Kahoʻokahi Kanuha

Name Kahoʻokahi Kanuha

social media @kahookahi

Age 33

Town/Moku Hōlualoa, Kona

Island Hawaiʻi Island

Leadership Category Culture

Nominated by Kaʻiulani Laehā

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

I dedicate most of my life to work that revolves around revitalizing and renormalizing Hawaiian language in my ʻohana and our society. I do this mostly through my work at ʻAha Pūnana Leo, Awaiaulu, and on my personal time using personal resources, as well as raising my keiki entirely in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi .

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

As Noʻeau Warner wrote, "Hawaiian language should be perpetuated because it is part of Hawaiian heritage–what can help to make Hawaiians whole again as a people. Hawaiians need to learn and know their language, culture, stories, histories, and religion because they all interrelate and are integrally linked to one another and to the people."

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

I aliʻi nō ke aliʻi i ke kanaka. Or in a modern context: I alakaʻi nō ke alakaʻi i ke kanaka. A leader is a leader because people follow that person as a leader.

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

My work is inspired by our people's past and future.

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

ea

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

naʻauao