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 

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

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

VIEW BIO

Allen Hoe is a highly respected Native Hawaiian attorney and community leader. Throughout his lifetime, he has dedicated himself to serving Hawai’i in various capacities, striving to improve the well-being of its citizens. From 1967 to 1968, he served as a combat medic in Vietnam, earning accolades such as the Combat Medics Badge, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medal.

Mr. Hoe has made significant contributions to organizations benefiting the Native Hawaiian community, including:

  • Hawai’i State Constitutional Convention: He played a pivotal role in initiating and adopting a constitutional amendment that recognized the Hawai’i Language as the official language of Hawai’i.
  • Native Hawaiian Bar Association of the State of Hawai’i: He served as its former President.
  • University of Hawai’i Law School: He was a member of an ad-hoc initiative to encourage Native Hawaiian college graduates to pursue law school by assisting them in LSAT preparation and application.
  • Ulu Lehua Scholars Program: He has been involved in providing underserved Native Hawaiian law school applicants with equal opportunities to prepare for admission.
  • U.S. Army Hawai’i Covenant with Native Hawaiians: He drafted and signed this covenant.
  • Army Garrison Hawai’i: He participated in organizing a special advisory committee comprising esteemed Native Hawaiian leaders.
  • Hanalei River Heritage Foundation: He is a founding member of this organization.

Allen Hoe’s unwavering commitment to his community and his tireless efforts in numerous influential roles have made a lasting impact on the Native Hawaiian community and beyond.

Donne
Dawson

DIRECTOR

VIEW BIO

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
andy winer

Andy
Winer

DIRECTOR

VIEW BIO
Andy Winer has over 30 years of experience in federal service, government relations, and the law. Winer is presently the executive vice president of Strategies 360, an innovative firm supporting its clients with a comprehensive suite of services including public policy, business strategy, marketing, and strategic communications. Prior to his current role, Winer served as the chief of staff for Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). From 2009 to 2012, Winer was the director of external affairs and director of strategic initiatives and partnerships at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Washington, DC. Winer practiced law in Hawai‘i for over 20 years as the founder and managing partner at Winer, Meheula & Devens. He earned a BA in political science and history from UCLA and JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law.

Beadie Kanahele
Dawson

DIRECTOR EMERITUS

VIEW BIO

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 currently serves on the board of the NHOA and NACA.

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 FOUNDER

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.