S. Haunani Apoliona is a native Hawaiian elder and activist for the Hawaiian sovereignty movement

Hawaiian sovereignty movement

The Hawaiian sovereignty movement is a political movement seeking some form of sovereignty for Hawai'i. Generally, the movement's focus is on self-determination and self-governance, either for Hawaiʻi as an independent nation, or for people of whole or part native Hawaiian ancestry, or for...

. Held in great esteem among Hawaii residents, Apoliona was elected to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Office of Hawaiian Affairs

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is a semi-autonomous entity of the state of Hawaii charged with the administration of 1.8 million acres of royal land held in trust for the benefit of native Hawaiians...

 Board of Trustees and became its chairperson. She held federal offices, appointed to the President of the United States

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islanders and the United States Census Bureau

United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

 Race Ethnic Advisory Council. As a businesswoman, she held a leadership position with Bank of Hawaii

Bank of Hawaii

The Bank of Hawaii Corporation is a regional commercial bank headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is Hawaii's second oldest bank and its largest locally owned bank in that majority of the voting stockholders reside within the state...

. Hawaii residents also know her as an entertainer and performer with the Hawaiian music group Olomana.