UoK is proud to present the list of candidates for the 2025 Board of Trustees, which includes three returning members of our current Board, and five new candidates! These dedicated church members have stepped forward and graciously offered their time and expertise to be on our Board of Trustees. Be sure to cast your vote at the Annual Membership on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Returning Board Member, Dondi Nueva: 
Dondi was born and raised on the Islands and was blessed to return with his wife, Diana in 2013. They have been members of Unity of Kona for 11 years and previously, were members of Unity in Oak Brook, IL. They both love Unity of Kona and UoK’s Ohana, and will continue to support Unity in every way. Dondi enjoys playing his ukulele, leading the Community Ukulele Kanikapila sessions, and playing music at Unity any time he can. After his service in the USAF, Dondi’s career has included working in the hospitality industry: retail, airline, restaurant and entertainment, and doing many odd jobs to fill his time. He is a Security Professional at Kona Airport, a member of the Disabled American Veterans, and plays on a Senior softball team.
Returning Board Member, Elaine Albertson: 
Elaine loves being part of UoK’s Ohana! While living in Alaska, she was an active member of a Unity study group there. That’s when she came to realize that Unity principles are in line with her own values and beliefs. She joined Unity of Kona soon after moving to Hawai’i 2 &1/2 years ago, and has been active since then. She has been UoK’s Newsletter editor since February 2023. During this past year, she has been the Board Secretary, and the year prior to that, she was an assistant to the Board. Elaine is a retired teacher and librarian originally from Florida, who lived in Alaska for 55 years! Family is very important to her – she has 4 adult children, 10 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. She is also an animal lover, and lives with two companion animals – 10 year old dog Minnie, and 1 year old cat Miki.
Returning Board Member, Joan Caley:
Joan lives in Vancouver, WA, and has been attending Unity of Kona since December 1986. Although she usually visits Hawai’i only once a year, she stays connected and watches the service every Sunday online. As a member since February 2021, UoK is her spiritual home. Joan continues to treasure the memories of UoK services over the years with her family. She has been an RN for 52 years, a community health/public health nurse specialist, and just recently retired from teaching at two universities, after an earlier retirement from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland, OR. She very much enjoys serving on the Board and using her talents to work with our Ohana to achieve UoK’s mission. Her values align with the core values of UoK, especially Kuleana (service).
Candidate for Board Member, Candi Boewer:
Originally from N. California, Candi worked for many years as a medical assistant. She received an Associated degree in Accounting, a Bachelors degree in Public Administration, and also had a family and raised three children. Her father was from Maui, and for her, moving to Hawai’i, felt like “coming home.” Now here for 8 years, Candi is a Hearings Officer for the Dept. of Labor, a lifetime Auxiliary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Kona, and enjoys swimming in the ocean, Zumba, and dancing. Candi was a member at the New Thought Ctr., and revisited Pranic Healing, which is what brought her to UoK in 2018. Candi appreciates being part of the Unity Ohana, where she has found spiritual alignment, a viable way for continued development, a way to be of service, and a spiritual community.
Candidate for Board Member, Denyse Bliss:
Denyse moved to Kona from South Lake Tahoe, California, almost 2 years ago. She immediately started attending Unity of Kona, and soon after took the new member’s class and became a member. She has been an Assistant to the Board for the past year, and is looking forward to becoming a full-fledged Board member. Denyse also facilitates monthly group Crystal Healing sessions at UoK. She is a local small business owner who owns a crystal/metaphysical shop in Waikoloa Village and is also co-owner of the Big Island’s Transfer Station Thrift Stores. Her passions include all things crystal, traveling and her grandbabies.
Candidate for Board Member, Joshua Hoaglan:
Joshua was born in rural Mississippi, and grew up with small-town southern values in Collierville, TN. In Hawai’i, he found those directly aligned with the values and beliefs of Unity of Kona. He currently lives with his partner Ka’wai in Kailua-Kona and is planning to build a home in Ocean View. Working for over 20 years in industries including healthcare, he hopes to reopen his Naturopathic Medicine Consulting company here, and re-enter the pharmaceutical industry this year. Joshua has cultivated a keen business sense and a strong desire to be in a supportive role in whatever he does. It would be his honor to return even a small portion of the Aloha that he has so freely received, by now serving on the Unity of Kona Board.
Patrick Thompson and his wife Kayla Harvey have been members of Unity of Kona for the past 10 years. He was on the UoK Board from 2015-2018. Patrick runs the tech-support for Sunday services as well as the Sound Bath events. He loves the Unity of Kona and is looking forward to serving in this capacity again.
Candidate for Board Member, Tani Golden:
Tani was born in Manhattan Beach, CA. She has held real estate licenses in both California and Hawaii, was a flight attendant for TWA, PSA and USAir, owned a group of restaurants in the Hermosa Beach, CA area, owned a pressure cleaning business, was a consultant for hotels and resorts, and now owns and operates Beaches Resort Wear Boutique in Mauna Lani. She lived in Southern California and Cabo San Lucas Mexico before moving to Hawaii’s Big Island in September 2003. Her family includes her husband Dale and daughter Tiffany, who is in college in California. Tani became a member of Unity of Kona in February 2023, and is honored to be a candidate to serve on the Board of Trustees. She promises, “I will do my best!”
Qualifications for the Board of Trustees (as cited in the Church By-Laws):
To be elected to the Board of Trustees, a person must be an active member for one year of Unity Church of Kona Kohala, DBA Unity of Kona. In addition, candidates for election shall endeavor to live in accord with the Jesus Christ principles of love and truth, as taught by Unity; work to further the purposes of this ministry through active interest, love, and support; be a sincere and continuing student of Unity, always remaining conversant with its teachings; and shall have demonstrated leadership capabilities.
