Born and raised in Honolulu, Chef Michelle graduated from Punahou School. While attending the University of Hawaii, Michelle’s passion for cooking was ignited after an externship at Alan Wong's Restaurant. Pursuing her dream, Chef Michelle enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. During her training, Chef Michelle completed an internship at Daniel, and an externship at The French Laundry in Napa Valley, California. Upon graduating with a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America, she rejoined Alan Wong's where she spent 6 years on the savory side. Chef Michelle briefly returned to New York to stage at Thomas Keller's Per Se. It was here that she realized she wanted to be a pastry chef. In 2013, with the support of family and investors, Chef Michelle opened MW Restaurant alongside her husband Chef Wade. In her 10 plus years as a pastry chef, Chef Michelle has been recognized Nationally as a Semi-Finalist of the prestigious James Beard Award and received the Rising Star Chef Award as a Pastry Chef. Locally, she has received numerous awards for being one of the premier Pastry Chefs in Hawaii.

As an HT’25 invited artist, Meleanna Meyer has had the great privilege of being the lead on Team ‘Umeke! The monumental, newly created work, ’Umeke Lā’au- Culture Medicine ( As an offering for this years Hawai’i Triennial) is a testament to team commitment, visionary courage & leadership - excellence in execution of a large and complex idea, and the real and significant support of many other hands and kokua from the community! Meyer is a determined community muralist, filmmaker, educator and activist artist who values Art in any form - as it brings agency and voice to others who would otherwise not have access or platforms to be heard, seen or honored for their contributions.

Founding member of the six-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano (Hawai'i's GRAMMY® ) Award-winning group Maunalua, Bobby Moderow, Jr. is a renowned slack key guitar and falsetto artist. Born and raised on the island of O'ahu, there was always music in Moderow's house, where his mother constantly sang to him. He was a member of the prestigious Honolulu Boy Choir from ages 9 to 12, and wanting to give back to the culture that was so good to him, he got his first guitar at age 17 with the aim of learning slack key guitar. At 18 he become a protégé of the renowned late slack key guitar master Raymond Kane, who was proclaimed a National Living Treasure by the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts in 1987, and awarded funding for the apprenticeship program under which Moderow studied. Moderow studied with "Uncle Raymond" for three years, and several years later embarked on a solo career, hoping to fulfill his desire to express himself through songwriting and music. He began performing at the original Roy's restaurant, where he stayed for 12 years. Three years after starting at Roy's, Moderow invited some fellow musicians to join him there, and he created the group Maunalua. The group became so popular that it was difficult for the restaurant to accommodate the crowds. With his Maunalua brothers, Moderow has released four albums, winning a total of six Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. They have performed all over the world, including at the inaugural luʻau for President Obama; the 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian; and solo several times at the Grammy® Museum. As part of his desire to give back and to be one of the "keepers of the [Hawaiian music] flame" Moderow believes that education is a huge part of entertaining - "education through entertainment" - so he also teaches. The award-winning artist Makana was one of his students, and he has taught elementary school children at the Grammy® Museum for the past few years. He is currently teaching at the University of Hawai'i West Campus on O'ahu. Having begun his music career as a solo artist, Moderow returned to his solo roots with the 2019 release of his debut solo album, "Inspired". The album contains a mixture of original songs inspired by the Hawaiian culture and his friends and family, and covers of other songs that inspire him, both Hawaiian and Country. Moderow continues to perform with his Maunalua brothers while performing an increasing number of solo gigs throughout Hawaiʻi and the continental United States.

Georja Skinner is the Chief Officer of the Creative Industries Division (CID) in the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) where she has lead the state’s efforts to define, build and strengthen Hawaii’s creative economy since 2007. Skinner’s career in prime time television lead to an Emmy nomination for sound mixing, the first woman to hold this honor. She lead the sound department for shows including All in the Family, The Jefferson’s before relocating from her home town of Hollywood, California in 1980 to the island of Maui. With her industry contacts and broad background in arts, music, production and marketing, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to the community she serves. She established Maui’s first PR firm, Skinner Communications in the 1980’s and lead it after the company’s acquisition by Hill and Knowlton, Communications Pacific. Opportunity again came into view when she applied and was hired as Maui’s first Film Commissioner. With experience in government and private sectors, Skinner’s ability to bring diverse communities together for an initiative or strategic vision is one of her key assets. Under her leadership Hawaii’s creative sectors have grown to 54,000 gig workers, small businesses and entrepreneurs representing $4.1 billion to the state’s GDP in 2019. Her unwavering commitment lead to filing a gap in the pipeline of creative entrepreneurial development through the Creative Lab Hawaii Accelerator program in media and music. The program has helped Hawaii residents to elevate their craft through industry mentorship while developing the business acumen required in to succeed in the global entertainment industries. Skinner’s mantra is “Making the Impossible, Possible.”