Makana Reilly
Name Makana Reilly
Age 38
Town/Moku ʻŌmaʻo, Kona, Kauaʻi. I am a lineal descendant of West Kauaʻi who was born and raised on Oʻahu and am honored to be able to return to the moku where I descend from.
Island Kauaʻi
Social Media Handle @instamakana
Nominated by Kaiwipuni Lipe, Gary Hooser, Mason Chock
Leadership Category Mālama ʻĀina - Evironmental Sustainability
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.
I am the Director of ʻĀina Connection at Hawai’i Land Trust (HILT) and a mother of two keiki ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi, and an ʻōlapa for Hālau Nā Pualei o Likolehua. I am an advocate for the protection of the rights of Native Hawaiians and the lands which we call home. Born and raised in a multigenerational, traditional home in the beautiful Mānoa Valley, on the island of Oʻahu, I was raised by a legacy of strong Native Hawaiian female educators. My formal education includes a Master of Arts in ʻŌlelo Hawai`i with a focus on Familial Land Management Options, a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of Miami, I am a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, and most importantly, a proud graduate of Pūnana Leo O Honolulu.
I previously worked as one of the two Luna Ho’okele (Manager) of the community gathering space, Ka Waiwai, and helped to bring an innovative community gathering and working space into reality. Building on strong, trusted relationships with community leaders, I strived to breathe life into a new visionary workspace which helped to launch Waiwai into a community staple, a home for activists, educators, ‘ohana and learners. In addition to my professional duties, I have a number of volunteer kuleana as a member of the Kōmike Advocacy and Kōmike Hoʻolōkahi, both under Kanaeokana, a member of the kōmike on protocol at the Mānoa Heritage Center, a Governing Board Member of Kawaikini Charter School, and a member of the working group I Ola Wailuanui.
I currently reside on the island of Kauaʻi where I lead up the work to enhance community connections to HILT’s public lands throughout Hawai‘i. This includes leading educational and cultural programming initiatives on O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?
ʻĀina centered "work" (itʻs not work when its kuleana) is vital to the long term thriving of our community. The health of kānaka and the health of ʻāina are not only reciprocal but also engrained in each other. A thriving place requires the hands of its kamaʻāina and those kānaka then thrive off of the bounty of the ʻāina. The pilina is far more valuable and, in my opinion immeasurable in its benefits, in comparison to the resources that are produced.
Iʻm driven by my kuleana to Hawaiʻi, to my ʻohana, to our kūpuna, ʻaumakua, and many akua.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.
I believe a good leader demonstrates compassion, while inspiring and encouraging leadership in those around them. A good leader must keep their ego in check and recognize that the greater goal and the lāhui is more important than the credit. A good leader is the hardest worker on the team, because they must complete their work, while ensuring those around them have the training and skills required to be successful at their tasks. All these qualities I admire and hope that those who I stand beside feel the support and encouragement that I give them. I work every day to put the ʻāina and the lāhui first and hold these beliefs in all my actions, including raising the next generation of leaders in my own daughters.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?
Inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated. Along my path in life there have been many who have inspired me to work harder, to give more, and to never settle. Kūpuna who survived and held fast to traditions for generations have inspired me to continue their legacy. Kumu, of all walks of instruction, have inspired me to hunger for knowledge and never feel satiated, so that the journey to learn never ends. And my daughters and their keiki that will someday inherit everything we have ever worked for, they inspire me to no end. Collectively, they inspire me to wake up every morning, never let the challenges of the past defeat me, and to give everything I have to the future of the lāhui.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?
Nalu - the ability to successfully navigate difficult waters, to rise above the waves and prevail in all things we do as kānaka. The past 6 years have been incredibly challenging for our lāhui. From the protection of Mauna a Wakea to a global pandemic, we have faced some of the roughest waters in recent years. But our lāhui is fierce and fearless.
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?
Disparities. While we have thrived despite so much adversity, there are still many kānaka who suffer from poverty, illness, diconnection from ʻāina ʻohana, incarceration, and the continued effects of colonization. Disparities are simply unacceptable. We must focus our efforts on those who the system is still not working for, and for those who have fallen through the cracks. Collectively, we have the power to change laws, improve health, and ensure that all are successful and thriving.