Sarah Kapalihiwa Bilyeu
Name Sarah kapalihiwa Bilyeu
Age 29
Town/Moku Wailua
Island Kauaʻi
Social Media Handle @kapalihiwahiwa (IG); @sarah.k.bilyeu (FB)
Nominated by Keola Nakanishi
Leadership Category Education
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.
My full name is Sarah Kapalihiwa Bilyeu, but I usually go by the name Kapali. I'm born & raised on the island of Kauaʻi, and began my ʻike Hawaiʻi journey in Grade 4 when I enrolled in Kanuikapono Public Charter School in Anahola. I've since earned my Bachelor's Degree in Hawaiian Studies from UH Hilo's Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani School of Hawaiian Language, as well as completed their Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education program.
I currently serve as the Kauaʻi Project Coordinator for Mana Maoli's Mana Mele Project, which aims to provide youth creative art services that incorporate Academics, Business, & Culture, while connecting them to real-world professionals in the Creative Industries. I also serve as a kumu pani hakahaka for Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School in Puhi, where I also spent a year working during my practicum for Kahuawaiola.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?
All the kuleana that I take on under Mana Maoli & Kawaikini have the same goal: to serve the youth of Hawaiʻi through a cultural lens. The majority of youth these organizations serve are of kanaka maoli ancestry, and considered "at-risk" due to different factors in their personal & academic records. I believe that the work being done in organizations such as these give all youth the outlet to express themselves in a positive way, and providing a cultural aspect gives them the opportunity to better understand their personal identities, which in turn gives them more confidence to pursue & succeed in any career path of their choosing as adults. Our kanaka maoli communities especially benefit both short and long-term: having direct support for the next generation from Elementary to college-level, which results in their preparedness for quality community leadership.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.
I believe the best leaders truly put the people they serve before themselves. Many times the excellent goals set by organizations get set back by restrictions to funding or resources, and other times it's the decisions of the Administration that can make or break those goals. I have great respect for people who can navigate through these obstacles to keep their promises to the community they're meant to help. I especially respect those who do it all while maintaining their values. It's ALOHA in every sense of the word.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?
In all stages of my educational journey I've had different people that inspired me to do the work I'm doing now. I mainly owe all my kumu ʻike Hawaiʻi much thanks for giving me the ʻike and all their encouragement thorughout the years. I also give thanks to my kūpuna and the kanaka maoli scholars who have left this physical realm but still give me strength through the ʻike they left behind for all of us to care for.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?
HOʻOILINA - continuing the legacy of our lāhui
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?
ʻĀINA