Carmela Resuma

About Carmela Resuma

Carmela Resuma is the Deputy Administrator at Kilohana by the Hawaiian Council, where she leads programs that make tourism a force for good in the community. She oversees initiatives like ʻUmeke, which reinvests millions of dollars into cultural preservation, ʻāina stewardship, and community programs, as well as Qurator, Hawaiʻi\'s official mark of responsible tourism. She also serves on the Governor’s Green Fee Advisory Council. A daughter of immigrants from the Philippines and a malihini to Hawaiʻi, she has had the privilege of serving as a volunteer and board member for various ʻāina-based and NHOs. Outside of her formal roles, she can often be found wielding a pickaxe to remove invasive grass or endlessly fawning over native plants, especially her current favorite, ʻākulikuli. Carmela holds an MPA from New York University and a Bachelor\'s Degree in Social Justice Studies and Mathematics from Saint Elizabeth University. Through her company, Resuma Consulting, Carmela has helped organizations understand their communities better and has guided Fortune 500 companies, universities, and NGOs in data-driven strategy, stakeholder engagement, fundraising and scaling impact. Previously, she was Executive Director of FLYTE, expanding study-abroad access for underserved youth nationwide, including a group of students from Keaʻau High School, and served as an advisor to the Chancellor of NYC Public Schools.

Experience

1. Deputy Administrator, Kilohana

   Hawaiian Council

   Oct 2025 — Present · Honolulu, HI, US

Education

• NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

  MPA, Public Policy Analysis

  2007 — 2009

• Saint Elizabeth University

  BA, Mathematics, Social Justice Studies, Women's Studies

  2003 — 2007

Skills

• Policy Analysis
• Fundraising
• Quantitative Research
• Program Evaluation
• Grants
• Research
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Qualitative Research
• Program Development
• Nonprofits
• Grant Writing
• Policy