Trustees and executive leadership
The Board of Trustees
In accordance with the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the governance of Kamehameha Schools rests with a board of trustees. The board of trustees provides the strategic direction and focus necessary to fulfill and sustain the vision, mission and values of Kamehameha Schools.
Composed of five individuals — equally vested with the responsibility and duty of collectively carrying out the testamentary will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop — the sole purpose of the board is to set policy. In accordance with Kamehameha’s organizational structure, the day-to-day management of the institution rests with a board-appointed chief executive officer and his or her chosen managerial staff.
Executive Leadership Team
Kamehameha’s organizational structure is comprised of ten major operating groups, with the leader of each group reporting directly to the CEO. The nine groups are Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i, Kamehameha Schools Maui, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, Hi‘ialo, Administration, Finance, Investment Management, Legal, Strategy and Experience, and ‘Āina Pauahi.
Chief Executive Officer
The CEO is responsible for the leadership, administration, management and effectiveness of Kamehameha Schools’ operations, including planning, coordinating, and directing the implementation of the KS strategic plan, all other strategic plans and the policies, goals, and objectives set by the trustees.
Education
Kamehameha Schools educates and empowers ‘ōiwi leaders who are grounded in E Ola!, by operating world-class campuses that share a commitment to Hawaiian culture-based education.
Hiʻialo
Hi‘ialo fosters the holistic development of Native Hawaiians as local and global leaders from early learning through adulthood. The word “hi‘ialo” speaks to how one carries and nurtures something precious.
Administration
Administration oversees key enterprise-wide administrative services including educational support, safety and student well-being, enterprise technology, information management, and facilities development and support.
Finance
Finance provides an enterprise-wide infrastructure for financial decision-making and oversees the financial planning and analysis, accounting and reporting, cash management, debt, risk management, real estate review and valuation functions at KS.
Ben Salazar
Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Investment Management
Investment Management is responsible for managing the financial assets portion of the trust’s endowment, which invests in various asset classes globally. Investment Management includes investment and operations staff based in Honolulu and San Francisco.
Legal
Legal defends the will of Ke Ali‘i Pauahi, enables the lawful, ethical advancement of KS’ mission, and provides centralized legal and human resource services.
Strategy and Experience
Kēhaunani Abad, Ph.D
Vice President of Strategy and Experience
ʻĀina Pauahi
‘Ōiwi leadership through the application of culturally rooted stewardship to harvest competitive portfolio returns while cultivating prosperous ‘ohana and communities.
