Mahealani Perez-Wendt

Mahealani Perez-Wendt is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) poet, writer and community activist residing in Hawaiʻi, on the island of Maui. She is the 1993 recipient of the Eliot Cades literary award, and is the author of Uluhaimalama[1] and other publications. She recently retired as the executive director of Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, a public-interest law firm specializing in the unique area of Kanaka Maoli rights. She has worked for Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation since 1978.

Background

Born into a Hawaiian, Spanish and Chinese family from rural Lawai, Kauaʻi, Ms. Wendt began writing at an early age, and earned her first literary award while attending Kamehameha School for Girls, from which she graduated in 1965. She later earned a Bachelorʻs degree in political science and a graduate degree in Public Administration [2]. Ms. Wendt is married to taro farmer Ed Wendt, and has three children and six grandchildren.

Professional Recognition

Ms. Wendt served as a member of the State of Hawai`i Judiciary’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Board, appointed by two successive State Supreme Court Chief Justices. She was the first Native Hawaiian board member of the Native American Rights Fund, a national law firm which represents tribal governments throughout the U.S. in landmark cases, including against the U.S. Department of Interior for breaches of trust [3]. She has worked extensively with prison issues, sovereignty restoration, and other matters concerning Kanaka Maoli. She was honored as Outstanding Hawaiian Woman for Community Service by Alu Like, Inc. in 1983. In 1990, she received the Liberty Bell Award from the Hawai`i State Bar Association, Young Lawyer’s Division. In March of 2000, she was the recipient of the Charles Bannerman Fellowship for long-time activists of color. In 2003, she received the Kalanianaole Award, bestowed by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs for Service to the Community-at-Large [4].

External links

Publications:

Uluhaimalama at Native Books

Legal Work:

Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation Homepage