LEADERSHIP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors is managed entirely by Native Hawaiian business leaders. Each Director is deeply committed to elevating the Native Hawaiian community and contributes decades of multi-faceted experience in both community engagement and economic development. The board drives HNC’s mission and vision for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and spearheads its organizational strategy to meet the needs of the global economic marketplace. 

Christopher Dawson

CHRISTOPHER DAWSON

FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

OUR FOUNDER’S STORY
As a Native Hawaiian social entrepreneur, Christopher “Chris” Dawson is dedicated to creating wide-scale economic and cultural impact through the work of the Hawaiian Native Corporation (HNC), which he established in 2004. An industry trailblazer in Native and Small Business Contracting with the U.S. Federal Government, Chris is also the founder and CEO of HNC’s family of subsidiary companies, collectively known as DAWSON. Chris currently drives business strategy for HNC and DAWSON, drawing on more than three decades of experience launching ventures and positioning them for growth in emerging markets.

With the goal of bettering the environment in his home community, Chris started Dawson Environmental Services in 1994 as a solo entrepreneur providing soil remediation services throughout Hawaii. Since then, he and his leadership team have grown the HNC and DAWSON family of companies into a global business enterprise based on traditional Native Hawaiian values and dedicated to perpetuating Native Hawaiian culture, history, and community.

Learn more about our founder – chrisdawsonhawaii.com

Allen Kaleʻiolani
Hoe

DIRECTOR

Allen is a Native Hawaiian attorney and highly respected community leader. As Keiki O ka ‘Āina, he has devoted a lifetime of service to Hawai’i in cultural, civic, military, and professional roles, always seeking to improve the status and conditions of Hawaii’s citizens. In 1967 to 1968, he served as a combat medic for the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Among his many accolades, he was awarded the Combat Medics Badge, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medal. Mr. Hoe’s efforts on behalf of many organizations that benefit the Native Hawaiian community include:

  • Hawai’i State Constitutional Convention Instrumental in the initiation and adoption of the constitutional amendment requiring recognition of the Hawai’i Language as the “official Language of Hawai’i.” former Advisor
  • Native Hawaiian Bar Association of the State of Hawai’i former President
  • University of Hawai’i Law School served as a former Member of an ad-hoc “Native Hawaiian” initiative to recruit Native Hawaiian college graduates to apply to take the LSAT and seek admission to law school.
  • Ulu Lehua Scholars Program – Providing underserved Native Hawaiian law school applicants an equitable opportunity to prepare for admission.
  •  U.S. Army Hawaiʻi Covenant with Native Hawaiians Drafter and Signatory
  • Army Garrison Hawai’i – Participated in the organization of a special advisory committee of renown Native Hawaiian leaders to provide counsel and guidance on policy issues that affected the relationship between the U.S. Army, its mission, and the Native Hawaiian Community.
  • Hanalei River Heritage Foundation Founding Member

Donne
Dawson

DIRECTOR

Donne is Native Hawaiian and serves as the film commissioner for the State of Hawai‘i, where she heads the agency that supports all film production in the Hawaiian Islands.  As a media professional and community leader, she is active in the Native Hawaiian community and provides philanthropic services to numerous organizations that benefit Native Hawaiians, including:

  • Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) (former Board Member and current Advisory Board Member)
  • Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation (former Trustee)
  • ʻAha Pūnana Leo (the nationally recognized Hawaiian language immersion program)
  • ʻŌiwi TV which is the first Hawaiian language television channel dedicated to programming in Hawaiian that produced
  • ʻĀha`i ʻŌlelo Ola, the first news program written, produced and broadcast in the Hawaiian language.
  • Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana
  • Hawaiian Media Makers Conference

Beadie Kanahele
Dawson

DIRECTOR EMERITUS

Beadie is a Native Hawaiian attorney, celebrated community leader, and hoʻoponopono practitioner and educator. She has served the Native Hawaiian community all her life, driving change in countless community initiatives, including the restoration of Iolani Palace. Among her many accolades, she was named 2019 Kamaʻāina of the Year. Ms. Dawson’s efforts on behalf of many organizations benefiting Native Hawaiians include:

  • President and Board Member, Friends of the Medical School at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, particularly in support of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health and the ʻImi Ola Scholarship Program;
  • Chairperson and Board Member, University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law supporting special programs for minority and Native Hawaiian students;
  • Advisory Board Member, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, University of Hawaiʻi Law School’s Native Hawaiian Study Program which focuses on the laws and culture of Native Hawaiians;
  • Vice-Chairman and Board Member, Native Hawaiian Bar Association;
  • Board Member, Warrior Council of Leadership for Kamehameha Schools;
  • Board Member, Native Hawaiian Organization Association (NHOA), a trade association of SBA certified Native Hawaiian Organizations;
  • Elected Member of Daughters of Hawaiʻi, an organization founded in 1903, to perpetuate the memory and spirit of old Hawaii and of historic facts, and to preserve the nomenclature and correct pronunciation of the Hawaiian language;

BOARD OF ADVISORS

The HNC Board of Advisors is a group of community leaders that provides guidance to the Board of Directors and Executive Director in the area of community engagement. Advisors serve in a volunteer capacity. As notable leaders in their fields, they are invaluable in guiding the HNC to carry out its mission.

Crissy Gayagas

Dr. Christine (Crissy) Gayagas

ADVISOR

A retired Army Colonel, Crissy is a passionate community supporter in the health, education, and economic development fields. She served on the Native Hawaiian Health committee on the Queen’s Health Systems board and is a Governor for Chaminade University, a Native Hawaiian serving institution.

Frank Wiercinski

Frank Wiercinski

ADVISOR

Frank is a retired Army Lieutenant General and has been involved with Indo-Pacific, domestic and International partnership and security for over 20 years. He is a member of the Military Affairs Council of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Governors, Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and is a Governor for Chaminade University.

HNC STAFF

The HNC team works to advance the organization’s mission

Bryan Hara

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Bryan has been with the HNC since its inception in 2004. He oversees all finances and administers HNC’s annual budget.

Steve Li

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CORPORATE COUNSEL 

Steve is a licensed attorney, 20 year retired federal agent, ran a congressional office, and serves as a board of member of the NHOA.

KEKAULIKE MAR

DIRECTOR OF CULTURE

Kekaulike is a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner who guides the HNC’s cultural approach to strategic community partnerships.

JEFF DOLLAR

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIRMAN

Jeff is Native American and served in various roles at DAWSON for 12 years before joining its parent company, the HNC.

Stephanie Wright

BRAND DIRECTOR

Stephanie oversees branding, communication, and marketing. She worked for Chris Dawson for 6 years before joining the HNC.

Hanalē Lee Loy

HNC COORDINATOR

Hanalē is Native Hawaiian, born and raised in Hilo, HI. He joined HNC after several years serving with the Federal Government working for two members of Congress.