1. Leina’ala Ahu Isa
Queen Emma Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Lahuisa@hpu.edu
www.leiahuisa.com
Education:
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa: AS 1963
University of Hawaii Manoa: BS 1972
University of Hawaii Manoa: MEd 1983
University of Hawaii Manoa: Ph.D. 1991
Dissertation: “Personality Characteristics and Behavioral Patterns of
Outstanding Teachers In Hawaii’s Public School Systems By Grade Level
and Ethnicity”.
University of Virginia’s Dardon Graduate School of Business Administration:
Certificate in Management Leadership, 2001
Work Experience:
Hawaii State Board of Education (Elected 2004-2012):
Develops and writes administrative policies and regulations relating to the
management of statewide systems of 285 public schools/Charter schools,
including creation of job specs, hiring, training, hiring of the State
Superintendent, all Assistant Superintendents for Human Resources,
Facilities and Maintenance, Food Service, Curriculum and Instruction,
Fiscal/Business Office, as well as hiring the Chief Financial Officer for the
Department‘s $2.5 Billion budget;
Develops and writes policy, provides direction and review for the Hawaii
State strategic plans for the statewide educational system, including
Wellness Programs (Physical Education/Obesity, Nutrition, Vending
Machines)
Adopts student performance standards and assessment models, standards
based curriculum;
Appoints and delegates administrative authority to the Superintendent of
Education to administer programs of public education in
accordance with state policies, rules, regulations, and financial plans;
Appoints members of the Charter School Advisory Panel;
Negotiates for the State Department of Education in collective bargaining,
land leases or use of state lands with the Department of Land and Natural
resources or other owners of land where schools are situated;
Annually reviews and evaluates the performance of the Superintendent of
Education, the Executive Director of Charter Schools and the State
Librarian in meeting the Board’s expectations and priority goals.
Hawaii Pacific University - Assistant Professor of Management: 1998-present
Program Chair – 2008; Board Member of HPU’s Entrepreneurial Center.
Hilton Grand Vacations Club - Hilton Hawaiian Village - Principal Broker: 1999-
present - Responsible for 192 sales agents, approximately $400M in sales,
compliance to real estate laws and timeshare regulations.
Lei Ahu Isa
Page 2

2. University of Hawaii KCC - Adjunct Professor of Marketing: 2002 to Spr. 2004
State Representative-27th District - 1996 - 2002
Chairperson: Economic Development and Business Concerns
Committee: Handled all bills affecting Hawaii’s economy and small
businesses. Responsible for passing the bill that established the Small
Business Task Force in the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
during my tenure at the Legislature.
American Movers Inc. -Vice Pres. Marketing and Public Relations:1994 - 1995
During my tenure, I started a subsidiary called the File Connection which bar-
coded, stored and delivered files to small businesses such as law offices,
doctors, dentists, etc.
Pannell Kerr Forester Hawaii CPA LLC: Managing Director of the Center for
Professional Development, a subsidiary of Pannell Kerr Forester in London. June,
1991-1993: In charge of top level conferences and conventions for international
resort industry; responsible for real estate Laws and Ethics classes for Real
Estate Commission; also certified and administered Personality Profile Tests to
potential managerial hires for multinational companies such as General Motors,
Raytheon, and many other clients in aiding them with overseas job placements.
University of Hawaii at Manoa: Director of Small Business Management
Programs 1985 to May, 1991.
Directed and managed the non-credit Small Business Program which
consisted of a budget totaling $550,000 in special funds. This program was
totally funded by generation of revenue through tuition and fees.
Responsible for planning, marketing, and budgeting with classes ranging
from Motivational, Marketing classes to Certifying Appraisers, Real Estate
Salespersons Pre-licensing classes, and setting up consulting services to
accommodate small business owners.
University of Hawaii Systemwide Office: Director of Disbursements and
Payroll - July, 1982-1985: Responsible for disbursement, contract, pre-
audit and payroll activities for entire UH System. Job required extensive
travel to the various statewide campuses in order to conduct workshops
for financial compliance. Managed a large staff consisting of five
supervisors, 35 pre-audit clerks and 55 student helpers. Under the
direction of the Vice President of Administrative Services in the
President’s office.
Lei Ahu Isa
Page 3
University of Hawaii Manoa: Instructor of Real Estate/ Management 1978- June,
1985

3. Professional Organizations:
Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society
National Organization of Women Leaders -Wash. D.C.
American Resort and Development Association
Hawaii Association of Realtors
Organization of Women Leaders
Community and Service Organizations
Small Business Hawaii - Member
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce
Association of Chinese University Women
Organization of Women Leaders - Past Director
Organization of Chinese American Women - Current President
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Native Hawaiian Revolving Fund for Entrepreneurs
Palama Settlement – Former Member of Board of Trustees
Ahahui Ka’ahumanu Society
Kamehameha Lions Club
U.S. China Friendship Association
Hawaii Chinese Civic Club
Guandong Lin Yee Hui Benevolent Society- Past President
United Chinese Society - Trustee
University of Hawaii Distinguished Alumni Committee - 1995 Committee
YWCA Annual Leader Luncheon - 1995 Vice Chair/Facilitator
Publications and Professional Activities:
“Personality Profiles of Successful Teachers: A study in basic personality profiles
of Christian-valued teachers”, Herald Quarterly, Herald House, Jan. 1992.
“Personality Profiles and Behavior Patterns of Outstanding Teachers in Hawaii’s
Public School System by Grade Level and Ethnicity”, Herald Quarterly, March,
1992.
“Timeshares In the House and Its Effect on Hawaii‘s Economy”, Dec. 2001,
Development magazine, published by ARDA.
Guest Speaker at Hawaii Venture Capital Association general membership
meeting, 2002.
Guest speaker - Small Business Hawaii Breakfast Seminar, 2002.
Lei Ahu Isa
Pg. 4
Grants and Awards:
1) Awarded a Fellowship to the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School

4. of Business Administration for Political Leaders. I was selected from a field of
180 candidates from all 50 states, 2001.
2) Nominated and Selected to the International Bibliography of Outstanding
Women, 2000.
3) National Honor Roll of Legislative Women 2002
3) Small Business Advocate Award, Small Business Hawaii, 1996.
4) Outstanding Chinese Citizen Award by Guandong Honolulu Lin Yee Hui, 1999.
5) Outstanding Chinese Citizen Award by Chinatown Merchants Association,
2000.
Current Projects:
1) Creation/Implementation of a scholarship fund for CBA’s School of
Tourism, Industry Management with Mr. Steve Hirano and former
Dean Rod Romig. ARDA’s (American Resort Development
Association) annual golf tournaments will continue to fund this
initiative with the first installment of $25,000 being presented to
HPU’s College of Business Administration-TIM Program this year.
2) Coordinator of visiting Small Businessmen from Asia (Taiwan/China)
to take seminars on Management and Marketing at HPU: Working
with the Chinese Chamber and the United Chinese Societies.
3) Mentoring program for HPU’s MBA students by involving Hawaii’s
business community. I will continue to explore the opportunities
with business leaders who might be willing to sit on advisory
boards. The mentoring program was off to a good start, but was
left out on a limb due to unforeseen circumstances.
4) Creating a clarifying Board of Education Policy for Charter Schools.
Working with the Charter School Advisory Panel to clarify their
roles/structure with that of the Hawaii State Department of
Education.