Meet the Ke Kalahea Team
On this page:
Editor-in-Chief
Alesi Baldwin
Alesi Baldwin (she/her) is currently a senior at UH Hilo. She came as a transfer student from Oceanside, CA in Fall ‘23. Alesi started as a staff writer for Ke Kalahea, moved up to the associate editor, and is now the Editor in Chief. She has her Associate’s Degree in English Literature from MCC. She is currently working on her Bachelor’s in English Literature, while minoring in Anthropology and working on the TESOL certificate. Alesi is also a writing tutor for Kilohana and a peer mentor for Ka Pouhana. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and drawing or painting in her free time.
Associate Editor
Kealiʻi Rapozo
Kealiʻi Rapozo (he/him) is currently in his junior year at UH Hilo and is majoring in communications. He is the Associate Editor for Ke Kalahea. Kealiʻi was born and raised on Kauaʻi, before coming to UHH. He enjoys going on runs, island hopping, exploring new cinema, and going on drives like he has gas money.
Copy Editor
Lichen Forster
Lichen Forster (they/them) is a 4th year geology student at UHH. They are Ke Kalahea’s Copy Editor, and passionate about nature, travel, and animals. They grew up in the islands and are grateful to call Hawaiʻi home.
Staff Writer
Tabitha Pocheco
Tabitha Pacheco (she/her) is a staff writer for Ke Kalahea. She is graduating from UH Hilo in Spring 2025 and is double majoring in English and Administration of Justice with a Certificate in Creative Writing. Tabitha was also born and raised in Hawaiʻi. She enjoys spending time with her dog, international travel, reading, and going to the beach.
Staff Writer
Jalyssa Kamamo Atualevao
Jalyssa Kamamo Atualevao (they/she) is currently in their Junior year at UH Hilo after transferring from Highline College in Des Moines, Washington. Originally from Tacoma, Washington, she is currently employed as a photographer for Ke Kalahea. For their academic studies, Jalyssa is pursuing a double major in English and Anthropology as well as earning a Certificate in Multidisciplinary Hawaiian Studies. Their favorite things to indulge in the world are honey peach Greek yogurt, fried fish and poi, cherishing loved ones, listening to serene Nintendo 64 8-bit music, and writing poetry. As for their greatest love, it has always been family and always will be. Especially their brothers and twin nieces!
Editorial Advisor
Nancy Cook Lauer
Nancy Cook Lauer (she/her) is the _Ke Kalahea _editorial adviser. A retired award-winning newspaper journalist with more than 30 years experience, she's a blogger and an avid reader who's working on her first novel. She has a B.S. in Psychology, summa cum laude, from Old Dominion University and a Master of Library and Information Science from Florida State University. She enjoys snorkeling and photographing nature, including the fascinating creatures in the ocean. She's lived in Hawaiʻi; first in Waikiki, later in Hilo, since 2005.