A Culture Of Empowerment & Leadership Development

INPEACE has provided educational programs to Native Hawaiian communities for 25 years, nurturing the growth and development of keiki through ‘ohana-focused models and empowering community members to become educators and active leaders in their own communities because they understand, live, and are invested in the community’s future.

Executive Staff

Sanoe Marfil, M.Ed

Chief Executive Officer

Sanoe Marfil grew up in Wahiawā and Nānākuli where she currently resides with her family. She is a respected leader in her community and has had the opportunity to network with diverse individuals and communities across the United States and globally. Sanoe came to INPEACE as a participating parent. She joined the INPEACE ‘ohana in 2006 and worked her way up to her current position as the Chief Executive Officer. Sanoe leads with her deep commitment to community and relationships. These values serve as a strong foundation to her ability to establish community partnerships and collaborations that more effectively serve the community in a holistic manner. Sanoe graduated from the University of Hawai‘i- West O‘ahu with a BA in Hawaiian Pacific Studies and Fielding Graduate University with a MA in Education focusing on leadership. Currently Sanoe is pursuing a Doctorate degree in Education, focusing on family mo‘okuauhau (genealogy) and mo‘olelo (stories) and the role it plays in someone’s leadership journey.

Marissa Pico

Chief Financial Officer

Marissa Pico was born and raised in ʻEwa Beach, Hawaiʻi, and is proud to serve an organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for Native Hawaiians and advance equitable opportunities in our communities, all while upholding the importance of ‘ohana. She joined INPEACE in 2006 and has built deep expertise in nonprofit accounting, progressively taking on greater responsibility over the years. Marissa served as Vice President of Finance for nine years before stepping into her current role as Chief Financial Officer in 2019. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. Prior to her time at INPEACE, she also worked at a CPA firm, gaining valuable experience in public accounting.

Saydee Pojas

Chief Operating Officer

Saydee Pojas is from Mililani, Oʻahu and currently resides in Māʻili with her ʻohana. She is dedicated community advocate and experienced program director with a strong commitment to serving Native Hawaiian families. Saydee’s journey at INPEACE spans over 15 years, during which she has held various roles and contributed to multiple programs within the organization and is the current Chief Operating Officer. She holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Change from Hawaii Pacific University. This advanced degree has equipped her with the skills and insights needed to drive meaningful change within organizations and communities. Her educational journey also includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship, from Chapman University. This foundational education in business has been instrumental in her ability to manage programs effectively, develop curriculum, and engage in strategic leadership. Outside of work, Saydee enjoys traveling and exploring the world with her two sons, instilling in them a love for discovery and cultural appreciation, a passion she shares with them as they learn and grow together.

Kalehua Caceres

Chief Programs Officer

Kalehua Kamohaliʻi Caceres was born and raised in Māʻili, Oʻahu, and has had the profound privilege of raising her four children on the Hawaiian Homestead of Maluʻōhai in Honouliuli. A lifelong advocate for Native Hawaiian families, Kalehua’s work centers on supporting families with young children and caring for Hawaiian ancestors. She spent 15 years in Hawaiian language immersion early education—first as a teacher and later as a director—in Waiʻanae. For the past 13 years, she has dedicated herself to the care and repatriation of iwi kūpuna throughout the pae ʻāina. As the former Program Director of INPEACE’s Keiki Steps, her tenure was marked by the program’s expansion to Kauaʻi and the establishment of a Hawaiian language immersion classroom within the family-child interaction learning (FCIL) preschool model. Kalehua holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in Hawaiian and Pacific Studies and is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Hawaiian Studies at Kamakakūokalani, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Jocelyn Banks

Director of Human Resources

Jocelyn Banks grew up in Palolo Valley on the south side of Oahu. Her adolescence and most of her adulthood, raising her 4 children, were in Kaimuki until settling down on the westside, in Nānākuli. From communities alike, she hopes to provide the resources and promote self-sufficiency in the individuals and families we serve. Her passion is to help others succeed. Jocelyn joined INPEACE in 2020 as the Director of Human Resources. With 13 years in HR and various customer service experience, it has groomed her in a position creating a comfortable space, welcoming to open communication with staff and people in general.  Jocelyn holds an Associate’s degree in Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources from University of Phoenix.

Hi‘ilei

Ho‘āla

Keiki Steps

Ka Lama

Kaulele

Kupu Ola

Early Literacy

Ho‘oulu Waiwai

Center for Entrepreneurship

A Culture Of Empowerment & Leadership Development

Executive Staff