Noelani Iokepa-Guerreo
Name Noelani Iokepa-Guerrero
Social Media @bnoela
Age 47
Town/Moku Kahaluʻu, KoʻolauPoko
Island Oʻahu
Leadership Category Culture
Nominated by Niuli'i Heine
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.
Aloha! ʻO Noelani Iokepa-Guerrero koʻu inoa. He kupa ʻōiwi kēia o ka ʻāina. First and foremost, I am a wahine Hawaiʻi of this ʻāina a descendant of many generations from this land. I am a daughter, a granddaughter, a mother, and a wife. I was and am raised in a family that lives by Hawaiian values and practices Hawaiian traditions. This upbringing is what I perpetuate in my own family today and in the work that I do. In the community, I am the President of Papahana Aloha ʻĀina Hawaiʻi, a young non-profit organization dedicated to aloha ʻāina - environmental stewardship and service, education and scholarship, and youth development and leadership to sustain our Hawaiʻi. I am also a Kumu Hula graduated in traditional ʻūniki style under Kumu Leinaʻala Kalama Heine. I am the parent leader for the Saint Louis School Hui Aloha ʻĀina Kalaepōhaku Hawaiian Club, the parent leader for the Ke Kula ʻo Kamakau parent group, a former Pūnana Leo teacher and administrator and parent board President, and an Associate Professor at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, University of Hawaiʻi Hilo focused in Hawaiian and Indigenous education. Aside from my professional hat as an educator within the University system, all my other current roles are voluntary.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?
In all of my roles listed above I strive to uphold my kuleana to uplift my ʻāina, my kūpuna, my lāhui, my community and perpetuate the knowledge and excellence of our Hawaiian people. Carrying my kuleana and paying it forward is extremely important to me. It is my way to hoʻihoʻi and give back to my community and those who have given to me and who have molded me to be the person and leader I am today.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.
There are many qualities of leadership I value and incorporate in my own life. Some of these qualities include kuleana, kōkua, mālama, hana and paʻahana, hakuhia, ʻiʻike, wiwoʻole, and hoʻoponopono. The one quality I believe that encapsulates all these listed above and thus makes incorporating all qualities at once is the importance, understanding, and ways of ALOHA. To truly aloha, one must have the best interest in mind, heart, spirit and action for others, for him/herself, for the environment around that nurtures us to do what we do, for all. Aloha will guide us to make pono decisions, healthy choices, and positive growth and change for successful sustainability and happiness for all. Aloha is the warm smile and firm hug, the strict rules and hard scoldings, the tireless nights and playful breaks. It is leading by positive example, inspiration, optimism, backed by knowledge and experience and the understanding that anything is possible. Aloha is grounded in values and culture, language and traditions, perspectives and understandings and hard work and dedication. I live and work by aloha and strive to perpetuate aloha in leadership and ways that positively touch others.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?
ʻO Lilia Keohokapuakeakua ka inoa. My grandmother and the first teacher in my life is the person who inspires me to do the work that I do. She was the last mānaleo in my family until the birth of my two children, three generations later. Mother of 16 of her own and caretaker to numerous more she modeled grace, wisdom, ʻoʻoleʻa, hard work, and aloha. She raised us to aloha akua, aloha ʻohana, and aloha naʻauao - to always fulfill our kuleana, seek knowledge, and keep ʻohana first. Living in a time where she was made to feel she could not use nor pass down her native tongue; watching her ʻohana lands go to foreigners; and experiencing the loss of many loved ones in her time; she still carried herself with haʻaheo and haʻahaʻa, held on to the ʻōlelo makuahine, and embedded cultural traditions, practices, and values in our upbringing. She inspires me everyday to look forward, stay grounded in who I am as a Hawaiian, not be afraid of hard work, and love one another and all around you.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?
ʻōpio
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?
ʻāina