The hala tree flourishes despite harsh conditions—salt, wind, and rough terrain—just as we face our own challenges and hardships. The hala’s ability to adapt reflects the importance of knowing and accepting our vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities, like the prickly, protective edges of the hala leaves, remind us where we are tender or guarded. Being aware of these tender places within ourselves allows us to move through the world more authentically and with greater resilience, much like the hala which grows strong amidst challenges.

Yet, acknowledging our vulnerabilities is not always comfortable. It’s easier to focus on what challenges others rather than recognizing our own tendencies. Just as the hala forests face ongoing threats that require vigilant care, we too must continually tend to our inner landscapes. By acknowledging our triggers—those thoughts, events, or ideas that cause us unease—we grow in self-awareness. This self-awareness makes us stronger and more compassionate leaders, able to “weather” conflict without becoming uprooted.

In understanding ourselves, we also learn to choose values and priorities with intention. The hala tree, whose seeds spread far and wide across the islands, represents this choice—deciding where to grow and where to invest our energy. In today’s world where fast-paced demands often pull us in competing directions, leaders must be intentional about what they prioritize. Like the hala forest, which can only thrive when its surrounding ecosystem is preserved and protected, our inner and outer commitments must align to build a sustainable legacy.

Protecting the future of hala forests requires ongoing community effort and intentional actions to preserve the landscape for generations to come. Similarly, for leaders, the continuous work of self-undrstanding is essential to ensure that our efforts today create enduring impacts. Just as cultural leaders strive to safeguard hala forests and ancestral knowledge about the uses of hala for future generations, we too must engage in self-care and wellness, embracing practices that restore us and those around us. This practice is for our benefit and also for those who rely on us, because when we are nourished, we are better equipped to support and lead others.

Hala trees and their ecosystems show us that the only constant is change. The first relatives of the hala evolved more than 70 million years ago. Yet, the forest endures as it adapts to shifting winds and waters, teaching us to welcome uncertainty. Just as the hala spreads its seeds without knowing where they will land, leaders, too, must plant ideas and inspire others, trusting in their impact even amid unpredictable outcomes. In this way, we learn to embrace the unknown, to “surf the wave” of uncertainty, knowing each experience, like each seed, brings a chance for renewal.

Just as the hala needs proper nourishment to thrive, we as leaders must take care of ourselves to remain steady and effective. The hala tree, so rooted in Hawaiian culture, teaches us the value of balancing work with restoration, grounding ourselves in the ʻāina and the practices that sustain us. When we care for our whole being, we bring our best selves to the work of leadership, strengthening not only our communities but also our shared future.

In Hawai‘i, leadership is like tending a hala forest: rooted, resilient, and intertwined with the world around us. As kumu laʻau, the teachings of the hala remind us that leadership is a continuous process of growth, one that embraces both challenge and change. This journey demands awareness, reflection, and care. When we acknowledge and honor our strengths and our vulnerabilities, we build a foundation as steady and lasting as the hala tree, preserving not only our inner strength but also the collective resilience of our communities for generations to come.