About – Living Islands

Living Islands is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization, dedicated to supporting Micronesian Communities through cross-cultural education and awareness since 2013.

Living Islands is a Cultural and Educational Network Organization supporting strong Micronesian communities everywhere, by celebrating and advocating for the diverse and unique cultures of the Micronesian people.

We form strong and permanent relations between local and international leaders, stakeholders, and communities through traditional storytelling, cultural research, knowledge sharing, community work, awareness building, and targeted educational programming.

We believe supporting strong communities is the first step towards strong and sustainable societies.

Kawika Kahoilua

Board President

Kianna Juda Angelo

Founder, Executive Director, Board Member

Mailo Komanta

Treasurer, Board Member

Barbara Rose Johnston

Board Member

Jacob Ericson

Board Member, Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability

Kianna was born in the Republic of Marshall Islands but was adopted and raised in America since her earliest childhood. She has been serving communities since her young years, from youth counselor at summer camps in Oregon to volunteering and teaching handicapped children to ride horses for physical therapy lessons. She has worked with numerous NGOs, ranging from assisting Homeless food programs in the USA to the American Women's Club in Copenhagen, Denmark. She worked as a Domestic Violence Advocate for the Pierce County Domestic Violence & Suicide Hotline for three years, as well as a local Domestic Violence Women and Children Advisor for the Washington State Patrol. Always being a firm supporter of Women’s Rights and Child Protection, she has been a strong supporter and volunteer for the YWCA and shelters in both Tacoma, Washington and Portland, Oregon. Kianna is often giving time to local sustainability initiatives, such as the Lake Oswego City Sustainability Board and the Lake Oswego School Districts Green Team. She helped facilitate the start of a greenhouse program for local food and education in the local school district, where she has volunteered her time for all four of her children in their classrooms. In the last decade, Kianna has reconnected with her Marshallese heritage. Continuing her passion for serving communities, Kianna founded the international non-profit organization Living Islands in 2013 and co-founded the social justice organization COFA Alliance National Network in 2014. She continues to serve as Executive Director for Living Islands and as Board Member for CANN. Kianna is a strong believer in international community work and a fierce supporter of the United Nations and is a member of the United Nations Association. She is always working on connecting governments, organizational partners, commercial interests, Native Americans and indigenous communities across the globe. Kianna’s next goal in life is to pursue an education and career in International Trade & Sustainable Development. Kianna currently lives with her tri-cultural family in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with her four children and danish husband Jesper. With the full support of her family, Kianna is committed to her life goal of bringing development, opportunity and cross-cultural education to everyone.