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At Hawai‘i Electric Light, our roots in the island run deep. We began in 1894, with a water-driven dynamo in Hilo that was 100% renewable. And our goal is to come full circle and achieve that milestone again. On Hawai‘i Island, we already produce much of our energy from renewable sources. And we’re fully committed to reaching our state’s 100% renewable portfolio standard.
_ Malama ka po‘e
KeOlaMagazine.com | November-December 2018
By Rosa Say
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Let’s dig into the Mālama element of Alaka‘i leadership we briefly mentioned last issue: “Legendary Hawaiian leadership was marked by koa, the attribute of strength and courage. What we find in much larger measure however, is mālama ka po‘e, as the determination to care for one’s people, and ho‘omālamalama, to ‘cause light, brighten, illuminate, enlighten, inform, [and] civilize,’ (Pukui Elbert’s Hawaiian Dictionary) so ‘one’s people’ could elevate themselves along with the Ali‘i as their leaders.”—Alaka‘i: To Lead well, Guide well. A determination to care for one’s people and to bring light into their lives, is an extremely worthwhile commitment. It’s also remarkably different from the cold-hearted, solely profit-driven reputation business can have today, and the environment in which we find ourselves fighting to institute the more dignified tenets of an ‘Ohana in Business. A determination to care for one’s people is the response the Managing With Aloha philosophy asks all leaders and managers to make as their kuleana (responsibility); “Managing others is a profound responsibility. In Aloha we are held accountable, and working true to our values, we ourselves become better.” We often speak of the ‘oxygen mask theory’ when we talk about the value of Mālama in regard to self-care, that instruction to ensure your good health first—your very survival, if need be—so you will be fit and able when called upon to assist in the care of others. In contrast, mālama ka po’e removes the ‘in case of an emergency’ element from the scenario, and replaces it with a consistent allegiance and devotion—“the determination to care for one’s people.” Determination. To care for others—your people—as self-care for you as a manager. Devotion. Every day. In every workplace endeavor. In every business transaction, so that as managers and leaders, “we ourselves become better” and breathe in our own oxygen of Aloha. Stories abound in which Mālama shines through its expressions of care, empathy and compassion. It’s more than tapping into touchy-feely emotional responses however, for Mālama beams with ho’omālamalama in ‘tough love’ as well, as long as the intent and the actions of tough love practices are to ‘enlighten’ the person they are directed to, helping them to be stronger and healthier in the process. Mālama is both soft and firm. A very strong case can be