Kamakanō weoKekauoha-Schultz
Name Kamakanō weoKekauoha-Schultz
Age 15
Town/Moku Waiehu
Island Maui
Leadership Category Mālama ʻĀina - ENvironmental Sustainability
Nominated by George kahumoku Jr
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.
My name is Kamakanōweo Kekauoha-Schultz. I am 15 years old and reside on the island of Maui in Waiehu. I am a Kula Kaiapuni student at King Kekaulike High School and I maintain a 4.0 GPA. I have a rich cultural background in ʻōlelo mākuahine, hula, mele/oli, and I am involved with agriculture daily. Currently, my main focus has been agriculture and food security. Right in my backyard in Waiehu, I and my ʻohana cultivate native plants, food crops, and other plants we see as beneficial to supporting biodiversity. We strive to be food secure and are looking for ways to improve our farming systems.
In the summer of 2022, I interned with Kahumoku Family Farms under the mentorship of Uncle George Kahumoku Jr. During these 2 summer months with Uncle George, his methods of farming were shared with me, and I learned a bit about the Ag industry, and how to succeed in it. I am so grateful for this experience to work with Uncle George and learn ʻike from such an akamai, culturally based and ʻāina rooted kanaka.
I am involved in restoring the ʻāina of Kapoho, Waiheʻe, as well as Kealakaʻihonua Heiau, made possible by monthly workshops under the non-profit of Hanona, and the support of a big grant. These workshops get me involved greatly in the hana of our kūpuna as we are building old Hawaiian kauhale, and we build with pōhaku in different ways. This wouldn't be possible without loea, Kumu Palani Sinenci. Kumu Palani, based in Hana, is an expert in building hale, and uhau humu pōhaku, or traditional Hawaiian masonry. He has built multiple hale and walls all across Maui. The restoration of Kapoho is important to me because it immerses me in the hana of our kūpuna, and the ʻike gained is priceless. Moreover, we are focusing on restoring a once-thriving village with amazing features. Over many years, Kapoho has seen much damage from cattle, human, and natural events, and is not the same, but this will only motivate the mission to restore it for the generations to come.
I have a deep connection with the ‘āina and am a steward of the land. When ʻāina is hurt, I have a sense of that ʻeha; therefore, I stand up for the land and do my best to educate others on this subject as well. I believe a healthy people depend on a healthy land, so I give a good effort to be as environmentally regenerative as I can in ways of planting, composting, and building the soil.
Other interests I have include ocean sports such as surfing, diving, and paddling. Exercise is also very important to me as being in shape and healthy makes many tasks easier in life, sports, and on the ʻāina. I also take part in these hana for the benefit of my health and mauliola. The ocean and ʻāina are a big part of my life as it keeps me grounded. Music and other hobbies make me happy, and central to all of this is Akua. Ke Akua gives me a higher calling and purpose to prepare myself and help me maintain a healthy mind and spirit, and the drive to do what I do.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?
The work that I do in life whether that be farming, restoration, hula, music, ʻōlelo, and so forth is important to me for now and in the future. I farm to lessen my carbon footprint, to be more food secure, to have an in-tuned connection with the ʻāina, and to mālama the practices of our kūpuna. I hula, and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, to preserve the traditions our kūpuna handed down to us, and to be involved with my culture. I play music because it is my gift from Ke Akua, and so I can play music for the community to enjoy. All the work I do in my life impacts the community in some way, shape, or form, and it is my kūleana to use my gifts to leave a positive imprint on the lāhui, and bring people up, not down.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.
Some qualities of leadership that I admire are honesty, transparency, respect, and ultimately, aloha. I think that these qualities make a great leader. I do my best to express these qualities in life, specifically in environments such as school. Being pono is a virtue that I value. I believe that a true leader should be pono, and I express these traits in life through my ability to bring people around me up.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?
The people who inspire me the most to do the work that I do are my parents. My mother and father are hard workers, very loving, smart, and so much more, and they are people I look up to. They have raised me well in ways that I have a strong relationship with my family, community, and foremost Ke Akua. My mother is especially an inspiration for me when it comes to anything ʻāina based. Her love for farming and ethnobotany inspired me to get into the backyard and learn about the different plants and their purpose. Soon after, this interest evolved into deeper research, memorization, and identification of different plants and animals. To this day, my love for farming and mālama ʻāina has grown exponentially. I learn new knowledge all of the time. I have great gratitude for my parents for planting the seeds of farming into my life, and for God for guiding me each step of the way.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?
Growth.
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?
Desecration.