Keola Naka‘ahiki Rapozo

NAME KeolaNaka‘ahiki Rapozo

AGE 45

TOWN/MOKU Mo‘ili‘ili

ISLAND Oʻahu

social media @cakezinni

NOMINATED BY Kamuela Yim

Leadership Category Education

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

Creative director / Designer Fitted Hawaii + F.A.D.S.

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

Design is a solution-based skill set that can unlock systems for a more productive future. From food systems to delivering meaningful products, I believe in the potential.

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

Warren Bennis called it the capacity to translate vision into reality. Communicating a clear mission, executing fundamentals, inspiring, and engaging with others are all qualities I admire. Moreover, Empowering the next generation with inspiration and knowledge will ensure growth for our culture. Showing up and participating in meaningful work will surely help to reconnect Kanaka into our mainframe.

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

Over the years I have adopted many mentors, both in person and through distant admiration. Mort Feldman, my mother, Tetsu Nishiyama, Nils Moorman, Virgil Abloh, Kanye West, Nas, Michael Bierut, Kamuela Yim, Kaipoi Kelling, Samuel Kamakau, Paeiea, Kakuhihewa, Kalamakua, Mary Kawena Pukui, Jean Prouve.. The list is very long!

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

‘ike

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

Rights