Brook Kaupu-Cabuag

Name Brook Kaupu-Cabuag

social media @kanaloadesigns

Age 40

Town/Moku Waimea

Island Hawaiʻi Island

Leadership Category Mauli ola

Nominated by Visa Castillo

Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.

I am the oldest child of three kanaka mauli ola of Hawaii mokupuni. I am my kupuna.

I am a retired Hawaiian immersion classroom teacher of 15 years. Teaching keiki that the language cannot come without culture and practice of such culture. I continue my advocacy of our Mauliola kanaka by providing free Medicare consultation for kupuna throught Hawaii pae 'aina. Returning full cycle from Kupuna to poki'i, I have continued to support my kulaiwi of Miloli'i and created a pathway for our kai to be stewarded by our own. I am the 4th generation of said village and was a part of the CBSFA which was in small part initiated by some of my strategic movements. I am a writer of stories which bring to life the memoirs of a child growing up in a village full of life and lessons.

Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?

I am the only one who can do what I do and what I do is important. The way I articulate how to relate a lesson taught to people; regardless of age, background, or ethnicity, is brilliant. I have my nieces and nephews tag along with me in my huaka'i holoholo from this camping trip to that expedition so that they learn how I do and why I do. They are the next me and they can do what I do. If not them... then who else.

Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.

Being bold: In my experiences, the leader that makes bold moves and can navigate through the environments tragics and beautiful is a leader I can follow. I am that leader because I am very aware of my surroundings and those in it and what I need to apply in order to get the results I want.

Creative: I am very akamai because I am teachable. But the one thing that I cannot teach is creativity. I am a master lei maker, an 'olapa, a lawai'a, and an educator. Just those few license alone can craft magic. As a lei maker, I am very familiar with my forest, her function, her kinolau, and their texture, smell and color. As an 'olapa, I know body movement, eye contact, volume of voice, and vibration of emotion. As a lawai'a, I know what fish eats what bait. I know what kind of fish swims in the tidal break, the sea cliffs, and those who feed on sandy bottoms. And as an educator, I was trained to build the foundation so that minds can grow from said foundation. Mix all of that together and you got an amazing stew of magic.

Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?

The lack there of. No one has inspired me to do what I do. The absence of such people in my communities that I feed is why I do what I do. When I see a void, a loss of substance, or a collapsed of 'ike ku'una in my community, I try my best to help.

There are those who support me heavily like my Kupuna, my 'ohana, and my friends, but more than likely, I'm doing this without any external push.

What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?

HULIHIA

What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?

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