Leialoha Ilae-Kaleimamahu

Name Leialoha Ilae-Kaleimamahu

Age 50

Town/Moku Mokuhulu, Puna

Island Hawaiʻi Island

Social Media Handle leialohakaleimamahu

Nominated by Olu Olu Veihl Kimberly Dark

Leadership Category Education

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

Aloha, My name is Leialoha Ilae-Kaleimamahu. I am from Mokuhulu, Puna on the island of Hawaiʻi. I presently work and create educational experiences in Hawaiʻi through my business called Hua ʻĀina. (leiilaekaleimamahu.com).

I have been teaching for a little over 30 years and taught at the community college in Hilo for about 10 years. Iʻm a mother of three and married for 18 years. My passion is being on the land and creating special educational opportunities for myself and others. I focus on Hawaiian language, Hawaii Environment and Practices of Hawaiian culture. I also have become somewhat of a online geek, providing workshops and classes online to our community both here in Hawaiʻi as well as outside of Hawaiʻi.

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

The work I do is important to me because it involves being actively caring and informing about the Hawaiʻi landscape, especially through a Hawaiian cultural lens. This in turn, has created positive results in families and communities for over 30 years and has helped to build resilience in the community.

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

Ma ka Hana ka ʻike. In doing one learns.

This ʻōlelo noʻeau seems to resonate with me no matter what the situation. A leader that can lead by doing well has always been a quality that I admire, how and what a leader does will determine his or her abilities to move a community or not.

In my life, I strive to practice and build my skill in what I do, thereby allowing me to reach the depth and breath of my specific practice. This allows me to teach and create from a different perspective and to show by example.

Ma ka ʻōlelo ke ola. - Speak life

This ʻōlelo noʻeau in itʻs entirety "ma ka ʻōlelo ke ola, ma ka ʻōlelo ka make" . When I see a leader who can speak life into existence it is something I admire. In my life, I strive to teach and create with the understanding that to bring about change and to empower people, I choose my words with aloha so as to speak life into existence.

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

I was inspired by my family who taught me well about how to be a good person and showed me what that looked like. I was also inspired by so many kumu and other kupuna that led by example. This in turn made me want to do what I do.

My keiki inspire me to continue with great passion and aloha.

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

Hoʻomau.

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

Ola kino