Taylor Collier

Name Taylor Collier

social media @lilikoiwaibes

Age 25

Town/Moku Hāmakuapoko

Island Maui

Leadership Category Business Development

Nominated by Maile Meyer

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

My name is Līhau Collier and am the eldest daughter of W. S. Pūlama and Robert C. Collier, born on the island of Oʻahu and raised in the district of Hāmakuapoko on the island of Maui. Iʻm an alumni of Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Maui—Hawaiian Lanugage Immersion Program on Maui. Iʻve earned my Bachelors of Arts in philosophy from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Class of 2021. Earning this degree inspired me to write about Indigenous ways of knowing, which then manifested into reality when I began an internship with Dr. Manulani Aluli Meyer. Having been inspired, I willingly opened my mind, body, and Spirit to understanding the importance of aloha in our daily lives. Currently, Iʻm is the publications manager for Native Books at Arts and Letters, a place with pride, respect, and aloha for the Hawaiian culture and its people. I believe that aloha is our greatest truth and the source of our nourshiment and healing.

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

The work that I do with publications is extremely important for me because I feel that it provides the Hawaiian people and community with a better understanding of Hawaiian history, through the perspectives of Kānaka ʻŌiwi. I believe this is very important for the community because it helps create spaces where Hawaiians are more understood and their stories can be celebrated and shared. There are many moʻolelo that, to this day, are not easily accessible to community, leaving us, the Native Hawaiian community, unconscious of our history. Native Books has taught me ways to fill that gap and to help create resources for community to learn about Native Hawaiian History and Culture. We thrive to educate, inspire, and liberate Hawaiians and the community through the writings of indigenous practioners, scholar, educators, and artist from the past and present.

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

Qualities of leadership I admire are, compassion, confidence, intelligence, discipline, and open-minded.

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

My grandmother has inspired me to do the work that Iʻm doing. Ever since I was a young girl, learning how to write, she repeatedly explained to me the significance of writing. She would say, "write something down every day, so when you grow up, you wonʻt forget, and you can learn from what youʻve done". I always took her word with me and found joy when writing. It then became a space of healing for me. I used my skill in writing as a way to understand myself and help articulate my thoughts. Never did I think that I would become a professional writer or publisher, yet I have, because of my work with Native Books and completing an internship with ʻAi Pōhaku Press. Writing, editing, proofreading, and publishing has only brought more joy into my writing and inspires me to continue to practice this skill, in order to help others better understand indigenous perspectives.

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

Publishing

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

Water Rights