Living a legacy of love, kindness, compassion, grace, and fierceness

The Haupeʻepeʻe breeze pulls several loose strands of hair across her face as she calmly brushes them away.  Lokai Kukahiko continues expertly braiding kukui leaves into a lei that she will eventually share as a hoʻokupu (offering).

She is only 22-years-old, but as I listen to her express her thoughts and feelings about connection and transformation of ʻāina, I am reminded of an old soul – someone much more wiser than her years who is fierce and passionate about land, family, and uplifting the lāhui. 

Lokai was raised at Hoʻoulu ʻĀina and she has been a warrior of the land since her birth.  It’s part of her lifeblood.  She finds strength and vitality through her work on the land.

“An ʻāina warrior is someone who would die to protect sacred places,” she pauses collecting her thoughts.  “I know that sometimes warriors are attacked in certain ways, but they do their best to counter it not with violence but with love.” 

Love, kindness, and compassion are values Lokai radiate.  Those qualities were reflected in her great-grandmother Josephine who Lokai is named after.  “She was an important part of our family’s life.  She cared about her community and would always feed anyone who was hungry.

“And even though she had a fierceness about her, she’s thought of for her grace.  And that is what legacy I would want to leave my children’s children.  I would want them to remember me for my values, but I would also want them to remember me as someone who had grace and someone who loved fiercely.” 

And that’s why Lokai Kukahiko is our ʻĀina Warrior of the Week.  Kind.  Compassionate.  Practitioner.  Future leader.  ʻĀina advocate.  Protector of kīpuka.