Danae Marin

Danae Marin is a community development and youth services professional with more than 15 years of experience supporting youth, families, and communities across Hawaii. She began her career in social services in the Pacific Northwest, assisting individuals with co-occurring conditions in group homes by helping them develop life skills and reintegrate into their communities while pursuing her college education. After relocating to Hawaii, Danae dedicated more than a decade to youth development on Maui, creating programs that promoted healthy life choices, Hawaiian culture, and academic achievement. She later served as a director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui in Lahaina, where she mentored high school students and coached outrigger canoe paddling. Throughout her career, Danae has remained committed to public service, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. She managed parks and recreation programs for the City and County of Maui and Honolulu for five and a half years before focusing on community engagement and native land restoration. As Indigenous Community Relations Advocate, in Hawaii, she helps lead community workdays and coordinate native plant restoration initiatives rooted in the Hawaiian value of Aloha ʻĀina, or love and respect for the land. Following the Lahaina fires, Danae also helped establish nonprofit initiatives and a free farmers market to improve access to fresh produce and healthy food for displaced families. In addition, she volunteers with the Tzu Chi Foundation in the Pacific Islands region, organizing events to support fire-affected communities, and serves on the board of the Kaya Lahui Foundation. Danae further demonstrates her dedication to sustainable community development through her leadership development and candidate training certification from Kuleana Academy, offered through the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action. Through this experience, she advocated for affordable housing, clean water, and sustainable agriculture. She is currently completing her associate's degree in psychology studies at the University of Hawaii Maui College, continuing studies she began at Oregon Coast Community College. Danae is also developing a local business and nonprofit focused on perpetuating Hawaiian culture and promoting healthy lifestyles. Guided by her commitment to community service, cultural preservation, and environmental responsibility, she strives to create meaningful, lasting opportunities for Hawaii's people and future generations.