Leilani Spencer

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (CEO)

Leilani was born and raised in Hawaiʻi and is deeply committed to sustaining and strengthening the tightly knit communities of Kauaʻi that she has always known and loved. For nearly ten years, she served as a Nutrition Educator with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, providing life skills and nutrition education to limited-income seniors, adults, and middle and high school students island-wide. She continues to apply her experience in community health, capacity building, and education across her nonprofit leadership roles.

In her role as Executive Director at PAL-Hawaii, she leads the organization’s island-wide efforts to create permanently affordable housing and stabilize families through community land trust development, property stewardship, and mission-driven real estate projects. Her work spans complex permitting, interagency coordination, acquisition and development planning, financial structuring, and managing partnerships that bring critically needed housing to Kauaʻi residents.

As co-founder of Supporting the Language of Kauaʻi Inc., the 501(c)(3) fiscal support arm for Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School. Since 2008, Leilani has overseen major campus development initiatives including State CIP-funded septic and infrastructure upgrades, building relocations, and the coordination of architects, engineers, site workers, and general contractors. She managed the multi-year construction of new roadwork, water and electrical systems, and the creation of nearly 10,000 square feet of permanent classroom space.

Across all of her roles, Leilani is dedicated to building resilient, culturally grounded, community-driven systems that support Hawaiʻi families now and for generations to come.