Raised with a strong emphasis on family values, Kahi has focused his life on serving the community. As a youth, playing multiple sports while also falling in love with the ocean, Kahi continued to find himself in leadership roles. Entering into Punahou School in the 7th grade was a rough transition from public school but a necessary task that cemented his grit and creativity. After graduating in 1997, Kahi flourished in college life at the University of San Diego where he earned a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Philosophy.

After college, Kahi spent 2 years as a snowboard instructor where his eyes were opened to a grander scale of the mauka and makai connections. This realization transcended beyond the environment and began to resonate on a more systems wide framework . To this day, Kahi travels to the mountains of Japan to reconnect.

His first corporate job was as a financial analyst for development firm Intracorp in San Diego. Quickly ascending the corporate ladder, Kahi was promoted through multiple roles to Senior Acquisitions Manager where he helped oversee projects while also identifying and executing due diligence on new properties for Intracorp to acquire.

2008 saw a massive decline in development work and at the age of 29 Kahi took off on a trip around the world with his girlfriend (now wife) Louise. They traveled for 18 months and returned home, deeply in love, but also philisophically changed. The degradation of the environment due to development revealed the importance of getting involved with communities to keep the ocean clean. Their trip focused on surfing the best waves in the world but nearly every single one they visited was plagued with plastic pollution, runnoff, and unregulated development. Upon returning home, they realized the same was true right here at home.

It took a little while to figure out what they wanted to do but in 2011, Kahi, along with Louise and their roommates, pitched in $50 bucks each and hosted a cleanup at Makapuʻu Beach Park. That was Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii’s (SCH) first cleanup. SCH has since grown to become a global megaphone and community activator around keeping coastlines clean and more importantly, focusing on the source of the problem and identifying solutions. Today, Kahi continues his involvment with SCH as a board member.

Currently, Kahi works for a nonprofit similar to SCH but one that focuses more globally. Parley for the Oceans is working to replace plastic altogether through a program called “Parley Materials”. Kahi’s work is focused on the education side of this work, through managing teams globally that execute cleanups and educational events in schools and in the community.

He is also the Chair of the City and Countys’ Clean Water and Natural Lands Commission, where he volunteers his time to protect land from development, increase public access, and protect watersheds. The CWNL Commission has protected multiple properties in District 19 including in Kuliʻouʻou, Wailupe Natural Preserve, and Kanewai Spring. Kahi also serves as the head of Water Quality as a board member for the Hawaii Kai Marina Board Association.

His family of four resides in Kaʻalakei Valley between Kuliʻouʻou and Hahaiʻone. Their free time is spent out on their boat in Maunalua Bay snorkeling, surfing, and foiling. On land, you can find them volunteering with nonprofits, playing in the neighborhood, or supporting their kids at the skatepark. Get to know him more. Reach out below.