Fellows mentioned in this story: Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā

From Aloha State Daily:

When Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā was a junior at Kailua High school, his sights were set on joining the U.S. Air Force Academy. However, that changed during the summer between his junior and senior year, after his paddling coach arranged a trip to Kahoʻolawe.

“It was such a transformative experience that when I came back, I recognized the yearning that I had to learn more about our language and our culture,” he told Aloha State Daily.

That curiosity later led him to double major in Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. He is fluent in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i and is an active member of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club.

“When I think about how that informs me, it was really a foundation, that I do everything from — my time working at Sunetric in renewable energy; my time at The Queen’s Health Systems working on Native Hawaiian health programs; or at Hawai’i Tourism Authority, leading natural and cultural resources, then as chief brand officer, and, most recently, our stewardship and destination management programs. This was all made possible because of the foundation that I stand on and will continue to in this new role.”

Continue reading at alohastatedaily.com.