Mahealani Perez-Wendt is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) poet, writer and community activist residing in Hawai?i, on the island of Maui. She is the 1993 recipient of the Eliot Cades literary award, and is the author of Uluhaimalama and other publications. She recently retired as the executive director of Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, a public-interest law firm specializing in the unique area of Kanaka Maoli rights. She has worked for Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation since 1978.