Executive director of Kahilu Theatre stepping down

The Kahilu Theatre’s Executive Director Sara Nealy will be resigning from her position as of June 30.

Nealy has been with the organization since January 2021, leading the Kahilu Theatre through a period of adversity amid the pandemic.

“We are grateful for Sara’s unwavering commitment and dedication to Kahilu Theatre and our arts community,” said Kahilu Theatre Board President Kapena Alapai.

Nealy was instrumental in expanding Kahilu.TV as a way of diversifying avenues by which the Theatre brings culturally-centered programming beyond the stage.

During her tenure, Kahilu Theatre also initiated a place-based approach to community engagement, collaborating with Kohala leaders and organizations to develop keiki arts education programs that foster a sense of place and to seek meaningful engagement with the community. She worked to advance the Theatre’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility initiative and to cultivate more opportunities for Hawaiʻi artists to showcase and share their talents.

“I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve at Kahilu Theatre, a place I hold close to my heart,” said Nealy. “This journey has been marked by collaboration, resiliency, and the deep commitment of our remarkable team to Hawaiʻi’s community.”

The Board of Directors will evaluate Kahilu Theatre’s leadership and organizational structure as part of the development of a new strategic plan, a process that Nealy helped launch last fall.