Poki'i Balaz

Name Poki'i Balaz

Age 38

Town/Moku Wahiawa

Island Oʻahu

Social Media Handle @lunalilo.org

Nominated by Diane Paloma

Leadership Category Professional development

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

Aloha, I am a local girl, raised in Wahiawa who became a double board-certified FNP serving our kupuna, those with Alzheimer’s, related dementias, caregivers, and underserved populations. I received my DNP from UH Hilo with a focus on improving financial resources and advocacy for caregivers. My professional passional stems from experience as a caregiver to my father, honoring his wish to age in place. In the community I serve as board chair for the Alzheimer’s Ass. President of Sigma Theta Tau, Secretary of Hawai’i -ANA, Chamber of Commerce, and Special Olympics supporter and co-facilitates the Savvy Caregiver Program, Dealing with Dementia, trainer for the National Task Group and a Positive Approach Champion. Currently, I also serve on various committees with the NHPI Covid-19 Recovery Response and Resiliency team. In my free time, I enjoy traveling and returning to the ocean .

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

As a child I was hanai by my grandmother a native speaker who raised me traditionally and gave me a firm base. In those years my time was spent with the kupuna in the family and raised with the utmost respect for our elders as they are the wisdom of the NH people. Though my career I found myself gravitating to the elderly and that continued to grow. It is important to carry my kuleana and support the lahui and people of Hawai'I in my capacity which is to educate, bring awarenss, and advocate for our kupuna, caregivers, and the community Being a part of Lunalilo Home brings together my culture, professional and personal life. It is a privilege to serve the King's and continue his legacy of caring for the kupuna of Hawai'i

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

Servant leadership is admirable quality. Servant leaders lead by serving others and providing a safe space that encourages diversity, collaboration, and excitement where the success of others is the priority. As I strive to inhabit these qualities, I hope that I exhibit these qualities by continuing to serve others and helping them to reach their goals and be successful.

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

There are many people who have and continue to inspire me but my grandmother, father, mother, and nephew are at the core. My grandmother and parents gave me a firm foundation rooted in the Native Hawaiian culture and encouraged me to experience life beyond Hawai'i. My parents encouraged me to reach beyond the stars and continuously grow but now to forget where I came from, those who supported me, and reminded me that my kuleana would be to serve the lahui and beyond. As I continue to watch my mother as a caregiver, my father in the end stages of Alzheimer's and my autistic nephew, it is there strength, resiliency, that inspire me to do what I do everyday.

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

Future

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

Present