“An Aloha ʻĀina Leader as someone who preserves their native language and culture so that future generations can learn on the same land their ancestors once walked. “

“Being an Aloha ʻĀina Leader means that I need to do my best to globalize and perpetuate Hawaiian Identity while encouraging others to do the same.“

“We work to persevere and preserve what we know and learn. “

“Someone who is constantly showing the land care for thanks for itʻs resources and keeping a reciprocal relationship with ʻāina”

“To me being an Aloha ʻĀina leader is about knowing what is important, like the health and protection of our ʻāina.”

“I think anyone can be a Aloha aina leader but do you have the necessary skills and mindset to do it.“

“I will never stop working towards the full re-establishment and restoration of our native forests and ecosystems.“

“To lead our community to see that our ʻāina is what centers us is what keeps us alive, and our land is what allows us sustainability. Let us make a change together. We can only do it together.“

“ʻO ka manaʻo o alakaʻi aloha ʻāina, he kanaka aloha nui i ka ʻāina a malama i ke kaiāulu. He kanaka keu a ka maikaʻi ma ka noʻonoʻo ʻana a huli ka lima i lalo. He kanaka e haʻaheo i kona home ʻo Hawaiʻi nei.“

“What does being an aloha Aina leader mean to me? I personally think that the first step is to be in your right state of mind, I also think that you have to do the right things in life its not just about taking care of the Aina. “

“Aloha ʻāina leader to me is showing up and showing loina Hawaiʻi, not because it’s a Kuleana or ʻAno Hawaiʻi but because it’s what you have a deep genuinely feeling and care for.“

“Being an ʻAloha ʻĀina leader to me is setting an example for others. Being the one who is there to help and being pono with everyone and everything.“

“I want to be the change that influences them to do! I wish to alakaʻi people to understand that “ʻAʻohe mālama, pau i ka ʻiole.”“

“Aina in my eyes is everything, from the start of life to the end.“

“It’s our responsibility to serve the land and uphold its status – for who else is better fit to mālama Hawaiʻi than it’s own people.”

“I hold responsibility of being chosen by my educators to show the greatness that Waianae holds.“

“It is bringing Aloha to all parts of your life no matter how the people around you act. It is taking action to protect the land, and the generations to come. Being an Aloha Aina leader is doing things for the benefit of a better future you may never see.“

“Being an aloha aina leader to me means to strive to keep our culture and our language alive. It means to teach the Keiki that come after us our culture and language so they can do the same for the next generation.“

“To be an effective Aloha ʻĀina Leader, you need to use your ʻāina and lāhui as a foundation as you continue to move forward for the advancement of our people.”

“I don’t view aloha ʻāina and leadership as two separate values; my style of leadership is directly related to my ʻano aloha ʻāina. I cannot lead without aloha ʻāina, and personally, I cannot aloha ʻāina without doing so as a leader. Ma o kaʻu mau hana ma ka ʻano alakaʻi, hōʻike aku au i koʻu aloha i kuʻu ʻāina a me kuʻu lāhui Hawaiʻi.”

“Being an Aloha ʻĀina leader means being a good role model for the younger classmates and doing all kine things in school like sports and extracurricular classes. I love aloha aina. I’ve been doing it since I was a baby. I’ve been working in the taro patches since I could remember and love to hunt, and I love participating in community ʻāina aloha projects.”

“Noʻu, he koʻikoʻi ke kuleana o kahi alakaʻi aloha ʻāina. He hoʻohanohano nui kēia noʻu ʻoiai he waiwai ke aloha ʻāina i koʻu ola. Mai ka ʻāina mai nā mea a pau a mākou i loaʻa ai, a he koʻikoʻi ko mākou mālama ʻana i ia wahi no nā hanauna e hiki mai ana.”

“Being an Aloha ʻĀina Leader to me is to “Huli ka lima I lalo-” to take the time and to restore and connect with our ʻāina just as our kūpuna did many years ago.

“To stand in what I believe in and to protect the ʻāina that feeds us.”

“ʻO ka mea nui o ke alakaʻi aloha ʻāina iaʻu, ʻo ia hoʻi ke aloha a kōkua aku i ka nui poʻe ke pono. I loko o koʻu ʻano he kanaka, nui koʻu kōkua ʻana aku i ka poʻe me ke aloha. Aia i loko o koʻu noʻonoʻo ʻana a me kaʻu mau hana, koʻu ʻano he kanaka aloha ʻāina.”

“Being an Aloha ‘Āina Leader means taking initiative, helping others, and making meaningful connections with my community. As Kanaka, I feel a deep connection with the ‘āina. I am grounded in my culture through cultivating the land and practicing and reflecting on the Kamaile Academy core values: ha’aheo, kuleana, laulima, and hōʻihi.”

“It was never a “passion” of mine to aloha ʻāina, it simply was the expectation. Although being recognized as an Aloha ʻĀina leader, I am far from that title. I have a whole life ahead of me which will be filled with experience, and only after learning from these coming experiences will I accept this title.”

“Aloha ʻĀina is the connection or interaction with ʻāina itself. To not only connect with the land, but to also do the little things in between. Itʻs the way you feed your overall health and feed your community, your lāhui. How will you feed the knowledge of our ancestors to our communities? What you can do to share, to learn, and to continue the traditions of our kūpuna and to perpetuate our culture.”

“I believe it means to make the young generation to become the leaders they are supposed to be. And it’s not only about making us leaders but by teaching us how to overcome all the pressure or teaching us life skills that we will need.”

“Becoming a leader is being an example for my school and that the Keiki would recognize me as someone who could help them with troubles in their social or natural environment. This further shows how much I am greatly appreciated to become an Aloha ʻĀina leader and lead the people around me into making a difference on our Honua. This also helps me be more grounded into the Hawaiian culture that Iʻve practiced all my life.”

“Aloha ‘Āina has been instilled in me since a young age. It is a way of life. I believe that everyone should have aloha for the ‘āina which you come from. As a kanaka we are ‘Āina.”

“Being our senior class’ aloha aina leader to me means not just out on the aina, but as kanaka we are the aina so also leading the younger ones down a path that they will know love for themselves and respect, if not love their culture. My goal for them is to view Hakipuʻu as a home, not just a school.”

“An aloha ʻāina leader is a leader who understands the importance of ʻāina to the well being of the kānaka who live off of it. Another trait is being very in touch with their surrounding environment. The reciprocation of mālama between the kānaka and ʻāina is what’s missing now and that is why aloha ʻāina leaders are essential to not just Hawai’i but the world.”

“Being an Aloha ʻAina leader means to help perpetuate Hawaiian culture and language. To perpetuate the keiki, the Hawaiian culture and language.  Then teach them how to perpetuate what they learned to those who come after them.”

“ʻO ke aloha ʻāina ʻoia ke ola o ke kānaka. An aloha ʻāina leader is someone who lives aloha ʻāina. He understands his kuleana to the land, to the ocean, to his people. Aloha ʻāina leaders ʻauamo that kuleana, they take on that responsibility to pass on the torch for the hānauna hou.”

“He kuleana ko ka poʻe i aloha ʻāina. He kuleana ia e hōʻola, hoʻoikaika, a hoʻomau ai i ka pono o ka pae ʻāina o Hawaiʻi. Aia ka pono o ka ʻāina i loko ʻiʻo o ke kuanaʻike Hawaiʻi. ʻIke ka poʻe i aloha ʻāina i ke ea a kūʻokoʻa ʻoiaʻiʻo o Hawaiʻi nei. Hoʻomākaukau ka poʻe i aloha ʻāina i nā hanauna e hiki mai ana.”

“To me, an Aloha ‘Āina Leader is a person who knows who they are and uses their ‘ike (knowledge) to give back to the community. It’s someone who puts others’ needs before their own and never expects anything in return. And this is what an Aloha ‘Āina Leader means to me.”

“Aloha Aina, Love of the land. Being an Aloha Aina Leader, reminds me that my Kupuna sacrificed everything for me to be here today and that I’m still keeping my Kupuna’s legacy alive. In Ke Kula Niihau we say “Hoohanohano I Na Kupuna O Niihau” and I will live by that.”

Being an Aloha ʻĀina leader to me means being an agent of change for the community.

Aloha ʻāina to me has everything to do with showing that you care for the ʻāina.

Na kākou e lawe aku ma o ke kākoʻo ʻana i ko ka lāhui kūʻokoʻa, ka mālama ʻana i ka ʻāina a me ke kai, a me ka hoʻoulu ʻana i ka pilina ma waena o kākou.

ʻO ka manaʻo o ka alakaʻi aloha ʻĀina o iā nō ka hōʻike a me ke aʻo ʻana i nā kamaliʻi, ke kaiaulu a me nā kanaka like ʻole e pili ana i kēia loina Hawaiʻi o ka aloha ʻĀina.

We must praise the land and the land will give back to us.

To guide a new generation into a better future. That is being an Aloha ʻĀina leader.

I believe Aloha ʻĀina to be the solution that will move mountains, to unite our people and their allies to fight for common causes, instilling equality, justice and culture at every step of the way.

Being an Aloha ʻĀina leader to me is being a person who always tries to do the right thing, a person who is always thinking about the greater good but never forgets about the little guy(s), a person who strives for greatness not only for himself but for his people (lāhui) and his home (ʻāina), a person who stands strong by his beliefs, and whose faith in his community (ʻohana) never falters.

Being an Aloha ʻĀina leader means direct actions of aloha in giving of yourself to your ʻohana, your lāhui and to your aloha ʻāina.

An Aloha ʻĀina leader means finding compromise and balance. “He alii ka aina a he kaua ke kanaka.”  We must praise the land and the land will give back to us. 

An Aloha ʻĀina leader is someone who has a deep connection with the ʻāina and is also a good leader who teaches others to mālama ʻāina.

Being an Aloha ʻĀina Leader is showing appreciation and dedication towards your culture.

The Aloha ʻĀina leader is found where his or her kuleana takes them; they are the first to get there and the last to leave.

To me being an Aloha ʻĀina leader is being aware of the ability I have to mālama ʻāina. I want my passion to show through my actions so that I may lead my peers by example.

Aloha to me is being respectful to yourself and your surroundings. ʻĀina to me is foundation, land, and body. The roots of who you are and where you came from.

“ʻAuamo Kuleana, Holomua ka Lāhui. Aloha ʻāina ʻoiaʻiʻo.”

“ʻAuamo ʻo Loea i nā kuleana me ka wiwo ʻole.”

“His commitment to aloha ‘āina is unwavering, and steadfast. We mahalo Kahiwa for his leadership.”

“I love working the ‘āina.”

“Ury embodies kuleana to malama aina.”

“He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauā ke kanaka.”

“Mai ka piko o Kamakou i ke kaipooloolou o na kona he aloha aina oiaio.”

“Influences others through her quiet leadership.”

“He wahine aloha ‘aina.”

“We are our Kūpuna, No mākou ka mana!”

“He alakaʻi ʻo Leialiʻi ma kona ʻano he haumāna, he ʻelele ʻohana a he kupa no ka lāhui Hawaiʻi e hāpai mau ana i ka pono o ka nui ma kāna ʻōlelo a me kāna mau hana.”

“Planting mea kanu for the future haumāna.”

“He haumana tupaa i te aloha kula, ohana, olelo.”

“She exemplifies values of aloha ‘āina!”

“She represents the lāhui with grace.”

“He kanaka lokomaika‘i ‘oia.”

“Waimea has a strong relationship with the ‘āina where he is from.”

“Ma ka hana ka ‘ike.”

“To me, an aloha ‘āina leader is someone who lives the Hawaiian culture, speaks the language, and gives back to their community.”

“[Being an aloha ‘āina leader is being] someone who will help the land and the people that we all belong to.”

“This helps me expand my knowledge of becoming a leader … for the future generations.”

“I have a kuleana to [the] lāhui and the ‘āina that has nourished our souls. Being an aloha ‘āina leader is an honor that I will carry with me for the rest of my life to better our communities for future generations to come.”

“[Being an aloha ‘āina leader] means doing things for the betterment of the lāhui.”

“Aloha ‘āina could literally mean love land. To care and love the land. But it also means patriot; to courageously support your country against all else. Being an aloha ‘āina leader means to be someone who is willing to learn and understand the state of the kingdom and its people. It refers to someone who is willing to stand up for what they believe is good for this country and our people. To strive to perpetuate, innovate, and inspire as well as shed light upon matters of Hawai‘i and Hawaiians.”

“[Being an aloha ‘āina leader] means that you are capable of doing anything you set your mind to. That you are able to accomplish anything that comes your way and that the obstacles that are created are made to help you become a better person and made to help you better the lāhui of Hawai‘i.”

“[Being an aloha ‘āina leader] means guiding the younger generations and showing them the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong for our ‘āina, and our people. ‘I na mālama ‘oe i ka ‘āina, e mālama ka ‘āina iā ‘oe”

“Waiwai no hoi keia kulana aole poina o kekahi alakai aloha aina iau no ka mea ua ike kekahi i kou aloha no ka aina a ua makemake lakou e hoolaha i kela i ka lehulehu. Nou o ka manao waiwai a kaona o ka aloha aina o ia no ka hookanaka ana ke kanaka a me ke kukulu ana a i ole hooikaika ana i kela pilina me ka aina a me ke kai. Waiwai ke aloha aina no ka mea hiki no ke ike i ka maemae o ke kanaka ma loko o kona hana ma ka aina a i ole kai, no laila ina aole maemae ke kanaka e Iike ana i loko o kona hana ma ka aina. No laila ma o ke aloha aina hiki no ke ike i ka lawena o ke kanaka a i ole ia oe iho.”

“It is a big honor for my kumu to have handed me this kuleana and I thank her and my mākua for this opportunity. Being recognized as an aloha ‘āina leader is such a privilege, from planting native plants, speaking the language, and helping others.”

“For me, being an aloha ‘āina leader means to have responsibilities. It doesn’t matter whether its for school, family, friends, whenever and wherever. A leader means to take care of responsibilities.”

“[Being an aloha ‘āina leader means] being a role model for the younger generation. Especially to the younger members of my ‘ohana. Teaching them right from wrong, to show respect for people, for the ‘āina. I want to show them that they can achieve their goals, their dreams, and whatever they set their mind to. That wherever they go, to always know where they come from and they have a home to come back to.”

“Being a aloha ‘āina leader means that I have a kuleana to myself and my community to help ‘āina and the Lāhui of Hawai‘i. It also means that I am more connected with the land and myself.”

“To me, being an aloha ‘āina leader is being steadfast and strong in the love and passion I have for ‘āina. Being passionate about water rights in my senior project rubbed off on people and I was able to make my classmates more aware of what’s happening across our pae ‘āina. I think we should inspire other people our age to be more aloha ‘āina leaders.”

“Being an aloha ‘āina leader is not a one time thing. [It’s] a continuous act of mālama to one’s ‘āina, lāhui, kūpuna, ‘ohana, and ea. Standing for what you believe in, making your voice heard through whatever vessel guides you, feeling deep aloha for your Hawai‘i, and passing mo‘olelo down to the next generation, that is what being an aloha ‘āina leader means to me.”

“I believe an aloha ‘āina leader is someone who cares for both the land and the people. I think they would also try to teach others to do the same.”

“[I am] proud of where I come from. I have a responsibility to keep the Hawaiian culture moving forward.”

“To me [being an aloha ‘āina leader] means living as a leader based off what the land teaches you. Taking what you see from the environment and using it for good to help people. It is also taking what you learn from the culture and sharing it not just keeping the knowledge for yourself.”

“To me, being an aloha ‘āina leader means giving back to our lāhui. I’ve been so blessed to be raised on these beautiful islands that hold so much aloha. I get to serve the community and ‘āina that made me the person I am today. This also means that I have the kuleana to make a difference in our lāhui.”

“To me it’s the beginning of a being a pillar in the community of Hawai‘i.”

“To me [being an aloha ‘āina leader] means to be conscious about the native environment while making proactive decisions and taking action in the community to preserve our precious natural resources. It is realizing the connection between every living thing, being passionate and leading by example.”

“It means that I have a responsibility to ensure the growth of the Hawaiian Language and culture. I also have a kuleana to pass on the ‘ike of our kūpuna to the next generation.”

“Being able to receive this honor is a true blessing. To me being a leader in this field means striving to protect the resources society depends on and giving back to it. Reflecting on what you have been given and thinking about how you can give back is also a huge part of being a leader. Teaching what you have been taught will allow more people to take part in protecting what we value.”

“[Being an aloha ‘āina leader] means respecting the ‘āina or helping someone when help is needed.”

“I hope to pass down what I have learned to my keiki, my friends, and my ‘ohana.”

“We are a tight-knit island and it took a village to instill everything I know in me. ‘A‘ole pau ka ‘ike i ka hālau ho‘okahi. I feel my kuleana is to be who I am, inspire others to do the same and to mālama nā mea a pau.”

“[Being an aloha ‘āina leader means] being active in your community, putting your hands to work and getting a bit dirty, fighting for the land that we call home. I will continue to perpetuate the teachings that have been taught for generations.”

“We are the voices for the ‘āina because the language the land speaks is not always heard by the ears who roam this ‘āina. An aloha ‘āina is someone who makes sure they stand true to their values, and maintains a fair and just community, where people can learn to share, and mālama.”

“Aia nā alaka‘i he nui ko kākou, nā alaka‘i o nā au i hala aku nei a me nā alaka‘i e ola mau hei i ka ‘āina.”

“Being an aloha ‘āina leader means that I am able to set an example for the up coming generations. I want future students to know that hard work can pay off. When I am a successful business woman I want to come back to my community and give back.”

” I never intended an award for [aloha ‘āina] or to get recognition for being one, I grew up learning and knowing the responsibilities to take care of and to lead other people. I take those skills everywhere with me and it is just a part of me that’s automatic. Being awarded is just the icing on the cake.”

“Aloha ‘āina: to give care and love for our land, to mālama kekahi i kekahi to where we kānaka come from.”

“To me an aloha ‘āina leader is someone who cares and has a connection to the ‘āina and is willing to protect it and perpetuate their culture.”

“Being an aloha ‘āina leader means to be proud of who you are and where you’re from. Being able to lead and take responsibility without thinking about a prize but knowing that prize is right in front of you, seeing the effect you have on people by just making a move and seeing it rub off on everyone else. Stand for what’s right. Not just for you, but you make a stand for everyone else, your Lāhui, your ‘ohana, ta po‘e kanaka. Ku aku oe no te ola ana o ka lāhui o Hawaii me ke aloha o na po‘e o Hawai‘i nei.”

“I always want to push myself to learn more about the Hawaiian culture and the ways [to] take care of the land. In the process I hope [to] inspire others to push themselves and reach their full potential.”