Announcing Kuleana Academy’s 7th cohort
Reclaiming Democracy
Kuleana Academy is a 4-month leadership accelerator program that empowers dedicated individuals with a strong sense of community and place. Throughout this comprehensive program, cohort members dive deep into critical social, economic, and environmental issues shaping Hawai'i today. We understand the significance of equipping future leaders with the knowledge, tools, and a like-minded network necessary to foster positive change. From mastering political campaigning to honing grassroots coalition building and legislative advocacy skills, the Kuleana Academy covers a wide range of essential topics for effective civic and political leadership.
Meet the Cohort 7.
HAWAIʻI ISLAND
Laura Acasio, Hilo
Former State Senator Laura Acasio is an educator, birth support professional and community leader. Her life is dedicated to public service and community wellness, and she takes a systems-thinking approach to collaborative problem-solving. Laura believes in building relationships with people and place, empowering values-based civic engagement, and working for equity and justice.
Ethan McKown, Hilo
Ethan McKown is an environmental planner, political wonk, and advocate for progressive reform to Hawaiʻi's political system.
Christen Zulli, Hilo
Christen Zulli is a Conscious Communications Consultant & Women’s Holistic Cycle’s Coach with an MA in Counseling Psychology, mother of two miraculous children, wife of a seafaring husband, lifelong yoga practitioner, and community leader.
Jazzmin Cabanilla, Hilo
Jazzmin Cabanilla is a mother, a daughter, a surfer, a kānaka maoli wahine, an aloha ʻāina and a lifelong learner mai Ko Hawaiʻi PaeʻĀina.
Jazzmin Cabanilla, Hilo
Jazzmin Cabanilla is a mother, a daughter, a surfer, a kānaka maoli wahine, an aloha ʻāina and a lifelong learner mai Ko Hawaiʻi PaeʻĀina.
KAUAʻI ISLAND
Elizabeth Okinaka, Kōloa
Elizabeth Okinaka is a grassroots activist, protector of ʻ‘āina, iwi and wai, mother
of three and cave docent at Makauwahi Cave Reserve.
Kealoha Matsuda, Kapaʻa
Kealoha Matsuda is an entrepreneur, Hawaiian activist, involved community member and radio personality, who focuses not on the party, but what is RIGHT.
Joëll Edwards, Wainiha
Joëll Edwards is a small business owner, parent, community leader, and aunty to all, who focuses on better support systems for adolescent mental health and working families.
Joëll Edwards, Wainiha
Joëll Edwards is a small business owner, parent, community leader, and aunty to all, who focuses on better support systems for adolescent mental health and working families.
MAUI NUI
Noelani Ahia, Wailuku
Noelani Ahia is a healer and an activist working in the community to protect what we love: ‘āina, wai, kai, iwi, and the people!
Naomi Griffiths, Wailuku
Naomi Griffiths is a Hawaiʻi Technology Academy high school senior, and a future political leader, with a passion for environmental justice and human rights.
Robert Pahia, Kula
Bobby Pahia is a kalo farmer, an advocate for food security, and supports political and economic reform through policy and legislation.
Nara Boone, Haʻikū
Nara Boone is a singer, voice teacher, activist and former Maui County Council candidate. She is also the mother of three teenagers. Nara actively works with suppressed voices, allowing them the strength to be heard.
Kaiea Edward Medeiros, Kahului
Kaiea Medeiros is a kānaka born from lepo, raised in aloha, whose kuleana is to serve ʻāina.
Robin Knox, Kīhei
Robin Knox is a Maui island resident, an environmental scientist and professional water protector, avid advocate for houseless residents, and promoter of mental health and wellness.
Rana Boone, Haʻikū
Rana Kili is a lifelong educator, teacher of teachers, mother to two daughters, who aspires to be a good troublemaker.
Kaipo Kekona, Lāhainā
Kaipo Kekona is a native Hawaiian born and raised, stands in service of land, water, and the people of Hawaiʻi, he is also the state president of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.
Robert Pahia, Kula
Bobby Pahia is a kalo farmer, an advocate for food security, and supports political and economic reform through policy and legislation.
Nara Boone, Haʻikū
Nara Boone is a singer, voice teacher, activist and former Maui County Council candidate. She is also the mother of three teenagers. Nara actively works with suppressed voices, allowing them the strength to be heard.
Kaiea Edward Medeiros, Kahului
Kaiea Medeiros is a kānaka born from lepo, raised in aloha, whose kuleana is to serve ʻāina.
Robin Knox, Kīhei
Robin Knox is a Maui island resident, an environmental scientist and professional water protector, avid advocate for houseless residents, and promoter of mental health and wellness.
Rana Boone, Haʻikū
Rana Kili is a lifelong educator, teacher of teachers, mother to two daughters, who aspires to be a good troublemaker.
Kaipo Kekona, Lāhainā
Kaipo Kekona is a native Hawaiian born and raised, stands in service of land, water, and the people of Hawaiʻi, he is also the state president of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.
Kaiea Edward Medeiros, Kahului
Kaiea Medeiros is a kānaka born from lepo, raised in aloha, whose kuleana is to serve ʻāina.
Robin Knox, Kīhei
Robin Knox is a Maui island resident, an environmental scientist and professional water protector, avid advocate for houseless residents, and promoter of mental health and wellness.
Rana Boone, Haʻikū
Rana Kili is a lifelong educator, teacher of teachers, mother to two daughters, who aspires to be a good troublemaker.
Kaipo Kekona, Lāhainā
Kaipo Kekona is a native Hawaiian born and raised, stands in service of land, water, and the people of Hawaiʻi, he is also the state president of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.
Rana Boone, Haʻikū
Rana Kili is a lifelong educator, teacher of teachers, mother to two daughters, who aspires to be a good troublemaker.
Kaipo Kekona, Lāhainā
Kaipo Kekona is a native Hawaiian born and raised, stands in service of land, water, and the people of Hawaiʻi, he is also the state president of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.
OʻAHU ISLAND
Asheemo (Koda) Daily, ʻEwa Beach
Koda is a young man who passionately cares about the natural environment and restoring the balance within humanity.
Vincent Kimura, Honolulu
Vincent Kimura is a lifelong learner, father, and pickleball enthusiast, born on Oʻahu and raised in Asia.
Fatima Abed, Kahaluʻu
Fatima is an advocate, small business owner, a legislative staffer who is a passionate environmental and animal rights activist from Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu.
Dave Nagaji, Honolulu
Dave Nagaji is a community volunteer, former legislative researcher and neighborhood board member from Mānoa.
Summer Yadao, ʻEwa Beach
Summer Yadao works as contracted personnel for Hawaiʻi Appleseed/HiHAC, and has worked mainly for non-profit organizations.
Maria Glodilet Rallojay, Pearl City
Maria Rallojay is a community advocate and proud Ilocana from Oʻahu with a strong passion for social justice.
Charles Jonsson, Honolulu
Charles Jonsson is a politics wonk and graphic designer who aspires to be a campaign strategist and help put as many progressives as possible in office.
Fatima Abed, Kahaluʻu
Fatima is an advocate, small business owner, a legislative staffer who is a passionate environmental and animal rights activist from Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu.
Dave Nagaji, Honolulu
Dave Nagaji is a community volunteer, former legislative researcher and neighborhood board member from Mānoa.
Summer Yadao, ʻEwa Beach
Summer Yadao works as contracted personnel for Hawaiʻi Appleseed/HiHAC, and has worked mainly for non-profit organizations.
Maria Glodilet Rallojay, Pearl City
Maria Rallojay is a community advocate and proud Ilocana from Oʻahu with a strong passion for social justice.
Charles Jonsson, Honolulu
Charles Jonsson is a politics wonk and graphic designer who aspires to be a campaign strategist and help put as many progressives as possible in office.
Summer Yadao, ʻEwa Beach
Summer Yadao works as contracted personnel for Hawaiʻi Appleseed/HiHAC, and has worked mainly for non-profit organizations.
Maria Glodilet Rallojay, Pearl City
Maria Rallojay is a community advocate and proud Ilocana from Oʻahu with a strong passion for social justice.
Charles Jonsson, Honolulu
Charles Jonsson is a politics wonk and graphic designer who aspires to be a campaign strategist and help put as many progressives as possible in office.
Charles Jonsson, Honolulu
Charles Jonsson is a politics wonk and graphic designer who aspires to be a campaign strategist and help put as many progressives as possible in office.
What will it take to create a just and sustainable food system?
Since its inception in 2014, the Hawaiian Agriculture and Policy Advocacy (HAPA) group has remained resolute in its commitment towards a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system in Hawaiʻi.
As a grass-roots organization, your donation, however big or small, will ensure that HAPA has the resources continue to keep you up-to-date on what is happing with our food-system in Hawaiʻi. We can’t do this without you.
