Biography

Ms. D. Noelani Kalipi is the Senior Advisor, Hawaii Coordination Cell (HCC) for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment (ASD(EI&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, U.S. Department of Defense. 

Ms. Kalipi is responsible for supporting ASD(EI&E)’s efforts to enhance national defense capabilities with a specific focus on Hawaii. She works to foster collaboration, innovation, and coordination with State and local government agencies, military commands, the Hawaii National Guard, cultural practitioners, academic institutions, industry partners, stakeholders, community organizations to find creative solutions to address community concerns and build trust related to DoD’s land use in Hawaii.

Prior to her position in the HCC, Ms. Kalipi served as the Executive Vice-President of Development for Progression Energy, a company specializing in floating offshore wind, where she supported project development and implementation.  Concurrently, she served as President of Kalipi Enterprises, where she worked with government agencies, organizations, and businesses on project development and management, strategic planning, and meaningful community engagement.  Ms. Kalipi has helped communities create and implement “courageous space” for difficult and emotionally charged discussions related to land use, ancestral knowledge, Indigenous rights, economic development, and access to capital.  In addition, from 2014-2109, Ms. Kalipi served as the Executive Director for Kohala Institute where she managed a team focused on fostering place-based learning experiences and innovative social enterprises within a 2400-acre ahupuaʻa on Hawaii Island.

Additionally, Ms. Kalipi served as Counsel and Military Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka in Washington, D.C., where she staffed legislative efforts related to Native Hawaiians, Armed Services, Indian Affairs, Pacific Island and Territories, Veterans, and the Judiciary.  She also served as the Democratic Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.  Before working for Senator Akaka, she served on active duty in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. 

Ms. Kalipi served as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for Hawaii (East) from 2021-2024, where she worked to enhance and support the relationships and interactions between Army personnel, military families, veterans, and Hawaii residents and organizations.  She further serves on several boards, including the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, The Daniel Kahikina Akaka Family Foundation, Mālama ʻĀina Foundation, Ulupono Initiative, and Vibrant Hawai’i. 

Ms. Kalipi earned a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a law degree from George Washington University. She is married to Gaylen Kalipi and has two daughters, Hauʻoli and Kuʻuipo. She received the James Koshiba Distinguished Lecturer Award for 2023–2024.