What do I stand for?
Kuleana-Responsibility: In order for our community to thrive we must ALL share in leading. Native Hawaiians understood that everyone had a role and contribution to society. This role was taken very seriously. Without the contribution of all inhabitants the system failed. Today there are too many competing motivations, factors segregating people and dividing our community. I support self-directedness and a responsibility by all beings to be strong stewards of our resources and of each other. It will require all people across our island to tip the scales for a higher quality of life. We need to be willing and able to move past these differences and collaborate towards unity. We talk about it, but do not practice it quite enough. I believe we need to increase awareness on our island where everyone understands and embraces the importance of kuleana. The first thing I am advocating in this leadership shift is that our decisions are as inclusive as possible. This means we need to provide more opportunity for community input and participation at every level. There are too many segregating factors set in the current system we are governed by and we need to be willing and able to creatively or constructively remove past these barriers.
Ho’opili hou-relationships: To bind together. We need to build healthy relationships. This means we take care of ourselves, each other and our environment. This also means we commit to expanding ourselves, building others around us and are good stewards to our land. Our great Hawaiian historian, Mary Kawena Pukui wrote a book that serves as Hawaiian thought and which guides a fundamental principal that I live by. It is called Nana ike kumu which means to look towards the source. This means that we as a people are always looking to improve, learn and grow to become better and serve better. If Kauai is to be a model for the world on how to live, work and be happy, we need to commit to ongoing learning and continuous improvement. We must choose and commit to a higher consciousness than what exists today. The days of being just okay with what we have been given or allowed to have are over. There is abundance for all and we must not accept status quo in order for us to all thrive. This does not mean that we cannot take the best of the past and who we are individually into account, but we need to change our mindset to include the points that bring people together. Let’s open ourselves to positive change, where win, win, win outcomes can come to fruition.
Pa’ahana-hard and diligent work: We have to be proactive and act on what we can do today. There are many opportunities that are before us now that we can take to create a future that we all want, but we need to act now. I am more of an action person and I thrive in working hard to achieve positive outcomes. I believe we should be moving fast on the things we can agree on and looking for small wins with the opportunities or challenges that we are faced with.
Ulu Pono- doing what's right: Integrity is key in public service, but it requires the ability to see all perspectives. I'm reminded of the hierarchy of rule within the ahupua'a. The upside down triangle symbolized the structure of a native Hawaiian community. The bottom point signified our ali'i; above that, the chief/kahuna who carries the burden of that land division and the responsibility of the whole, next and larger are the makaainana, the people which included our craftsmen, mahiai or farmers and fishermen, and then aina sat on the top of the triangle above all inhabitants. I'o or higher spirit was above all else. What this triangle represented was the idea that we are all servants to the land first. Thus, if an ali'i did not manage resources well within an ahupua'a, commoners were free to get up and leave for another community that fostered more healthy practices where natural resources thrived and in turn community was able to thrive. Therefore, it behooved our ancient leaders to make the right decisions, with the highest integrity for the betterment of all the people and the environment. We need to prioritize what is most important for an island community and it must be first in our decision processes.
So how will I integrate my philosophies and values into our County Council?
When it comes to the most difficult decisions that need to be made, I will not falter from my values. My personal values are that which guides all aspects of my life and work and what I will utilize when making the most difficult decisions before us.
These values are represented by an acronym: E.N.L.I.G.H.T.S.
Ho’opili hou-relationships: To bind together. We need to build healthy relationships. This means we take care of ourselves, each other and our environment. This also means we commit to expanding ourselves, building others around us and are good stewards to our land. Our great Hawaiian historian, Mary Kawena Pukui wrote a book that serves as Hawaiian thought and which guides a fundamental principal that I live by. It is called Nana ike kumu which means to look towards the source. This means that we as a people are always looking to improve, learn and grow to become better and serve better. If Kauai is to be a model for the world on how to live, work and be happy, we need to commit to ongoing learning and continuous improvement. We must choose and commit to a higher consciousness than what exists today. The days of being just okay with what we have been given or allowed to have are over. There is abundance for all and we must not accept status quo in order for us to all thrive. This does not mean that we cannot take the best of the past and who we are individually into account, but we need to change our mindset to include the points that bring people together. Let’s open ourselves to positive change, where win, win, win outcomes can come to fruition.
Pa’ahana-hard and diligent work: We have to be proactive and act on what we can do today. There are many opportunities that are before us now that we can take to create a future that we all want, but we need to act now. I am more of an action person and I thrive in working hard to achieve positive outcomes. I believe we should be moving fast on the things we can agree on and looking for small wins with the opportunities or challenges that we are faced with.
Ulu Pono- doing what's right: Integrity is key in public service, but it requires the ability to see all perspectives. I'm reminded of the hierarchy of rule within the ahupua'a. The upside down triangle symbolized the structure of a native Hawaiian community. The bottom point signified our ali'i; above that, the chief/kahuna who carries the burden of that land division and the responsibility of the whole, next and larger are the makaainana, the people which included our craftsmen, mahiai or farmers and fishermen, and then aina sat on the top of the triangle above all inhabitants. I'o or higher spirit was above all else. What this triangle represented was the idea that we are all servants to the land first. Thus, if an ali'i did not manage resources well within an ahupua'a, commoners were free to get up and leave for another community that fostered more healthy practices where natural resources thrived and in turn community was able to thrive. Therefore, it behooved our ancient leaders to make the right decisions, with the highest integrity for the betterment of all the people and the environment. We need to prioritize what is most important for an island community and it must be first in our decision processes.
So how will I integrate my philosophies and values into our County Council?
When it comes to the most difficult decisions that need to be made, I will not falter from my values. My personal values are that which guides all aspects of my life and work and what I will utilize when making the most difficult decisions before us.
These values are represented by an acronym: E.N.L.I.G.H.T.S.
