Moana Palelei HoChing

Moana Palelei HoChing manages key public policy and advocacy programs, develops new initiatives, and provides counsel to WESTAF’s executive director and deputy director. HoChing contributes to research and policy communications and is spearheading WESTAF’s effort to engage Pacific jurisdictions in its work. She currently serves as indigenous curator at losteden.gallery and creative director of Pasifika First Fridays. HoChing is also the chair of the Zoo, Arts, and Park (ZAP) Program Tier 1 Board, where she assists in directing $14.3 million of Utah taxpayer dollars to 22 arts and cultural nonprofits, as well as three zoos throughout the Salt Lake Valley. She previously served as the assistant director of educational outreach of the Honoring Nations program at the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and is a multidisciplinary artist, technologist, and fierce advocate for Indigenous affairs, having consulted on projects in Kenya; Waikato, Aotearoa; New Orleans; New York; Las Vegas; Denver; and throughout Indian Country and has her own production company, Crazyhorse Productions. HoChing is a proud alumna of the National Pacific American Leadership Institute (NAPALI), Harvard University’s Administrative Fellowship Program (AFP), and WESTAF’s Emerging Leaders of Color program.