Kaleialoha Lum-Ho

Name Kaleialoha Lum-Ho

social media @kamaluhi

Age 43

Town/Moku I was born in Wailuku, Maui and raised in Maunaloa, Molokaʻi and ʻŌlaʻa & Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island

Island Hawaiʻi Island

Leadership Category Education

Nominated by Faith Kahale Saito

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

I was born in Wailuku, Maui, and raised in Maunaloa, Molokaʻi and Hilo and Puna on Hawaiʻi Island. I consider myself a Hilo girl at heart. I have been blessed to have a career dedicated to supporting Native Hawaiians in education for the last 16 years. I am currently the Coordinator for the Hawaiian Center at Honolulu Community College, where we provide support services for our college's Native Hawaiian Students.

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

I am passionate about helping kānaka ʻōiwi raise their aspirations and achievements through education. I have experienced and seen first hand the value of education and I firmly believe in its potential to uplift the community.

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

I have been very fortunate to have great leadership models and mentors in my life and career. One of my most influential mentors is Dr. David Kekaulike Sing, who taught me the value of acknowledging an individual's potential and building on their strengths. I like to think that I use that same strengths-based approach in my own leadership style. Uncle David also taught me to lead by example and demonstrate trust and encouragement.

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

My students keep me going. Hearing stories of kānaka who never thought college would be possible for them or who's lives were improved by attending college inspires the work I do every day.

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?

representation