Administrators

Dr. Lui Hokoana

Dr. Lui Hokoana serves as the chancellor and chief executive officer of UH Maui College. Hokoana started his higher education career at the University of Hawaiʻi in 1991, and prior to his role as chancellor served as the vice chancellor for student affairs at UH West Oʻahu, associate vice president for student affairs for the UH System, vice chancellor of student affairs at Windward Community College and director for various programs at UH Maui College.

Hokoana has secured more than $20 million in county, state, federal and private funds to support various UH systemwide initiatives that contributed to unprecedented enrollment growth, financial aid access, service to underrepresented groups and overall student success. He was named State Manager of the Year by the State of Hawaiʻi in 2011.

Hokoana earned a doctorate of education degree from the University of Southern California. He received a master’s degree in communications from UH Mānoa and bachelor’s degree in political science from UH Hilo.

David Tamanaha

David Tamanaha became Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services at University of Hawai‘i Maui College in December, 1997.

Before assuming the Vice Chancellor’s position at UH Maui College, he served at University of Hawai‘i Manoa as a Fiscal Officer at several colleges, Outreach College, John A. Burns School of Medicine, School of Hawaiian Asian and Pacific Studies, and Co-Curricular Programs, Activities and Services. He also served at the University of Hawai‘i System, General Accounting Office.

Born and raised on the island of Maui, Tamanaha attended UH Maui College (then known as Maui Community College) and transferred to UH Manoa and earned a Bachelors in Business Administration and a Masters in Business Administration.

Kulamanu Ishihara

Kulamanu Ishihara previously served as the Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College from 2022 to 2024. In this role, she was responsible for leading Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, Counseling, Disability Services, Mental Health and Personal Development, Basic Needs, and Student Life. Her experience at UH Maui College includes her prior role as Faculty Coordinator and Counselor where she focused on supporting student success, implementing retention tools like Starfish, and coordinating college access initiatives.

Ms. Ishihara holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University and a Bachelor of Science in Family Resources from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and she is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education Curriculum Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Laura Lees Nagle

Laura Lees Nagle previously served as the Dean of Career and Technical Education at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College from 2019 through 2024. In this role, she provided leadership for Allied Health, Business and Hospitality, and Vocational Technical Education departments, managed Carl Perkins Federal Grant funds, and oversaw assessment activities and program development. Her experience at UH Maui College also includes serving as the Accreditation Liaison Officer since January 2012 and as English Faculty from August 2001 to July 2019, during which time she was also the Department Chair of English from January 2011 to June 2017.

Ms. Nagle holds a Master of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Education at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa.