About

Kamāwaelualani is a grassroots 501(c)(3) dedicated to culture, education, and community activation.

Ka Inoa (name):

Kamāwaelualani is an ancestral place name of Kauaʻi.

A moʻolelo (traditional story) of Ka-māwae-lua-lani from Uncle Carlos Andrade (2008) goes…

After Papahānaumoku gave birth to Hawai‘i and Maui, she left Wākea for another lover named Lua. Lua and Papa gave birth to O‘ahu. Papa went back to Wākea and rekindled their relationship. Papa and Wākea then gave birth to Kaua‘i . Māwae means to split or separate. Lani means heaven/ sky. Thus, the name Ka-māwae-lua-lani commemorates the separation of Lua and Papa and Papa's reconciliation with Wākea.

Kamāwaelualani as a grassroots organization started as a hui of all Kauaʻi born and raised young people who aspired to give back to the communities and lands that raised them using their gifts and talents. Speaking our ancestral place names gives mana back to our places.

Kamāwaleualani has since expanded to carry kuleana that impacts our whole pae ʻāina and beyond and is in the process of reorganizing to align with our current work and future directions.

Our Kamāwaelaulani hui is composed of majority Kānaka ʻŌiwi, majority wāhine, and all generational kamaʻāina to Hawaiʻi

Board of Directors

Natalie Kurashima, Ph.D.
Chucky Boy Chock
Kristi Sumida
Paul Horner

Operations

Nikki Cristobal, Ph.D., Executive Director/ P.I. MMNHWGM

Makanalani Gomes, Community Organizer

Ashley Mahaʻa, Survivor Community Outreach

Kiʻi Aweau, Public Health Community Researcher

Collabs/ Partnerships

We thrive to uplift the work already being done in our communities that sustain Kaua’i. These are some of the partners we had the honor of working with on past projects.

Hoʻomanawaleʻa

Mahalo nui loa to our funders and donors for believing in the work we do.

Current and past funders and donors include:

Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Kamehameha Schools, HTA Kūkula Ola Grant, Women’s Fund Hawaiʻi, Better Block Hawaiʻi, E.H.W. Broadbent Foundation, Cynthia and Mark Wolfendale, Mark Gabbay, Rice Street Business Association, Papa Ola Lokahi, Urban Indian Health Institute, Medicine Wheel Ride Hawaiʻi, Pouhana O Nā Wāhine, Learn by Experience Japan.