Paul “Alex” Awo

2026-2027 Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader

Headshot of Paul “Alex” Awo, 2026-2027 Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader

Director of Habitat Restoration Programs, Mālama Maunalua

Hawaiʻi

Paul “Alex” Awo is the director of habitat restoration programs at Mālama Maunalua, an organization leading the conservation of Hawaiʻi’s marine and land-based ecosystems. He has restored 27 acres of marine habitat, removed 690,000 pounds of invasive species, and planted 6,000 coral fragments. Alex, who specializes in community-rooted stewardship, coordinates 125 annual restoration events, engages 5,000 volunteers, and mentors over 150 interns in scientific field techniques. Propelled by mālama, a responsibility to care for the land and future generations, Alex brings together Native Hawaiian knowledge and modern conservation science to protect fragile ecosystems.

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Meet the 2026-2027 Asia-Pacific Leaders

A.J. Koikoi, Jr. thumbnail

A.J. Koikoi, Jr.

Japan
Ashalyna Noa thumbnail

Ashalyna Noa

Aotearoa New Zealand
Awaludin Aryanto thumbnail

Awaludin Aryanto

Indonesia
Bolorsaikhan Badamsambuu thumbnail

Bolorsaikhan Badamsambuu

Mongolia
Casuallen Fale thumbnail

Casuallen Fale

American Samoa
Chandra Gunawan thumbnail

Chandra Gunawan

Singapore
Emily Y. Wu thumbnail

Emily Y. Wu

Taiwan
Jia Wei Cui thumbnail

Jia Wei Cui

Taiwan
Jihee Irene Choi thumbnail

Jihee “Irene” Choi

Republic of Korea
João Bosco Liberty Nahak thumbnail

João Bosco Liberty Nahak

Timor-Leste
Kal Glanznig thumbnail

Kal Glanznig

Australia
Karissa Fetalvero thumbnail

Karissa Fetalvero

Philippines
Kyi Yeung Goh thumbnail

Kyi Yeung Goh

Singapore
Landon Opunui thumbnail

Landon Opunui

Hawaiʻi
Li Seng Heng thumbnail

Li Seng Heng

Singapore
Linh Ha thumbnail

Linh Ha

Vietnam
Lipoa Kahaleuahi thumbnail

Lipoa Kahaleuahi

Hawaiʻi
Marielle Terbio thumbnail

Marielle Terbio

Guam
Mengjiao Xu thumbnail

Mengjiao Xu

China
Nathaniel Diong thumbnail

Nathaniel Diong

Australia
Nolan Flores thumbnail

Nolan Flores

Guam
Panuwat Sajjaviriyakul thumbnail

Panuwat Sajjaviriyakul

Thailand
Payal Biswas thumbnail

Payal Biswas

Hong Kong
Samintang thumbnail

Samintang

Indonesia
Samuel Olam thumbnail

Samuel Olam

Indonesia
Sandy Kunvatanagarn thumbnail

Sandy Kunvatanagarn

Thailand
Shizuka Zucca Nagahama thumbnail

Shizuka “Zucca” Nagahama

Japan
Te Awanui Reeder thumbnail

Te Awanui Reeder

Aotearoa New Zealand
Thanaselan Rajendran thumbnail

Thanaselan Rajendran

Malaysia
Tony Tambi, Jr. thumbnail

Tony Tambi, Jr.

Papua New Guinea
Tory Whanau thumbnail

Tory Whanau

Aotearoa New Zealand
Tshaine Ballad Taguinod-Maggay thumbnail

Tshaine Ballad Taguinod-Maggay

Philippines
Yeji Lee thumbnail

Yeji Lee

Republic of Korea

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