Ka'uahane Ka'uahane
Kuahane
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  • Charlene and I have done some wonderful projects together, especially the innovative "Malama Maui" campaign, which applied tourism marketing conventions to the cause of environmental and cultural preservation. She is both smart and wise. She knows the Islands as well as anyone you can find. And she has the disposition of a fresh morning in Hawai'i.

    Paul Wood Maui writer and teaching artist

  • Charlene is one of the classiest — and best — public relations people around. She's friendly and engaging and involved, but never pushy. And if there's one thing journalists can't stand, it's someone who's pushy. She knows Maui and Hawaii like the back of her hand — and the bottom of her feet, as she's pretty much been everywhere. There's no pretense with Charlene; just warm, Hawaiian spirit. Everyone who works with Charlene becomes part of her ohana.

    Jim Byers former Travel Editor now travel columnist, Toronto Star, blogger, world traveler

  • I have known Charlene Ka‘uhane professionally for 22 years and worked with her on more than a dozen projects. She is unfailingly helpful, accurate and knowledgeable, and she thoroughly understands how to work with journalists.

    William Ecenbarger Pulitzer Prize—winning journalist and author

  • Working with Kaʻuhane Inc. over the past 12+ years, I have come to depend on Charlene's tireless work ethic and diverse skills. Always ensuring Maui is presented in an authentic manner, she executes PR programs that keep Maui top-of-mind in an extremely competitive media environment. We count on her ability to provide short-term results while developing big picture vision. She is all about ‘can do,' but more importantly, how we can do all things better. And, she's just a helluva lot of fun to be around!

    Keli‘i Brown Director of Public Relations/Promotions, Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau

  • Based on O'ahu, our company travels to all of the Hawaiian Islands to film commercial and documentary projects. Ka'uhane Inc. is an invaluable resource. Charlene understands news, storytelling and kuleana (responsibility). Her professionalism, knowledge of Hawai‘i industries and cultural sensitivities distinguish her as the go—to person for all our Maui projects.

    Dawn Kaniaupio Co—owner/Partner of 4 Miles LLC

  • Charlene is a connector, a prolific supporter of Maui's chefs & farmers, a pioneering personality in Hawai'i's local food movement, a creative and strategic thinker, and a tireless traveler endorsing Maui. She's a living treasure, that type of person you feel blessed to know and call a friend.

    Chris Speere External Coordinator, Maui Culinary Academy

We're all about bringing together people from different backgrounds with one shared goal:

a stronger Hawai'i.

OUR FOCUS

  • TOURISM & HOSPITALITY
  • AGRICULTURE
  • ARTS & CULTURE
  • RETAIL

Our Story

Since opening the doors of Ka'uhane Inc. on Maui in 2002, Charlene Ka'uhane has built a company to service diverse accounts ranging from big corporations to family—owned businesses.

We are in the public relations industry–but you might say we're also in the building industry. We build trust with our clients, we build bridges between our clients and the media, we build partnerships between our clients and the community–we build a better Maui and a better Hawai'i.

No wonder we love what we do!

To get the job done, we work with a lot of people; people we humbly think are the absolute best in the business. The best editors, web designers, videographers and writers–together, we design and build a complete program to address each client's individual situation.

WE PROVIDE

custom—designed outreach strategies and communication programs, developed to reach specific messaging goals and measurable, optimum results.

WE SERVE

clients in the visitor, hospitality, retail, and agriculture industries, in the private, public and not—for—profit sectors.

WE BELIEVE

that our services must contribute to the well—being of our islands' communities, economy, culture and environment.

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Five reasons I love working with Charlene: She's completely authentic; she's immersed in island culture and is trusted at all levels of the media world; she's a stickler about details; she's brilliant and creative; and nothing is impossible in her world. Besides, she thinks like a journalist and has a keen instinct for a great story.

Jocelyn Fujii renowned Hawai'i journalist and author

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Once you've heard her warm and joyful laugh, you know her aloha is real! Charlene has a welcoming personality that invites the trust and respect of both her clients and the media.

Charlene has a B.A. in Journalism from University of Hawai'i at Manoa, and has received coveted travel industry awards like Travel Agent magazine's "100 Rising Stars" and Pacific Business News' "Top Women to Watch." A member of numerous professional organizations including the Public Relations Society of American (PRSA) and Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), she understands the sensitive balance between preservation of culture and environment and the needs of growing industries, locally and globally.

That understanding comes out of deep service to her community: as President of the nonprofit Na Mele o Maui, dancing for years with kumu hula Mapuana de Silva; as a director for Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association — Maui Region, and an advisory board member for Kamehameha

Schools Maui Campus; as Chair for Slow Food Maui Convivium and advisor for Maui Culinary Academy at UH—Maui Campus; as past director for Habitat for Humanity, Hawai'i Agritourism Association and Lāhainā Town Action Committee; as well as many other intrinsic ties with her island home.

Charlene has always enjoyed putting her knowledge of both culture and media to work in the field of public relations. Her early career included working as News Producer for KGMB—TV, and as an account assistant with Patti Cook & Associates. Prior to founding Ka'uhane Inc., Charlene served as Director of Public Relations/Promotions for the Maui Visitors Bureau. She was also the former Director of Public Relations for The Westin Maui Resort & Spa.

When not at work for her clients, Charlene loves to travel (21 countries and counting!) and to spend time with her family enjoying Maui. Her favorite retreat? A 1.5—acre organic farm in Ke'anae, East Maui. Here, surrounded by rainforest and natural beauty, she reconnects with her culture and roots.

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At Ka'uhane Inc., it's exciting to come up with all the ways a company can reach its audience: media, events, promotions, ads, newsletters, social media, partnerships – the more creative, the better!

Whatever path we choose together, our goal is always to serve our clients with clarity and excellence.

  • Community Relations & Outreach
    • Crisis communications
    • Event planning and publicity
    • Public awareness education
    • Consumer promotions
    • Newsletters, e—newsletters
    • Websites, blogs, social & digital media
  • Corporate Communications
    • Strategic planning
    • Partnership and program development
    • Grant writing
    • Marketing communications
    • Message development
    • In—house newsletters, collateral materials
    • Spokesperson training
  • Media Relations & Media Training
    • Destination positioning for local, national and international media
    • Media blitzes and press trips
    • Press releases, news releases, story angles
    • Press kits, digital library development, B—roll
    • Securing news and feature—story placement in broadcast, print, e—media
    • Website development, website updating, blogs, social/electronic media
    • Media relations programs
  • Special Projects
    • Content creation for booklets, reports, presentations
    • New—product materials
    • Product branding

View additional information by clicking one of the above tabs.

CLIENTS
PROJECTS
PROGRAMS

We are a proud member

  • Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
  • Public Relations Society of America
  • Slow Food Maui
  • Travel Media Association of Canada
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