Who We Are
The Miller ‘Ohana
Aloha. We are Jamee and Kalei Miller and have been married for over 30 years. We were both raised in Ko’olauloa, Oahu by humble, hard-working families surrounded by many extended family members. We have two adult children, ‘Ekolu and Kalei, and four mo’opuna. We raised our children with the same Hawaiian values we were raised with, laulima (working together), aloha (lots of love), ha’aha’a (humility).
In 2009, our ‘ohana was struck down by tragedy and resulted in our son ‘Ekolu, a teenager at the time, receiving a ten year prison sentence -- a first offense in his young life. We had spent years preparing our children for college, career, and life, but were ill-prepared in navigating the criminal justice system. Even as resourceful and resilient as we are, we felt completely clueless and encountered many challenges that could have easily torn a family apart.
Our son ‘Ekolu served 9 1/2 years, and most of his time was spent out of our homelands at Saguaro Correctional Facility in Arizona. Although he has successfully transitioned out, he continues to be haunted by the humiliation, trauma, discrimination and fear from being incarcerated for almost a decade. This experience has fully opened our eyes to the gaping holes that exist within the incarceration system and has compelled us to act.
We refuse to accept the system as it is and believe that alternatives to incarceration exist. We envision a pono justice system that heals and empowers individuals, ‘ohana, and communities, and have made it our mission to transform Hawai‘i’s justice system through Native Hawaiian cultural practices and values. Please join us.
Me Ka Ha’aha’a,
Jamee and Kalei
Our Board of Directors
Dr. Jamee Māhealani Miller has dedicated her entire professional life to working with Native Hawaiians. She started off as a non-traditional education student at Kailua High School where she worked in the counseling department and serviced Native Hawaiian students, most were from Waimānalo. She assisted these students in completing high school and plans for college. Dr. Miller then started a child abuse prevention program in Waimānalo to service families and young children of Hawaiian ethnicity, she lead a team of multi-disciplinary professionals to strengthen families in the child rearing practices. Dr. Miller’s longest employment has been with the Queen Liliʻuokalani Trust, first as a practicum student and fifteen years later as the Kona Unit Manager. There she increased her learning and practices in indigenous methodologies towards healing. She was able to practice with the greatest of Hawaiian leaders and mentors of our time. Dr. Miller felt privileged to represent her generation on the executive team at QLCC, now referred to as Liliʻuokalani Trust. It was an honor to serve the Queen and her mission. Five years ago, Dr. Miller was lured away from one aliʻi Trust to another. Knowing that the Queen and Pauahi love one another so much, it wasnʻt a difficult decision. Dr. Miller is the Regional Director on Oʻahu. Through all of her professional success, Dr. Miller has made her ʻohana a priority. Unforeseen personal circumstances brought her to the work of justice reform in Hawaiʻi and the creation of ʻEkolu Mea Nui. Named for her son ʻEkolu who has the biggest heart, generous spirit and a brave soul.
Dr. Miller has a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, a masterʻs degree in Social Work and a bachelorʻs in Hawiian Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is a licensed clinician with the state of Hawai‘i. Dr. Miller is also a student of hula with Hālau o Ke ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani. She enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Jamee Miller,
Co-Founder & President
Kalei Miller,
Co-Founder
Kalei Miller comes from a long line of ʻohana rooted in Koʻolauloa. He is a proud Red Raider graduate of Kahuku High School. Kalei’s commitment to family, community and the environment are part of his DNA. His generosity and kindness are evident in all things he does. Kalei has been in the construction industry for over 30 years, he is in the Operator Engineer’s union and loves his work. He is a staunch leader in the field and models aloha in all of his kuleana. He is a mentor to those coming up the ranks and respects all those that have come before him. He loves the outdoors, the ocean and preparing food for the masses. He is always helping others. On his free time, he enjoys wood carving and fishing. He is highly organized, a strategic thinker and loves his family beyond measure. Kalei enjoys his mo‘opuna, at least one (if not all of them) can be found at his side, especially on the weekends.
Dr. Kamanaʻopono M. Crabbe serves as a seasoned spokesperson and representative for the Native Hawaiian community on matters involving Native Hawaiian history and resilience, and current social, cultural, educational, economic and political issues and trends affecting Native Hawaiians, Hawai‘i and the Pacific. Dr. Crabbe has focused his personal, academic and professional career toward improving Native Hawaiian well-being. Crabbe’s executive leadership is demonstrated through civic positions like the Hawai‘i Executive Conference Advisory Board; Executive Committee of the Assembly of Austronesian Leaders; IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016, Steering Committee Member; Nā Limahana O Lonopūhā Native Hawaiian Health Consortium, President; The Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force, Vice Chair. He was the Director of Psychology Training at the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center from 2008-2010. In 2009, he joined the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) as its Research Director, focusing on demography, land, culture, and history projects where he began some of Hawaiʻi’s most innvoative research projects
In March 2012, Dr. Crabbe was appointed the Chief Executive Officer for OHA, a semi-autonomous government agency whose charge is to empower Hawaiians and strengthen Hawaiʻi. As OHA’s Ka Pouhana, the main post of the hale, he grounded the organization in Kūkulu Hou – his vision to reestablish and rebuild the mana of kānaka maoli. Dr. Crabbe directed OHA’s efforts in addressing its strategic priorities of ʻĀina (Land & Water), Moʻomeheu (Culture), Ea (Governance), Hoʻonaʻauao (Education), Hoʻokahua Waiwai (Economic Self-Sufficiency) and Mauli Ola (Health). He has received numerous cultural distinctions and formal awards recognizing his executive leadership accomplishments, such as the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education Leadership Award, American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship Program Predoctoral Fellowship, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement’s Native Hawaiian Advocate Award 2019 and the Hawaiʻi Psychological Association Patrick H. DeLeon, Ph.D. Lifetime Achievement Award among many others.
Uplifting the mana and mauli ola of the Hawaiian community through transformation and indigenous excellence are pillars of his leadership values. Crabbe serves his community as a hoʻoponopono practitioner (trained by Abbie Napeahi and Howard Peʻa), chanter (trained by Kumu Hōkūlani Holt), and ‘aha ‘awa ceremony and protocol expert. In 2006, he established the non-governmental organization, ʻAha Kāne: Foundation for the Advancement of Native Hawaiian Males. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and remains a licensed clinical psychologist helping countless families, youth and communities. He is guided by this ancient Hawaiian proverb knowing that every good leader needs a strong foundation for their work and vision,
Ke kahu mamua, mahope ke kūkulu. The foundation first, the building afterwards. (Pukui, 1983, #2459).
Kamanao‘pono Crabbe,
Advisor
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