[1][2] In the mid-1980s Kanegai was awarded a grant from the Australian Government, via the Vanuatu Cultural Centre (VCC) to undertake a study of women's tattooing on Ambae.
As part of her research she recorded a number of interviewers with tattooists and described how most tattoo motifs for women are based on textile designs.
[1] In 1990 she also established the Childcare Centre, initially a nursery where mothers could leave their children whilst they worked, that evolved into a school.
[6] On 9 July 2020 she launched the Vanuatu Handicrafts Association, which is the first organisation to advocate on behalf of all ni-Vanuatu craft producers.
At the time the code of conduct for the VNPF prohibited employees from political activity, and her appointment was marked by accusations of nepotism.
[9] In the 2016 Vanuatu general election, she was one of only eight women contesting seats; she stood for Port Vila on behalf of the PPP.
[1] During the eruption of the Manaro Voui volcano in 2017, Kanegai hired a light aircraft to evacuate people from Ambae, paying for the flights with her own income.