Team

Leah Delos Santos

Leah is is a senior at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, studying political science and sociology. The majority of...

Leah is a senior at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, studying political science and sociology. The majority of her work and volunteer experience revolves around policy and government, with additional background in communications and archival research. Leah began her policy work with Hawai’i Public Policy Advocates (HPPA), earning valuable knowledge of lobbying and government relations. Her work with Opportunity Youth Action Hawaiʻi, in conjunction with HPPA, oversaw the passing of several bills regarding youth services and youth wellbeing. Additionally, her work at Hawaiʻi Peace and Justice developed her skills in historical research and archiving. Most recently, her time with the Governor’s Office of Wellness and Resilience focused on community engagement, promoting mental health and trauma-informed care. Leah was born and raised in Kailua, O’ahu, and is a proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. Her connections to culture and community inspire her efforts to contribute to the support and advancement of her people and Hawaiʻi as a whole.

Adriann Gin

Adriann is Director of Engagement, and brings extensive experience developing and managing...

Adriann is Director of Engagement, and brings extensive experience developing and managing teams, as well as a background in operations, and project management and coordination. Adriann previously worked in various industries including research and consulting, translation, reality television production, branding/retail, and resort development before discovering her passion for social change when in 2018, she joined the team at Ulupono Initiative - a Hawai‘i-focused organization that invests, educates and advocates to support locally produced food, renewable energy, clean transportation and fresh water management. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, and a graduate of Punahou School, Adriann feels a deep connection to her home and a personal responsibility in helping to preserve Hawai‘i’s people, land, and culture for generations to come – which is why she feels so aligned with the HDC mission. In her role, she supports nonprofit service providers in building data capacity, while also identifying opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. Adriann earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese Language and Culture from Georgetown University, and possesses skills in conversational Mandarin and Cantonese, which she likes to practice when she’s traveling the world, having traveled to 31 countries and counting.

Emma Kern

Emma is Director of Strategy & Impact. She supports partner organizations and HDC's team with strategy development...

Emma is Director of Strategy and Impact. She supports partner organizations and HDC’s team with strategy development that enable data-guided decisions. Emma earned her Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University in International Relations and French Language. Her studies focused on social policy and analytical research, specifically in immigration and anti-poverty programs. Prior to joining HDC, she conducted research for the University of Michigan’s Center for Social Solutions, and served on the resettlement team at the International Rescue Committee. Emma feels a deep connection to Hawaiʻi, which developed from a young age through regular trips back to the islands to visit family, and is passionate about working in service of improving the well-being of Hawai’i’s communities.

Thomas Lee

Thomas leads Strategic Partnerships. He works with partners to understand how government and government...

Thomas leads Strategic Partnerships. He works with partners to understand how government and government data integrate with the community to address pressing challenges, and identifies opportunities for HDC to provide data strategy and capacity support to partners seeking to expand data utilization and sharing. Thomas currently is a member of the State Data Task Force and is a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard. Grounded in Epidemiology and Public Health, Thomas previously served as faculty at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa where his research focused on COVID-19 epidemiology, modeling, and data utilization. Thomas also supported COVID-19 operations across the Pacific as an Army Reservist as the lead COVID-19 modeler and forecaster for the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency from April through July, 2020. Raised in Honolulu, Oʻahu, Thomas received his PhD and MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese from the University of Notre Dame, and is a graduate of Punahou School.

Kendrick Leong

Kendrick leads Research & Analysis. He assists partner organizations in turning their research questions and...

Kendrick leads Research and Analysis. He assists partner organizations in turning their research questions and curiosities into actionable, data-driven investigations. Kendrick brings a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding and investigating Hawaiʻi’s most pressing issues through spatial and statistical analysis. Raised in Ewa Beach, Oʻahu, Kendrick received a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations from Georgetown University, and is a graduate of Punahou School. His studies included quantitative research in comparative urban economics and transit-oriented development, as well as qualitative research in urbanism and transition design in Tokyo, Japan.

Kyle Mulleady

Kyle is a Software Engineer, providing technical guidance and implementation of of software solutions. Kyle...

Kyle is a Software Engineer, providing technical guidance and implementation of software solutions. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Nick Redding

Nick is Executive Director. He works with HDC’s team and board to sustain the strategic direction and project...

Nick is the Executive Director. He works with HDC’s team and board to sustain the strategic direction and project priorities of the organization. Prior to founding HDC, he served as Director of Social Research and Strategy for the Ulupono Initiative, and has previously held a variety of social research, consulting and teaching roles. Nick holds a PhD in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, where he conducted research on the dynamics of conflict, and complexity-aware leadership.

Tiana Tran

Tiana leads Data Systems & Visualization. She works with partner organizations to understand their data...

Tiana leads Data Systems & Visualization. She works with partner organizations to understand their data challenges and help identify and implement solutions that enable them to leverage their data for decision-making. Raised in Honolulu, Oʻahu, Tiana holds a Master of Arts in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development from Hawaʻii Pacific University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Global Environmental Science from the University of Hawaiʻi, and is a graduate of Punahou School. Her studies focused on exploring environmental and social sustainability through a systems thinking approach, and her desire to work on local sustainability issues naturally led to her interest in working with Hawaiʻi Data Collaborative to make strides towards improving the well-being of Hawaiʻi residents.

Consultants & Advisors

 
 
ENDURANCE
SYSTEMS

Endurance Systems

Endurance Systems serves as consultants to Hawai‘i Data Collaborative, providing technical advisement for the...

Endurance Systems serves as consultants to Hawai‘i Data Collaborative, providing technical advisement for the Hawai‘i Population Model and other microsimulation work.

Diana Hahn

Diana is a writer, UX strategist, and communications professional with 15 years of experience in tech, wellness...

Diana is a writer, UX strategist, and communications professional with 15 years of experience in tech, wellness, and community-based projects. Whether she's doing copywriting, content creation, website construction, brand and voice development/management, project management, or product development, Diana has built her career on doing work that makes a direct and meaningful impact in the world - locally and at large. She is a graduate of Punahou School and holds a B.A. from New York University in Communication through Language and Movement.

Justin Hong

Justin is a research and evaluation consultant with nonprofit organizations in Hawai‘i. He received a Master...

Justin is a research and evaluation consultant with nonprofit organizations in Hawai‘i. He received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i.

 
 

Board of Directors

 

Pankaj Bhanot

Member, Board of Directors
Pankaj Bhanot is the Chief Executive Officer of eWorld Enterprise Solutions, Inc. (eWorldES), a local...

Pankaj Bhanot is the Chief Executive Officer of eWorld Enterprise Solutions, Inc. (eWorldES), a local information and technology firm delivering innovative technology solutions to public sector clients. Prior to joining eWorldES in September 2022, Pankaj was in private consulting from September 2020 to August 2022. Pankaj served as the Director of the State of Hawai‘i: Department of Human Services (DHS) from September 2016 to August 2020. Pankaj also served as the Deputy Director of DHS from January 2015 to August 2016; and December 2010 to January 2012. His career began in the DHS’ Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division and served as the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program Specialist (1999-2002), Employment and Childcare Program Administrator (2002-2006), and Division Administrator (2007-2014).

Throughout his DHS career, Pankaj spearheaded multiple efforts to streamline and improve the service delivery of benefits, employment and training programs, subsidized wage initiative, contract management, ‘Ohana Nui project (multigenerational approach to serving Hawai‘i’s families early and concurrently), and technology integration effort, among other business transformation efforts, to integrate public welfare and child welfare programs into the DHS enterprise platform built using the 90/10 funding made available under the Affordable Care Act.

Among his achievements, Pankaj is a recipient of the Certification of Congressional Recognition, August 2020; Certificate of Recognition, State of Hawai‘i Legislature, August 2020; 2019 American Public Human Services’ (APHSA) Outstanding State Member Award for his body of human services work in Hawai‘i; 2013 Governor’s State Manager of the Year Award; 2013 DHS Manager of the Year Award; 2006 Governor’s Award for the Distinguished State Service; and 2006 DHS Employee of the Year Award.

Pankaj lives in Honolulu with his wife and son and holds a B.A. (Honors) in Political Science and LL.B. from the University of Delhi; an LL.M. from the Cornell University Law School; and completed post-graduate research in Public International Law at the School of Law, University of Nottingham (United Kingdom).

Micah Kāne

Member, Board of Directors
Micah A. Kāne is the CEO and President of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) – the state’s largest and...

Micah A. Kāne is the CEO and President of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) – the state’s largest and oldest Foundation that works with individuals, families, foundations, government agencies, and organizations to transform lives and improve our communities.

Prior to taking on the role in July of 2017 as the third CEO & President in HCF’s 105‐year history, Micah served as its President and Chief Operating Officer. He was responsible for leading the executive team and day‐to‐day operations. He also served as an HCF Board of Governor for eight years before joining HCF.

His previous work experience includes serving as Chief Operating Officer of Pacific Links International responsible for operations and acquisitions of all residential and resort development in Hawaii. He was also the Chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a 200,000‐acre native Hawaiian land trust. Micah also served as the Government Affairs Liaison for the Building Industry Association of Hawaii. He was raised in Hawaii and is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, Menlo College, and received his MBA from the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.

In the December of 2020 issue of Hawaii Business Magazine, Micah was named and recognized as CEO of the Year. Over the years, Micah has been recognized with various awards including the 2019 University of Hawaii at Mānoa Shidler College of Business Hall of Honors award, the Koa Anvil Award of Excellence, the Salvation Army Partners in the Community Service Award, the Hawaiian Leader of the Year Award from the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Ho‘oulu Leadership Award for Government, Menlo College Hall of Fame‐ Football Inductee, Environmental Council Award, Spirit of the Year Award from the Aloha United Way and the Housing Advocate of the Year Award from the Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

Micah currently serves as a Trustee for the Kamehameha Schools and is a corporate Board of Director with the Hawaiian Electric Industries.

Lisa Maruyama

Member, Board of Directors
Lisa Maruyama has served as the President and CEO of the Hawai‘i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations for 14 years...

Lisa Maruyama has served as the President and CEO of the Hawai‘i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations for 14 years. She served previously as the Vice President of Public Affairs for Bright Light Marketing, and before that as Executive Directors for the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council and the Mental Health Association. She has a particular focus in strategic thinking for systems change, nonprofit management, strategic communications and marketing, program development, sector level public policy issues and government relations.

Maruyama is an appointed member of the State of Hawai‘i Procurement Policy Board. In addition to her service on Hawai‘i Data Collaborative board, she serves as a board member of the O‘ahu Economic Development Board, the Advisory Committee of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Public Administration Program; the Hawai‘i Energy Strategic Advisory Board; and the Leadership Board of Transform Hawai‘i Government (THG). As of 2021, she is a founding advisory board member of the Funder Hui and Kūkulu Switchboard, and on the Steering Committee of Chaminade University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

Maruyama received her BBA from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Shidler School of Business. She is a Pacific Century Fellow, Weinberg Fellow, PONO Fellow and was designated Top Forty Under 40 by the Pacific Business News in 2001.

Sunshine Topping

Chair, Board of Directors
Sunshine is responsible for stewarding the Omidyar family’s philanthropic interests in Hawai‘i and...

Sunshine is responsible for stewarding the Omidyar family’s philanthropic interests in Hawai‘i and helping evolve The Omidyar Group’s work and approach statewide. She brings more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience working for some of Hawai‘i’s largest companies, guiding them through periods of significant change and encouraging more outreach to the Native Hawaiian community. Most recently Sunshine served for four years as the Senior VP of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness at Hawai‘i Pacific Health. There, she helped lead the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, a nursing strike, and other challenges. With vast experience navigating highly sensitive, technical, and controversial issues, Sunshine leads with integrity and is known for standing by her guiding principles. She also brings a passion for community service and philanthropy supporting the Native Hawaiian community, rooted in her experience growing up on Hawaiian homestead lands in Keaukaha on Hawai‘i Island.

Sunshine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s degree in public health. She is a Trustee for the King Lunalilo Trust. When she’s not working in the office or in the community, Sunshine is either surfing or spending time with her family, including her husband, three kids, and two dogs.