People Strategies Hawaiʻi

It’s not what, it’s how. As I sit here stringing a lei to give someone special tomorrow, I struggle with the thought that none of my materials are indigenous. These flowers are introduced. Floss as a lei string is not native. The thought strikes me, what am I doing? Nothing here is native, and that means this isn’t native “enough”. But then I’m reminded of the purpose of lei. Why we give lei. The sweet thoughts we have of the person we give lei to. The intentions we weave in with our fingers. The way we think ahead to gift someone such that not only do they feel special, but we honor their status, their kuleana (rightful responsibility). That. That is Hawaiian. So often we focus on DOING the ‘thing’ and we focus less on BEING. How is it that I am embodying the values of my people? How is it that, in this act, this behavior, this way, this process, I am living attuned to my values? I happened to scroll on social media as I took a break and saw a beautiful all-native-plant lei that a friend is making. Absolutely breathtaking. And knowing how he makes lei, all of his ways embody Hawaiian values, too. His lei represents a deep connection to ‘āina. He grows these plants at home and turns them into gifts. I am in awe. I look down and am choosing to take wonder — not in my leimaking skills or my ability to bring forth plants and flowers — but in my gift, of growing and celebrating other people’s potential with deep intention. That is my contribution. That is my Hawaiianness embodied. Each of us have our gift. Each of us have our way. Our value comes not from how much or all the ‘whats’ we do. It comes from how we do them. #peoplefirst #alohaatwork

My heart is so full. Emerging ‘Ōiwi leaders abound everywhere. Last night, we went back to the city to speak for the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU about advocating for indigenous issues and voice. Nearly 14 years after we left the city to move back home to Hawai’i, the organization we started still exists — and is flourishing! The new generation of native students at the university are confident, rooted in who they are, and supported by these institutions in ways we could only hope for back then. What really warmed my heart to tears was meeting a group of young kanaka who drove over 4 hours down from Cornell University’s Hawai’i Club just to hear our talk and meet with us. They’re studying economics and business and indigenous politics and eager to bring their learnings back home someday. And while they do that 5,000 miles away from our island home, this is why we need to keep providing homegrown opportunities for leadership right in our backyard. So that our folks don’t have to feel compelled to move away, especially if they have families and other kuleana here. Applications close for our ‘Ōiwi Leadership Accelerator this Sunday, March 10th. Please continue to spread the word! #alohaatwork #peoplefirst

It’s no secret that Hawai’i loses good talent every single day. The exorbitant cost of living (a gallon of milk is over $10), lack of affordable housing, and disparate opportunities for meaningful work in our islands compared to the promises of a better quality of life elsewhere drive us away. In droves. So how do we solve this problem? Join us for a webinar with the Hawaii Employers Council this Friday where my colleague Tiffany Chang, MSLOC and I talk story with HEC President & CEO Sarah Guay about: ➡️the current state of Hawaiʻi's local talent in the workforce ➡️the disparities in leadership roles being filled primarily by non-local talent ➡️proactive measures employers can take to retain their local workforce ➡️options for growing local leaders, including our new HEC-sponsored program, the ʻŌiwi Leadership Accelerator! Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/e_wNm2QY #peoplefirst #alohaatwork

🎉 #gratitude