Meredith is a Kumu Ulana Lauhala, sewist, and craftswoman living in Hōlualoa Ehā, Moku o Kona, Moku o Keawe - Kanaka Maoli ancestral lands. Originally born and raised outside of Washington DC, Meredith's ancestral Japanese and Portuguese roots brought her back to Hawaiʻi as a fifth generation descendant of plantation workers. She started weaving in May 2017 at Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona weaving conference, out of curiosity and reverence for this cultural practice. She took quickly to the craft, fashioning bracelets, mats, baskets, purses, and water bottles. Through the guidance of her kumu ulana, Meredith rapidly progressed and made her first pāpale in October 2018. She was named Kumu in May 2021 by three of her Kumu Ulana; Barbara Watanabe, Karen Hasegawa, and Iliahi Anthony.

Karen is from Kona, Hawaiʻi. Her grandmother was a weaver as well as her mother so weaving is in her blood. As a child, she remembers watching them weave and later learned to weave from her mother Daisy Hasegawa. She also learned weaving from Josephine Fergerstrom, Ed Kaneko, and Jim Skibby. She learned the crownless hat from Aunty Josephine.

Kuʻuipo first learned traditional Hawaiian weaving as a child and has been an instructor of Hawaiian arts for over 18 years. She spent her childhood in Koʻolau Poko, Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu. Her Tutu Lady was a weaver of lauhala and like the weavers of old, had a pū hala growing outside her home. It was there that the deep love of weaving was sparked and burns strong to this day.

Marques is a Hawaiian fiber artist born and raised in Kaneʻohe, Oʻahu. He has learned and trained under noted experts in Hawaiʻi and continues to broaden his knowledge base of indigenous Pacific perspectives. He currently serves as Cultural Advisor at the Bishop Museum and shares his understanding and passion of the fiber arts through presentations, demonstrations, and workshops.

Marcia was born and raised on Oʻahu and still resides in Niu Valley. She started hat weaving in 1980 with Gladys Kukana Grace and continued to weave with her until her passing in 2013. Marcia loves handling pāpale lauhala samples of old, looking at old photos and movies so that she can learn from them and try to replicate what she has experienced.

Stacie started weaving in 2010 with Kumu Gwen Kamisugi and shortly after also learned to weave from Kumu Pohaku Kahoʻohanohano. Stacie has also learned from Margaret Lovett and Barbara Watanabe. After 3 years, Aunty Gwen asked Stacie to help her make the kits and to help teach the ulana lauhala classes. In 2016, Aunty Gwen with the consent from Kumu Pohaku had requested that Stacie continue her teachings and to always continue to perpetuate the art of ulana lauhala. Stacie spends Saturdays planting and caring for Puhala at various locations. She teaches the haumana of Nā Lālā o Ka Pūhala and also offers weekly classes at Na Kupuna Makamae and at her home. Stacie’s dream is to attend cultural events where everyone is wearing a traditional papale lauhala!

Dee is from Honokaʻa, Hawaiʻi. She began weaving in 1972 in classes sponsored by Queen Emma Civic Club and was taught by Elaine Mulaney. After a break from weaving, she continued in 1999 with an apprenticeship under Lily Sugahara through the State Foundation on Culture and Arts Program. She enjoys sharing what she has learned just as nā kumu before her did.

Dalani Tanahy is a native of San Diego, California with maternal roots in Maui, Molokai and Moku O Hawaii and has lived in Makaha, O`ahu since 1986. Her kapa journey began in 1994 with a tool-making class from Kumu Kawai Aona-Ueoka and Kumu Valentine Ching. She planted the baby wauke given to her by na kumu and then with research, aumakua inspiration and DNA, attempted to make kapa. In 1996 she was hired by Ka`ala Farm Inc. to teach kapa to keiki in the schools. Although she, regrettably, never had the chance to train with the other known kapa makers at the time, they were and are, an influence and sister/brotherhood of practitioners. Since 2008 Dalani has had her business, Kapa Hawaii LLC where she continues her cultural and professional work as a kapa practitioner, wauke farmer, artist and kumu.

Hailing from an ʻOhana of noted weavers from Kīpahulu/Hāna, Maui, Kumu Ipolani Vaughan began weaving under the auspices of Master Weaver Gladys Kukana Ontai Grace who was born in Kona on the island of Hawaiʻi. Ipolani is also a well-known Kumu ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Kumu Hula, Kumu Ulana, and Hawaiian cultural specialist and preservationist. She is most noted for ʻeke/pahu hapai lauhala in a fine weave for the storage and carrying of precious possessions. Kumu Ipolani continues the traditions of her Kumu Aunty Gladys, hoping to instill in this new generation the "waiwai" (values) of the art of ulana lauhala that have been passed down by our kūpuna. In the words of her beloved Kumu, Aunty Gladys:

"E nānā ka maka, e hoʻolohe ka pepeiao, E hana me ka lima." (Look, Listen, and Do!)
E ULANA KĀKOU!

Margaret resides in Kapaʻa on the island of Kauaʻi. She has been weaving lauhala for 30 years and feels lucky to have had learned from master hat weavers Esther Makuaʻole, Elizabeth Lee and Gladys Grace. Margaret has a passion for teaching lauhala weaving and loves to create pāpale for people to wear and for exhibition.