Hāweo Glassco
Name Hāweo Glassco
Social Media @haweo.g
Age 16
Town/Moku Kahalu'u
Island Oʻahu
Leadership Category Culture
Nominated by Noelani Iokepa-Guerrero
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do. I am a junior at Ke Kula 'o Samuel M. Kamakau and a student at Windward Community College. I've been speaking Hawaiian since I was a baby and have been fortunate to attend Kamakau since kindergarten. I play tennis and have been playing with my team for the past 6 years. Throughout my week, I love to hang out with friends and family, accomplish what I need to do, and find ways to help the community. My short term goal is to graduate with my Associate's Degree and Certificate in Hawaiian Language from Windward Community College at the same time I graduate from high school.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community? I've always found ways to involve myself to work on the 'āina or with the kaiāulu. Now that Iʻve joined the organization of Papahana Aloha ʻĀina Hawaiʻi, I now have a way to express my manaʻo for our future as poʻe Hawaiʻi. Itʻs important for me to know that we are going to continue to perpetuate nā mea Hawaiʻi, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, and possibly bring back our kingdom that we lost by using 'ike ku'una. Many of our community issues could be solved by using traditional knowledge and contemporary innovation created by today's youth. It gladdens me knowing that we are starting in the community, doing little by little to make way for the future of Hawaiʻi.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life. When I think of leadership, I think of someone with integrity, passion and a vision. I believe I have integrity because I'm grounded in Hawaiian culture and values and use that to guide my actions. My passion for our lāhui has guided me to start envisioning ways to expand Hawaiian culture here in Hawaiʻi and abroad. I have found ways and taken opportunities that help me gain the experience to become a great leader by involving myself in programs and organizations, such as working with Papahana Kuaola and Papahana Aloha ʻĀina Hawaiʻi. I was raised my whole life to guide and steer my way to help and build our community. I do my best to live my life with integrity and a vision to help our people regain what we lost.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing? One of my role models that has inspired me is Samuel M. Kamakau. Kamakau had a strong passion for Hawaiʻi that he took on many different roles to help society thrive. For example, he translated the Bible from Hebrew to Hawaiian, was a government official, historian, and many more. He showed that we as Hawaiian people are capable of accomplishing anything we put our mind to.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui? hoʻokupaianaha
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui? pilihua