Elizabeth Pestana-Chandler realized an innate passion for the natural sciences and indigenous cultural
lifeways early on and began her studies in Anthropology at Leeward Community College before receiving
a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, focused on Pacific Islands Archaeology, from the University
of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Self-guided and academic studies include travels in North Africa (including Syria
and Egypt) where she performed in a Polynesian cultural dance review in Cairo; and Rapa Nui in
participation of an archaeological field school research project concerned with dating East Polynesian
settlement. Thus, her career in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) archaeology began in 1997 with
mentorship in qualitative and quantitative laboratory analyses and all levels of field
studies–archaeological monitoring, inventory survey, data recovery, etc.–as well as Native Hawaiian
community outreach efforts in the capacity of CRM specialist. Liz comes to the Keala Pono
Archaeological Consulting ʻohana with 27 years’ experience in Hawaiian CRM archaeology.

Jacob Flores was born and raised in Wahiawā on the island of Oʻahu. After graduating from
Leilehua High School, He worked for several years in Retail before realizing that his passion lay
elsewhere. He attended Leeward Community College in the Fall of 2019, where his love for
archaeology would flourish. Jacob would pursue an AA in Social Sciences until he transferred to
the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the Fall of 2021 to earn a BA in Anthropology. Jacob is
interested in various topics from atmospheric science, geology, and the archaeology of Hawaiʻi.
In December of 2023, Jacob graduated with a BA in Anthropology from UH Mānoa.

Tiffany Brown received her A.A. Degree in Psychology and spent the following three years working with UNICEF throughout New Zealand and Fiji. It was during these years that she found her passions for both travel and cultural studies. After returning to the United States, she redirected her education to Anthropology and soon received her B.A. from Southern New Hampshire University. During her studies, Tiffany took part in an archaeological field school which focused on the Paleo-Indians of Northern New Hampshire. Three months following the conclusion of her field school, she relocated to Hawai’i to pursue a career in archaeology. She has since worked on archaeological monitoring and surveying projects as well as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) surveying and mapping on O’ahu, Maui, and Hawai’i Island. In addition to her experience with UNICEF, Tiffany has worked with charities such as Easter Seals, where she taught children with disabilities, and Lifeshare, where she served as a life coach for juveniles on probation.

Max grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he has always been interested in archaeology, attending his first field school at the age of seventeen. After receiving his B.A. in anthropology from the Ohio State University in 2013, he worked as a cultural resource manager and field archaeologist throughout the eastern half of the U.S. After working several years on the mainland, Max received his master’s degree at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where his thesis explores the prevalence of oceanic tuna fishing throughout the history of Eastern Polynesia. He continues to pursue his interests in the history of nautical technologies through an investigation of the effectiveness of cultural preservation laws. Max enjoys getting underwater whenever he can, as a divemaster and SCUBA technician. Max has worked as a field archaeologist and has a studied a variety of cultures ranging from colonial America, Amerindian groups such as the Erie and Chumash, and ancient Rome. His work primarily focuses on Hawaiʻi today, but he has worked throughout the mainland U.S., Spain, and Portugal.

Danielle Shemesh served in the IDF (Israel Defense Force) for two years under the intelligence defense corps, where she collected and shared information regarding threats and security. After serving, she backpacked Central and South America for two years where she volunteered and visited many cultural sites protected by UNESCO. In 2010, she moved to Hawai‘i and decided to pursue her interest in archaeology and graduated with a BA in Anthropology with a focus on Pacific Island Archaeology. Her passion is preserving not only history but also nature and the sea, and therefore she is also an active member in a local non-profit organization called Sustainable Coastlines as well as the Surfrider Foundation.

Robin Kapoi-Keli’i was born and raised on the leeward side of O‘ahu on the Wai‘anae Coast. She received her BA in Anthropology and Certificate in Applied Forensic Anthropology from the University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu. In addition to her experience working in archaeology, Robin has participated and volunteered with several projects. These include the Honouliuli Archaeological field school (2009-2012), Mount Ka‘ala Archaeological field school (2009), and North Shore Archaeological Field School (2013), as well as interning at the Bishop Museum (2014).

Jeffrey Lapinad was born and raised on the windward side of O‘ahu. Jeff attended Windward Community College before transferring to Kapiolani Community College to pursue a career in the Culinary Arts. With a wide variety of work experience ranging from customer service to merchandising, Jeff found his niche as a Field Inspector, providing fiber optic communications to Hawaiian Homelands across the state, and this is where his interest in archaeology began. He has worked on various archaeological projects on Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Maui, and Hawai’i Island. When Jeff isn’t working, he is deep sea fishing or developing new fishing lures in his workshop.