Malia Nobrega-Olivera

Name Malia Nobrega-Olivera

social media FB- @Malia-Nobrega-Olivera IG- @maliaandvictor

Age 51

Town/Moku Hanapēpē

Island Kauaʻi

Leadership Category Civic Engagement/Emerging Law

Nominated by Dre Kalili; Kahanu Keawe

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

Malia Nobrega-Olivera is born and raised in Hanapēpē Valley, Kona, Kauaʻi. Malia is a Native Hawaiian educator, a kumu hula, a salt maker, an event strategist, and an advocate of indigenous rights at all levels – locally, regionally, and internationally. Her experiences demonstrate her commitment to her people, language, and culture and to indigenous peoples worldwide. Malia’s advocacy work has taken her to various international meetings and currently she serves as one of the 3 indigenous Pacific representatives on the Global Steering Committee for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

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

The work that I do is important to me, to my ʻohana, and to the community because I'm continuing the work of my kupuna and doing all that I can so that the generations to come are able to also carry the work and the practice forward.

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

Hoʻolohe, Hoʻokō, and Huli ka Lima are three qualities of leadership that I try to live up to in every aspect of my life and the work that I do. As a leader we are a facilitator of diverse people with diverse ways and thoughts. Being able to HOʻOLOHE or listen to our community (our kupuna, makua, and keiki) and their concerns and challenges, turn the listening and conversations into collective action - HOʻOKŌ, and then together with others HULI KA LIMA I LALO and do the work that is focused on the MAULIOLA of our people, our practice, and our ʻāina is how I express these qualities in my life.

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

My parents- Gilbert and Rosalyn Nobrega and my mentor- Mililani Trask

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

ʻŌLELO

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

HEALTH