Kaapuni Kama
Name Kaapuni Kama
Social Media -
Age 33
Town/Moku Papakolea
Island Oʻahu
Leadership Category Mauli Ola - Health, Personal & Family Development
Nominated by Dr. Adrienne Dillard, PhD., MSW, LSW
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do. Aloha, my name is Kaapuni Kama and I'm the Director of Operations at Kula no na Po'e Hawaii o Papakolea, Kewalo, Kalawahine(KULA). I was born and raised in Papakolea Hawaiian Homestead and am a blessed daughter, wife, and mother of 3 keiki.
My primary role at KULA is to lead program staff and volunteers to fulfill our mission of serving Papakolea families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I stepped into the role of Pandemic Response Coordinator and worked with multiple partner agencies to plan and implement food distributions, health clinics, and community events.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community? The work I do is important to me because it is a continuation and expansion of the work of others before me. The kupuna of Papakolea, the women who founded KULA, my grandmother Brenda Kekauoha, and my mother Puni Kekauoha are the reasons I get to do my job. Honoring their work and continuing their legacy is why I work as hard as I do and bring my best everyday.
KULA has impacted multiple generations of Papakolea families through our health, education, and community programs and events. Since the creation of KULA, homestead residents have always driven us to achieve community-defined goals. Most recently, the pandemic created a demand that KULA answered thereby strengthening our connection and commitment to community.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life. I admire leadership shown through teamwork and trust. KULA's Executive Director Dr. Adrienne Dillard expresses it best when she talks about our team: "Individually we're a mess, but together, we're unstoppable." I strongly believe in working collaboratively and letting everyone use their individual strengths. I'm the KULA queen of delegation because I understand I'm not the best person for every part of a task or project. I need the gifts of all KULA staff to give community the best program, project, or event possible.
Another trait I admire and respect in leadership is trust. I could never function in an organization where I felt I was micromanaged and I do not have the time or energy to do that to others. If I assign a task to a KULA staff member, I trust in their abilities and skills to get it done. The minute details are not for me to nit-pick; If I did, I minus well have completed the task myself. I admire leaders who trust their team and give them the motivation and space to be creative and provide their best work.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing? My mother, Puni Kekauoha, is my inspiration and slowly tricked me into doing this work my entire life. As a child she took me to every community meeting and conference she attended and I'm also a proud member of the "KULA guinea pig club" because I was automatically signed up for every KULA class or event we had. Delivering community fliers, waving signs for too many politicians, and being "volun-told" was most of my childhood and teenage life.
I never understood the impact that would have on my drive and commitment to this work until I was hired by KULA in 2006. As I started serving community directly, I saw the fruits of her contributions to Papakolea and other homesteads as a part of a legacy I needed to continue. It's my biggest challenge and honor to carry on what she, and other strong women in my life, h ave created.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui? Health
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui? Health