Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 7, 1 July 2017 — Pono leadership for Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pono leadership for Hawaiʻi

Editor's note: By invitation, this eoīumn was written byAnne Fredenck mid Tiare ī nwrenre resner-

tively the Executive Director of HAPA and Kuleana Academy graduate. Anew wave of political leadership is rising in Hawai'i, and the Hawai'i Allianee for Progressive Action's (HAPA) Kuleana Academy is seeking to level the playing field by empowering grassroots community leaders with the tools and skills they

need to run for office. Kuleana Academy is a four-month leadership development and non-partisan candidate training program hosted by HAPA in partnership with other leading puhlie inteiest organizations in Hawai'i. Many Kuleana Academy participants apply to the program because they have been bumping their heads against the wall at the County and State level on issues that matter most to their communities. Some never imagined that they would enter the realm of electoral politics, but find themselves reflecting, "If not me, who?" and "If not now, when?" Often after exploring various avenues for serving their communities, many are finding that seeking elected office is in fact their kuleana. "So many of our people are struggling to stay in their homes, to afford the cost of living in Hawai'i, to hold on to our traditions and culture, and to protect our natural resources . . .1 knew in my na'au that I needed to step up and run for office," states Tiare Lawrence, Kuleana graduate fromMaui. Participants from across the pae 'āina gather over five weekend-long retreats to focus on the development of their leadership, immerse themselves in a variety of policy issues, and develop the skills to run for office or to support others' campaigns. They leam from various elected leaders about their experience of running for and serving in office. They meet with key policy experts, and work with a variety of specialized trainers. "For new candidates, the barriers to

seeking puhlie office ean seem monumental. Leaming the ins and outs of eamnai on linanee and renorf-

ing, mapping your district, canvassing, puhlie speaking, and deepening your knowledge of important policy issues ean be daunting," stated Keani Rawlins-Femandez, J.D., M.B .A., Kuleana graduate, fromMoloka'i. The program was developed to address these barriers to entering the polihcalarena. KuleanaAcademy provides participants with the tools and trainers that they would otherwise not have access to.

However, Kuleana Academy does not just focus on the technical "howto's." Over the course of the program participants examine the core values that they lead from. Their leadership development is grounded in deep personal reflection. As participants articulate their values, they leam from eaeh other and heeome accountable to eaeh other. They are encouraged not to just blindly seek office, but to also question the very power structures and roles that they may one day enter. Kuleana graduate Shane Miehael Hauoli Sinenci from Hana, Maui states, "Hawai'i's leaders are swom to its Constitution and to sit helow the great seal and motto, 'Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka 'Āina I Ka Pono' ! The Kuleana Academy teaches the 'Pono' way!" Participants often cite the network of fellow Kuleana graduates, program partners and trainers as one of the greatest assets they leave the program with. As Sandra Kau'i Pratt-Aquino, Esq. a graduate fromO'ahu states, "Kuleana Academy is a grassroots programthat is dynamic and collaborative. It builds the capacity of emerging leaders who have a strong desire to effectively serve the puhlie. ..I am grateful for the opportunity to leam about different views and build a strong but diverse network with some of Hawai'i's best and brightest leaders. This program will drive positive change in Hawai'i." Due to high demand, H APA is offering a Fall 2017 Kuleana Academy. HAPA is currently accepting applieations until the end of July. Visit http:// www.hapahi.org to learn more. ■

Dan Ahuna VicE Chair, TrastEE, Kaaa'i and Ni'ihaa