Katie Ka'ahanui was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up in Kaimuki. Deeply inspired by the intersections of criminal justice and mental health, she currently serves as the Executive Coordinator for Safe & Sound Waikiki and is a strong advocate for creating safe, supportive communities while incorporating the facilitation of individual healing on a mind, body, and soul level. She holds a BA in Justice Administration, an MS in Criminal Justice and is currently pursuing an additional MS in Counseling Psychology specializing in Mental Health.

Giving back and showing a deep respect and responsibility for the community we live in is one of her driving values. In addition to her work and graduate school schedule, she sits on the Board of Directors for the Hawaii Women in Filmmaking, the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii, and the Honolulu Chapter of Executive Women International. She's excited for the opportunity to deepen her understanding of how to be an impactful Native Hawaiian leader in a rapidly-transforming Western work landscape through the Oiwi Leadership Accelerator.