August 20, 2020

Ua paʻa maila kona kahua i ke aloha

His foundation is solid because of Aloha

Joey Miller sits comfortably on a sturdy plastic chair as the Kalihi rain envelopes us.  Water drips from a worn seam in the tent covering, which leaves a puddle on the utility table.  I quickly toss a rag onto the well-formed pool.  He laces his fingers together resting his hands on his lap, constellating his thoughts.

An ʻāina warrior is not only someone who works on the land, but sacrifices for the greater good of the lāhui.  “An ʻāina warrior can be someone who gathers moʻolelo to being a lawyer and fighting in the courtroom to being a politician to make the right decisions based on a solid foundation with ʻāina and community as a priority,” Joey says with passion in his voice.

Joey grew up in Kalihi and was raised by loving parents – both schoolteachers.  But his parents tried to discourage him from pursuing a teaching degree.  “My dad would say, Joe don’t become a teacher,” Joey chuckles. “ You will take home all this work and not be adequately compensated for it.” 

And so Joey did just that.  Before working at Hoʻoulu ʻĀina (HA), he was on the path to becoming a pharmacist.  But his volunteer time spent at HA during the summers “flipped a switch,” Joey laughs.  “I decided to change my major from pharmacy to kinesiology or exercise science with the idea I would still be in the field of health and be able to help people in some form.”

Joey’s parents supported his decision as he finished his undergraduate program in kinesiology.  “I am very fortunate to have two very loving parents with open minds who gave me the space to develop and learn,” Joey says as he closes his eyes – thinking deeply.  “I was given a lot of love and so I know what that feels like, which makes it easy for me to show aloha to others.” 

And that’s why Joey is our ʻĀina Warrior of the week.  Joe Aloha.  Compassionate.  Forester.  Knowledgeable.  Always willing to kōkua.  Youth Coordinator.  Āina Educator. #didnotlistentoparents