Edward Kekoa Jr
Name Edward Kekoa Jr
Social Media -
Age 39
Town/Moku Nanakuli but live Kalihi now
Island Oʻahu
Leadership Category Mālama ʻĀina - Environmental Sustainability
Nominated by Kevin Chang
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do. My name is Edward Lunalilo'onalani Kekoa Jr, but everyone knows me as Luna. I'm a father of 3 keiki, a husband, an ocean steward, a lawai'a, part of the Protect Kaho'olawe Ohana (PKO), and an advocate for our lahui. My work is with the DLNR, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), as the Community-based Subsistence Fishing area (CBSFA) planner as well as coordinating the Holomua: Marine 30x30 Initiative. While this is the title I have, my role in DAR is really to hold space to allow for community and fisher voices to be heard where they are needed. Another important role is being a resource for communities and fishers figuring out the government processes or division where their issue/concern should be directed. My work with the CBSFA program to engage with stakeholders and ensure a participatory process, was the reasoning I was asked to help coordinate the Holomua: Marine 30x30 which aims to effectively manage our neashore marine areas and designate 30% as marine management areas (MMAs). I take pride knowing that I am a role model for the next generation of Hawaiian and local keiki, and a product of my kupuna and mentors.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community? My work is important because it provides space for communities and fishers to be involved in government processes. The position that I currently have was non-existent when I graduated from college in 2005. Returning home, I ended up with a position coordinating communities like Miloli'i, Ho'okena, and Honaunau, and learned about their area, practices, values, and perspectives. These communities were part of a larger network of like minded communities who were stewards of their area. Their goal was to get a community coordinator civil service position to facilitate community voice and representation in DLNR. 15 years later, having gained experience with communities working from the private sector or state and federal management agencies or as a community liaison within resources enforcement, I am able bring those years of knowledge and experience into the DLNR and keep government accountable for being inclusive and transparent with communities and fishers. The community appreciates that there is an actual position following up with them and continuing to move the process through the appropriate steps.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life. Honest and Humble - I'm not the expert on everything and I'm honest about it. I know where my strengths are and I'm not afraid to ask for kokua in the areas where others excel. As a leader, stepping aside and allowing your team to shine and highlight their work provides opportunity for their growth and displays my comfort and trust with my team to lead areas where they have the skills
Trust - Building trust is important and comes with both time and effort. Trust is being transparent with thoughts, feelings, and processes and being able to communicate those in an effective manner with any audience or person.
Listen - Listening is the start to being solution oriented. Most times listening allows me the opportunity to see a new perspective and then ask constructive questions.
Adaptable - Change is sometimes needed for growth so long as my values are not being compromised and we can justify with sound reasoning.
Team Player - A good leader is also a great teamate who can do the work and lead. With our Holomua team my role as the leader is to take the criticism and allow the team to take the accomplishments, praise, and mahalos!
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing? First off, all the community members, aunties and uncles, fishers, and kupuna who took time to share their mana'o with me. My highschool biology teacher Miss Ishimoto for sharing her passion for science and believing in me. My first supervisor in community-based management, Debbie Gowensmith who was a phenomenal mentor and taught me what real community engagement is. The Maui DAR team (Russell Sparks, Kristy Stone, and Skippy Hau), who provided the vision of what an effective DAR team can do. And most important my mom and dad for teaching and modeling our family values that I now share with my own ohana.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui? Passion
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui? Perseverance