Anela Akana is a communications and outreach specialist for Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, taking the lead on communications for the Pili Nā Moku project. She is responsible for internal and external communication, brand management, and marketing strategies.

Hailing from Papakōlea, Oʻahu, Anela is an alumna of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has a varied background in communications. Her time in high-volume sales teams at a handful of print magazines served as a springboard into a career in marketing and communications. She’s since worked in different industries conducting public relations, organizational communications, project management, marketing strategy, content creation, graphic design, and digital media.