Tehani Sekona

Tehani, a proud Native Hawaiian, was born in Hilo and raised with deep ties to her heritage. Her childhood was filled with adventure—riding horses on her Grandpa Alex Penovaroff’s ranch in Waimea, surfing at Honoli‘i, Kawaihae, and Lymans with her father, Dr. Ah Loy, diving for wana in Puako, and four-wheeling up Mauna Kea with her ‘ohana. She treasures the stories of Old Hawai‘i shared by her Tūtū Jane Kaniho and embraces every opportunity to pass on her culture to others.

From a young age, Tehani understood the importance of service. She has been actively involved in her community, volunteering as a coach for little league basketball, volleyball, and soccer, as well as contributing to organizations like the Hawai‘i Food Bank, the Hawai‘i Humane Society, and local nonprofits advocating for Hawai‘i’s keiki.

During her college years, Tehani worked alongside her father, known as “The Surfer Doctor,” Dr. Ron Ah Loy. Assisting him in the operating room as a technician, she witnessed his generosity firsthand—he never turned anyone away and would even accept mangos and avocados as payment. His unwavering dedication to his community became a guiding force in Tehani’s life.
After earning a double major in Political Science and Communications from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Tehani and her ‘ohana spent a few years in Seattle, Washington. While they embraced the Pacific Northwest, Hawai‘i was always home, and they eventually returned to Waimea.