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Ho'ōla Nā Pua (HNP) Board of Directors have appointed Dr. Jamee Māhealani Miller as the new Executive Director of its Hawaiʻi-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of child sex-trafficking and providing a progressive continuum of care for youth who have been exploited here in Hawaiʻi, and abroad. Miller most recently led as the ʻĀina Ulu Director at Kamehameha Schools. Prior to KS, she also led the Kona Unit at Queen Liliʻuokalani Children's Center. Together, with HNP Founder Jessica Muñoz, Miller will oversee development and operational leadership for HNP’s staff, expansive community programs including Pearl Haven, Hōkū Groups, Starfish Mentoring and Awareness, Education & Training, and overall execution of the 501©3 mission, which has boldly led in the anti-trafficking movement for more than fourteen years.
“Ho'ōla Nā Pua’s remarkable journey has had historic regional and national impact; this is an exciting and expansive moment for the future of its mission,” said HNP Chairperson, Karen Polivka. “As we diligently sought the right candidate for Executive Director, we placed a high priority on finding a leader that could both steward HNP’s legacy and sustain its bold vision for the future. The anti-trafficking movement requires incredible courage and resilience, and we believe Jamee Miller will excel in this advocacy while serving our youth, staff, volunteers, donors and community at-large with integrated leadership.”
During her tenure at Kamehameha Schools, Jamee Miller oversaw a statewide team tasked with managing diverse land holdings, community partners, and programs. Her team’s role assessed the needs in communities across all islands, bringing KS resources to support those needs, including ʻĀina-based education, cultural activities, and brought ‘ōiwi leadership to the forefront.
Having worked for two ali’i trusts, Liliuokalani Trust and Kamehameha Schools, Miller has a deep commitment to serving Hawaiʻi’s Native Hawaiian community. She is also committed to serving at-risk women and children. As a social worker earlier in her career, she led programs to prevent and treat substance abuse and child abuse. Moreover, Miller has a personal passion for the fair treatment and rehabilitation of incarcerated people. Miller is credited with successful leadership at Kamehameha Schools.
Miller attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where she earned a bachelor's degree in Hawaiian Studies and a masterʻs degree in social work. Miller continued her education at the University of Southern California where she earned a doctorate in Education with a focus in organizational leadership. Miller is born and raised on Oʻahu with strong familial ties to the island of Hawaiʻi. She and her husband currently reside in Punaluʻu, they have two adult children who are married to wonderful spouses and 4 moʻopuna with one on the way. They love spending time with ʻohana.
“Ho’ōla Nā Puaʻs impressive track record and commitment to not only Native Hawaiian youth but to all youth and their familiesʻ energizes me and I am honored to join the team” says Miller. Jessica has laid a solid foundation for me as HNPʻs new leader. I am thankful for her foresight and valour which birthed HNP to be a service provider of choice by delivering unprecedented programs of relevance to our keiki, ʻohana and community. I look forward to working closely with partners, volunteers, donors and the entire HNP team to lead this organization into its next phase of progression.”
2023 marks 14-years of exponential growth and leadership by Ho'ōla Nā Pua (New Life for Our Children). The progressive vision of its Founder Jessica Muñoz, to ‘shine the light’ on the dark criminal enterprise of sex-trafficking, has led to statewide and national impact on the issue of child sex-trafficking and the need for a systemic shift and collective policy and programmatic response to victims who deserve and need sustainable, comprehensive care.
In its second year of operation, Ho'ōla Nā Pua’s residential program, The Bromley Family Pearl Haven Campus, offers Hawai’i the first holistic clinically licensed, trauma-informed treatment center of its kind. In 2023, the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) awarded an essential contract to HNP/Pearl Haven to support its residential services for CSEC youth (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children). This award guarantees the critical funding needed to serve the most vulnerable youth in the islands.
With exponential growth comes expansive change and as such, Muñoz is set to enter an expansive season of leadership for HNP through enhanced advocacy with national and international engagement. Muñoz will continue to serve on the board as a consultant and in her permanent board Founder’s seat to ensure that Pearl Haven programming and advocacy continues to succeed in its forward trajectory, growth, and quality.
“I am truly humbled to see what started as a vision has become a thriving, effective and essential organization making true community and policy impact to end child-sex trafficking in Hawaiʻi - while setting a new response standard for the global crisis. Every day I see our HNP staff, volunteers, partners and donors lean-in to ensure that our unique services are sustained for long-term care and life-changing results,” said Ho'ōla Nā Pua Founder, Jessica Muñoz. “This collective commitment allows me to take this progressive model of care to a national platform and I am excited for this new season of advocacy with its heartbeat always in Hawaiʻi, where our mission began.”
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