-long journey leading and accelerating non-profit organizations. With a keen knowledge of grass-roots communities and organizations, Pa’ahana’s mission is to promote and preserve generational cultural practices and traditions through the works of OLA. Pa’ahana’s expertise in grant writing, sponsorships, and signature events attract financial support necessary in sustaining the organization. It is also pertinent that OLA holds its fiduciary duty to ensure that the financials of the organization are transparent and in full compliance with all State and Federal Agencies. Born in Puunene, Maui, Hawaii. High School in Southern California and University in Northern California. General Manager in Advertising and Production in Southern California. Radio Program Director and Producer in Las Vegas, NV. Genealogist, expert in Native Hawaiian food preparation and plants. A rhythm ukulele and guitar player.
Michelle Lehuanani Recania-Souza
(Secretary)
Hailing from Kaimuki, O’ahu, Hawai’i, Michelle is a graduate of Mid-Pacific Institute and attended Chaminade University of Honolulu. Michelle has served as a Lead Travel Director for one of the largest Travel Incentive Houses in the United States, the Operations Coordinator of one of Hawai’i’s leading Entertainment Production firms and Meetings-Conventions-Incentives Sales Manager for the largest Luau Attractions in Hawai’i. She has served as the Registrar of one of the largest youth non-profit organizations for over 10+ years in Las Vegas and is the current President/Owner of Nevada Window Tinting, a leader within the commercial, residential and automotive window tinting industry throughout Southern Nevada. As a hula dancer since the age of 2, Michelle has been a member of Halau Hula throughout her lifetime and has shared her love of hula not only in Hawai’i but nationally and internationally. Michelle has served as Education Chair for Meeting Professional International (MPI) - Aloha Chapter and a Volunteer for 12+ years with the Miss Hawai’i Scholarship Program/Miss America Pageant. She serves as an Officer & Board Member for the Office of Living Arts, a State of Nevada non-profit 501(c)(3) and is also a volunteer with the Hospitality Ministry at St. Thomas More Catholic Community, Henderson, Nevada. Michelle she is a member of the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club (LVHCC) since 2009, served as a Director of the LVHCC from 2012-2014, and resumed her role as a Director of the LVHCC Board on January 1, 2022. In addition, she is a member of the Kalihi/Palama Hawaiian Civic Club on the island of O’ahu, Hawai’i.
Vincent Charles Iokimo Palenapa Souza
(Treasurer)
Born and raised on the Island of O’ahu in Hawai’i, Vincent is a graduate of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa with a Bachelors of Arts in History (Asian & Pacific History) & Political Science. As a successful Executive within the Hospitality, Entertainment and Meeting and Event Planning field for over 30+ years, Vincent has been honored as a member of the Class of 2000 by the Pacific Business News Forty Under 40, a graduate of the Pacific Century Fellows - Class of 2002, modeled after the White House Fellows, and recognized as a State of Hawai’i Business Person of the Year in 2005. He has served in various Management and Executive roles including, Chief Operating Officer, President and Managing Director for distinguished organizations throughout Hawai’i and since moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2008. As a passionate Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner for over 40+ years and a Kumu Hula (Hula Teacher) for the past 14 years, Vincent is honored to perpetuate his Hawaiian culture and values and always enthusiastic to share the love of his native homeland Hawai’i with all. Socially active in his community since a youth and proud of his volunteer efforts for the various community and charitable organizations and foundations for which he has served and continues to: • Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commissioner; Clark County, Nevada • Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club (Nevada non-profit); Past President, Board Member and Current Advisor • Kalihi/Palama Hawaiian Civic Club; Member • Hawaiian Heritage Legacy Collection (Henderson, Nevada Library System/Green Valley); Co-founder and Volunteer • American Cancer Society; Southern Nevada Leadership Board & Volunteer • Kailiha’o Hula; Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner (Kumu Hula/Hula Instructor) • St. Thomas More Catholic Community, Henderson, Nevada: Parish Member, Eucharistic Ministry • Miss Hawaii Scholarship Program/Miss America Organization; 12-year Board Member • Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau; MCI Advisory Board Chair.
Lani Dorlack
(Director)
Lani Dorlack proudly hails from Kane'ohe, O'ahu, and is a 1977 graduate of the Kamehameha Schools. Lani brings nearly 40 years of sales, marketing, and advertising experience to OLA. She has held multiple advertising, digital, marketing, and leadership positions with news organizations across the country, as well as serving in leadership roles with advertising agencies here in Las Vegas. A self-described servant leader, Lani believes in and practices putting people, clients, and the interests of the organizations she works with first. Lani has served on the Board of the United Way in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and is a founding member of the Fond. du Lac Area Women's Fund. She has served on the executive board of the Las Vegas Digital Marketing Association and has participated on committees with numerous non-profit organizations. Lani began hula at the age of four and her love for hula and for the Hawaiian culture has continued to grow throughout the years. She is an active member of Kailiha'o Hula and is passionate about teaching and sharing traditional Hawaiian culture and values with our keiki on the 9th Island. She continues the art of Hawaiian quilting that she learned from her grandmother - every stitch by hand, and every quilt made with aloha.
Marilyn Leimomi Kam Sin Suinn Khan (Senior Advisor)
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 Wai (Financial Secretary) of the Royal Society, Hale O Nā Ali’i O Hawai‘i, ‘Ahahui Po’o, Hālau O Wahīika‘ahu‘ula. 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.