Thomas Awa “Kamaki” Kanahele — one of the Polynesian Cultural Center’s original Hawaiian student employees — was born in 1945 to Agnes Kalanihookaha Kanahele Cope and George Kanahele. He was raised on the island of Niihau by his grandparents until the fourth grade, when he moved to Waianae to continue his schooling and live in Nanakuli with his mother, Aunty Aggie, and his two sisters and two brothers.

After graduating from Waianae High School, Kamaki received his bachelor’s degree from Church College of Hawaii (renamed BYU–Hawaii in 1974), and went on to complete a master’s degree in education from BYU in Provo.

While a CCH student, Kamaki first volunteered at the PCC, helping complete the villages, and was then hired as a student dancer for the night show when the Center opened in October 1963. He later also worked as a guide and an alaka‘i (hula leader) for PCC’s kumu hula, Aunty Sally Wood Nalua‘i. He is believed to be one of the few CCH/BYUH students from Niihau.

After graduating from BYU, Kamaki moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as the administrator of education for the National Endowment for the Arts, administering and coordinating federal funding under four presidential administrations for arts education programs reaching all 50 states and US territories. At the time, he was the highest-ranking Native Hawaiian in the Federal government.

Returning to Hawaii, Kamaki was a revered and trusted leader in his West Oahu community and dedicated his life to the betterment of Native Hawaiians. He was a determined advocate for self-determination and led the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homeland Assembly (composed of Hawaiian homestead associations). He also became the administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from 1986–1989, and was elected at-large OHA trustee from 1990–1994.

With his mother, Kamaki co-founded the Dr. Agnes Kalanihookaha Cope Center for Traditional Native Hawaiian Healing at the Waianae Comprehensive Health Center in 2009 and served as the po‘o (head) of the Kūpuna Council until his passing

Kamaki Kanahele passed away on Oahu on July 27, 2026.

[Nālani Benioni, also an original PCC student employee, was married to the late Patoa Benioni, worked with Kanahele at the WCHC, and serves as an executive for their Kūpuna Council.]