Each and every Leadership Kaua`i class chooses a class motto.  The 2012 Adult Class chose the following phrase:

“Ho`okanaka! E laule`a me ka mālama `ana i Kaua`i!” 
(Be someone! Celebrate caring for Kaua’i!)

It's important to understand that the phrase "Ho`okanaka!" has a larger meaning than merely the simple translation of "Be someone."   It means to be someone in the largest sense possible - to make a difference for the future, for the community, and even for the world.

Each class also splits into 3 smaller groups to develop 3 community service projects.  One of the groups decided that there should be an annual awards ceremony to recognize and honor leaders who do important work throughout Kaua'i.  From this, the idea of an annual leadership awards ceremony was born and the team decided to name the awards after the key phrase from their class motto "Ho'okanaka".   The date of May 5 was picked for the awards ceremony...  one month prior to their Leadership Kaua`i graduation in June.

As the plan developed, we had discussions with Renae Hamilton of the YWCA who has been holding annual awards, also in May, to recognize women leaders, and another idea was born - the team decided to ask the Mayor to proclaim the entire month of May as a special month to recognize "Leaders on Kaua`i".   So, in a special proclamation outside the Mayor's office on Tuesday, January 24, Mayor Carvalho proclaimed May as "Leadership on Kaua`i Month" (see photos).

On May 5, Leadership Kaua'i will kick-off the monthlong celebration of leadership with our Ho'okanaka Awards dinner & ceremony, and the YWCA will conclude the month on May 31 with their women leadership awards & ceremony luncheon.

We look forward to everyone, island-wide helping us celebrate and honor all of our wonderful leaders throughout Kaua`i.

Please read about our Ho'okanaka Awards and nominate someone by the deadline of February 28 by clicking the link in the right-hand column of this page.  Then, sign-up to attend our Awards dinner and ceremony.  The team is planning that it will be a "not-to-be-missed, Academy Awards style" event!   We hope to see you there!

Here's a Video and a couple of photos of the Mayor's proclamation.

When:  Saturday, May 5
             6:00 PM - No Host Cocktail Reception & Networking Mixer
             7:00 PM - Banquet & Awards Ceremony with live entertainment
Where:  Kaua`i Marriott Resort, Lihue
Cost:  $75/person or $700/table of ten 

Live Music & Hula: 

• Paul Togioka
• Tommy Tokioka
• Kanihou
• Halau Ka Lei Mokihana
• Puni Patrick
• Nā Hoapapa

We hope to see you there! 

We are so proud of our Pi`ina Hoku youth class of 2012!  They have completed THREE community service projects this year and participated in numerous other events and activities that have benefited our Kaua`i community in BIG ways.

Please join us to hear about their accomplishments and to celebrate their graduation from the Leadership Kaua`i program on Sunday, April 22 from 2:00 - 5:00pm at Smith's Tropical Garden.  Pupus & refreshments will be served.

• Welcome Address by Mayor Bernard Carvalho!
• Keynote Address by Augie T!!

Only $10 to help cover costs.  (Keiki under 5 are free.) If you haven't already purchased your tickets, you can buy them at the door.  We hope to see you there!

As you may know, Leadership Kaua`i educates, inspires, and motivates its participants to develop a philanthropic spirit of giving back and serving the community. Each year, our adult and youth participants decide upon and engage in projects that serve a wide range of our island community.

During the 2011 – 2012 Class year, our Adult & Youth participants are completing SIX (6) projects including a “Kupuna Day” at the Regency at Puakea on January 14, 2012. This special day will include interviews on life experiences of our treasured kupuna that will be compiled into a book titled “Recipe for Life” to be published by April, 2012. 

As part of this project, one of our adult participants (Mike Baez) was inspired to write a song. After hearing the song, several others pitched in to help refine the lyrics, added a bridge, and then the entire youth and adult classes got together to record the final chorus of the song! Musicians on the song include Mike Baez (guitars, vocals, hand claps, jdembe), John Medeiros (ukulele), Mahealani Yamashita (ukulele), and Jerry Brocklehurst (additional percussion).

The song is being released to the local radio stations in January as part of a parallel campaign to remind everyone to remember to honor your kupuna year-round, not just at the holidays. 

So, for your listening pleasure, you can download the song here and download a copy of the lyrics here.

And, if you missed my 9 minute interview with Ron Wiley of KONG (all day long) radio, you can hear it by clicking here.

Please note that the chorus line “I ulu no ka lala I ke kumu” has special meaning.  It was borrowed from the ‘Olelo No’eau (1261, M. Pukui) and is translated as “the branches grow because of the trunk.” Without our kupuna, we would not be here!

We hope you enjoy the song!  If you do, and you'd like to help keep our community projects going year-after-year, please donate to us by clicking here.

To read about the other 5 community service projects this year, click here.

Mahalo,
The Leadership Kaua'i Staff and 2012 Youth & Adult Participants

This is another in a long line of community projects by Leadership Kauaʻi!

In partnership with the "Kaua`i Grown" folks, our 2012 Pi`ina Hoku Youth Leadership class has organized a special event during the farmers market at KCC this Saturday, March 17.  Support local farmers and enjoy FREE Entertainment from 10:30 am - 1:30 pm. Tell us what products you would like to see for sale and get entered to WIN an ʻUKULELE!

We'll see you there!

Mahalo Nui Loa to everyone who sponsored, participated, volunteered, or came out to support our annual Golf Tournament, held on Sunday, December 4 at Puakea Golf Course.  It was GREAT weather and GREAT fun for all!  And Keith Yap was a terrific Emcee!  Mahalo, Keith!

Your wonderful donations and participation helped support our organization with some much needed funds!

Again, Mahalo Nui!

Lana Spencer, Brenda Jose, Tom Clements (pictured here in their Leadership Kaua'i logo shirts) along with other LK staff and alumni showed up to support Kauai United Way's annual Walk-a-thon on Saturday, October 29.  Mahalo all!!

Photo by Dennis Fujimoto, The Garden Island newspaper.  For the complete article, please visit http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/blogs/camper/article_9fdd2cc4-03ab-11e1-9d6d-001cc4c002e0.html.