Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 1, 1 January 1990 — Leadership Conference source of pride [ARTICLE]

Leadership Conference source of pride

By Moira Pualeilani Kalahiki Peer counselor, Maui Community College In October the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, sponsored the third annual Hawaiian Leadership Conference. With very little pilikia (trouble) the gathering of about 200 persons got results due to the industrious work of students involved with the Hawaiian Leadership Development program. "We are all so proud of the students, they put forth so mueh energy to make this event successful," said Manu Meyer, coordinator of the program. The messages of the conference were conveyed with directed alaka'i (leadership), hanohano (dignity), and na'auao (intelligence.) With the theme of "Mauli Ola" (Breath of Life) leading the way, the

workshops were conducted by guest speakers respected throughout Hawai'i. The speakers and workshops included: Dr. George Kanahele on 'Ike Papalua, Noa Emmett Aluii on Laulima, OHA's kupuna team on Na'auao, Lynette Paglinawan on Ho'oponopono, Ed Kealanahele on Ho'oamana, and Ilei Beniamina on Lokahi. To summarize the objectives of the conference, OHA kupuna Betty Kawohiokalani Jenkins and kupuna Maile Lum Ho Vargo concluded the gathering with words of aloha: "Therefore, children of the Hawaiian Nation, stand proud. Leam and practice Hawaiian values, seek the wisdom of the kupuna, read the words of our teachers, and in turn, teach one another the love empowering eaeh and everyone of us. See the hihi'o and share it with your brothers and sisters. Keep the 'ohana always, in the heart. Feel the pohaku. Listen to the winds, for they carry generations of our words. We are artists, not crafters. We create our own, we do not finish another's work. We are empowered."