Puni Jackson

A Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner, Puni has led endeavors in Hawaiian cultural and ‘āina-based educational programming for over 18 years. Puni is an accomplished kanaka maoli artist known primarily for her large-scale painting and installation work, which she has exhibited nationally and internationally. She has been instrumental in establishing Hoʻoulu ʻĀina as a healing refuge for the community and for Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners. She is one of only a few female carvers in Hawai‘i. Puni is also a respected and experienced practitioner of lā’au lāpa‘au medicine and other traditional Native Hawaiian healing arts, including cultural practices around childbirth. Puni participated in creating the Pilinahā framework and has led the preserve’s efforts to increase the sustainability and effectiveness of its programming.