Opening Plenary and Ceremonies:

Monday, March 2, 2026
10:30 AM – 12:15 PM HST

Closing Plenary and Ceremonies:

Wednesday, March 4, 2026
3:30 PM – 5:15 PM HST

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, MA, Nā Wahine Toa Foundation

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane is a Native-Hawaiian professional MMA fighter from Honolulu, Hawai‘i. She grew up the youngest of six kids and played sports for Punahou School until she graduated in 2009 and moved to San Diego to pursue higher education. There, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology and her Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a focus on Indigenous issues from San Diego State University (SDSU). It was also during her time at SDSU that her interests in Native American culture and combat sports began to grow. Originally planning to become a social studies teacher, her life took an unexpected turn when she walked into an MMA gym on her way to work. Two years after first stepping into that gym, Ilima-Lei found herself stepping into the cage of one of the largest MMA promotions in the world, making her professional debut. Since then, she has built an impressive professional record of 12-2 and, in 2017, became the inaugural Bellator MMA Women’s Flyweight World Champion. She went on to successfully defend her title four times, including twice in her hometown of Honolulu, Hawai‘i, at the historic Blaisdell Arena—moments many consider among the greatest in Hawai‘i MMA history. When Ilima is not inside the cage, she channels her fighting spirit into her community. After learning about the MMIW movement and the epidemic of violence against Native women, she created a scholarship and her own foundation to empower young women around the world. She believes that a life worth living is one spent in service of others.

Mildred D. Muhammad, DHum, National Resource on Domestic Violence - Maryland Board of Victim Services

Dr. Mildred D. Muhamad is an award-winning global keynote speaker, international consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice, CNN contributor, and survivor of domestic abuse. Appointed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to the State Board of Victim Services, she is a certified advocate, trainer and author. She survived domestic abuse during a time when her ex-husband became known as the DC sniper, navigating extreme fear and trauma while protecting her children. She has received the Lifetime Achievement Medallion awardand the Who's Who in America Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. Through her company, My F.O.C.U.S. LLC, and her R.I.S.E. initiative, she empowers survivors to heal, rebuild, and rise beyond trauma.

Watch Dr. Muhammad’s new documentary, Hunted by My Husband: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper.

Kanoe Enos, MSW, ʻAʻaliʻi Alliance

Kanoe brings over 15 years of experience as a social worker to create a better life for residents of Hawaiʻi. Kanoe is the co-founder of ʻAʻaliʻi Alliance and serves clients in the areas of strategic planning, facilitation, executive coaching, and change management.  Kanoe has a degree in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and a master’s degree in social work. Kanoe serves on numerous boards and resides with his ʻohana on the island of Oʻahu.