Michelle Pieper

Name Michelle Pieper

Age 48

Town/Moku Nānākuli

Island Oʻahu

Social Media Handle @hanaikaiaulu, @nhis_olelohawaii

Nominated by Kristina Stellhorn

Leadership Category Mālama ʻĀina - Environmental Sustainability

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

Known to most as Kumu Pieper, I am a Waiʻanae native and graduate of Waiʻanae High, I have dedicated my career to the preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture through education on the Leeward Coast. With many digging into gardening for the first time, there has has been a push to pool resources and collective knowledge on home food production, composting and protecting the environment. During the pandemic, I founded Hānai Kaiāulu and hopes to effectively engage the community and normalize food waste composting in schools.

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

As we look for ways to live a more eco-friendly life, composting is a clear opportunity to make significant changes in our everyday lives. Contrary to global practice, food scraps do not belong in the trash, they should be put back into the ʻāina in order to continue to grow beautiful, nutrient-rich food to feed ourselves.

A composting program engages and educates the community in food systems thinking and community sustainability. It also provides solutions that empower individuals/businesses to capture organic waste and retain it as a community resource.

A composting program supports community social, economic, and environmental well-being.

A "sustainable community" concept is often defined by the needs and culture of that specific community. They address the economic, environmental, and social issues. The concept recognizes that economic, environmental, and social issues work in synergy.

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

Leadership is subjective.

Leadership can be defined by the clarity and quality of goals that I set for my haumāna. It is not easy being a leader. A leader is simply not someone who will please everyone. Leadership is someone who motivates others to make a positive change in their lives.

My leadership is being and creating moʻopuna minded haumāna. Leadership comes from knowing who you came from. If you donʻt know your past, how can you possibly create a future? Where can you go with no leadership. We inherit the qualities of our kūpuna: smart, innovative and wise. My kūpuna valued intelligence and have passed down to me a love of learning. Leadership is the sharing of ʻike. Leadership is knowing that you have what it takes because your kūpuna already paved the way. When you know who you come from, you walk a little different. How can I not be brilliant and be a leader? My Kūpuna has already done it! Na wai hoʻi ka ʻole o ke akamai, he alanui maʻa i ka hele ʻia e oʻu mau mākua. Leadership is being moʻopuna minded. Leadership is being a good ancestor!

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

My kūpuna. After finding and understanding my own moʻolelo moʻokūʻauhau and learning about them, it is clearly my kuleana to continue their legacy and breathe life into the ʻāina they left for me to tend to. As they have done for me, our greatest kuleana is to be a good ancestor.

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

Huliau

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

Mauli ola