Noelani Puniwai

Hawaiʻi IslandMālama ʻĀina - Environmental Sustainability

Jan 16

Written By Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

Name Noelani Puniwai

social media @noe_puni

Age 43

Town/Moku Puna

Island Hawaiʻi Island

Leadership Category Mālama ʻĀina - Evironmental Sustainability

Nominated by Malia Nobrega-Olivera

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

I am a teacher at UH Mānoa and I share with my students the amazing places and communities that are working diligently to ensure that Hawaiʻi is momona once again. Raised in Puna, Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island Iʻve been privileged to witness momona, to hula in these sacred spaces, to dive on abundant reefs, to be present. I want to share these spaces with others so that they too can find their passion to ensure that our Island home is momona once again.

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

The health of our island, its reefs, its forests, its plant life, must continue to thrive. We have neglected to ensure that all the ʻāina around us is abundant and the only way that we can heal as a community is through aloha ʻāina.

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

I believe in those that spend their time on the ʻāina, who constantly give of themselves, and know how to weave stories. Servant leadership puts the needs of the community (both human and more than human) above themselves, and their time is spent in these wahi pana. I do not have a single space that I mālama, instead I try to honor those who do have passion for their spaces by volunteering my time, designing ways that I and my students can serve them, and telling their stories. Iʻve taken my children, my students, my friends to these spaces and we learn beside these humble leaders.

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

So many mentors, from my kumu hula, to my paddling coaches to my aunty/uncles and parents. Now my keiki and the hauman that I serve motivate me to continue.

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

pilina

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