Who we are

Hoaʻāina Heritage Services, LLC is native Hawaiian, women-owned research and consulting firm operated by Lokelani Brandt, M.A. Based in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, we specialize in ethnography, ethnohistory, archaeology, and education.

Rooted in the belief that we have a kuleana —a responsibility—to our Hawaiʻi Island community, Hoaʻāina Heritage Services is committed to projects and initiatives that promote long-term sustainable outcomes for the well-being of Hawaiʻi Island communities and its natural and cultural resources.

Who do we work with?

We work with public and private sector clients to help them navigate and comply with State, County, and Federal historic preservation laws and regulations.

We also partner with schools and educators, providing them with opportunities to connect to places and resources that foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of our island home

About Lokelani

  • Born in Kailua, Oʻahu but raised in Hilo and Puna on Hawaiʻi Island, Lokelani has dedicated the past fourteen years advocating for the protection and celebration of Hawaiʻi's cultural heritage. After graduating from Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, she went on to earn her B.A. in Anthropology and Hawaiian Studies. During a short hiatus from academia, she worked as an educator teaching Hawaiian language and culture courses at I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles at Hawaiʻi Community College and mentored aspiring cultural stewards through the Wahi Kūpuna Internship Program. She subsequently earned her M.A. in Heritage Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

    ​She has held various roles in Cultural Resource Management, from conducting fieldwork as a Field Technician, documenting oral histories as an Ethnographer, to organizing and leading several community-based cultural stewardship programs. As a Senior Archaeologist & Ethnographer with ASM Affiliates, Lokelani's leadership and expertise contributed to numerous projects before founding Hoaʻāina Heritage Services in 2024, where she continues to advocate for the perpetuation and celebration of Hawaiian culture. 

    She conducted well over 500 ethnographic interviews, coauthored peer-reviewed journal articles, and authored over 100 technical reports and studies. 

    Lokelani also collaborates with professional subcontractors to assist with different project aspects.