Waiʻaleʻale Liʻi Sarsona

Name Waiʻaleʻale Liʻi Sarsona

Age 20

Town/Moku Waimānalo,Koʻolaupoko

Island Oʻahu

Social Media Handle IG @mia.aleale

Nominated by Keola Nakanishi

Leadership Category Mauli Ola - Health, Personal & Family Development

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

Mia Waiʻaleʻale “Liʻi” Sarsona was born and raised in Waimānalo, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu. Liʻi is currently a Hawaiian Studies major at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. In high school, she was privileged to represent the voice of her generation on numerous occasions. It is for that reason that she has committed her time to empowering ʻōpio to use their voice as well as uplifting those voices in spaces where ‘ōpio often go unheard. She now serves as the poʻo for ʻAha ʻŌpio under ʻAha ʻOhana. Giving back to the Hawaiian focused charter school community that raised her, Liʻi is working as the community outreach manager for Mana Maoli. She is also a student learning Hawaiian healing arts under Ka Pā o Lonopūhā.

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

As the future makua of the world, ʻōpio should be given a voice in decisions that concern our future.

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

I was always taught that the best leaders are the ones that uplift those around them. As an ʻōpio that has been given a seat at the table, I know I speak for more than just myself.

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

I really mahalo my kumu Keola Chan for being the makua to uplift my leo as an ʻōpio. If it werenʻt for him taking a chance with me, I wouldnʻt be able to do the work I do now.

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

hanauna hou

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

dual-fluencies