2 minute read
Welina!
from No Nā Kānaka
Welina mai me ke aloha!
My name is Aunty Nettie and I am the Po’o (Executive Director) of Nā Kia’i O Maui, a boots-on-ground, peoplepowered nonprofit that was founded in the early hours of August 9th to provide compassionate support to fire survivors rooted in our shared values of ‘ohana and aloha.
No Nā Kānaka, meaning for the people, is a movement founded on the belief that the people of Lahaina can rebuild Lahaina. Every decision we make, everything we do, every thought, word, or deed must be fueled by only this—our deep and unwavering love for the people and our belief in their inherent and collective power to be the navigators of their own destinies.
We know that healing our land and people will take many years, perhaps even generations, and we acknowledge that the immense challenges we face today have been generations in the making. Nā Kia’i O Maui is committed to the long road ahead and we wholeheartedly embrace our kuleana to this work. I would like to invite you to join us on this journey. This book shares our stories, values, goals, and vision for the future.
Let us amplify all voices no nā kānaka to ensure that no one is forgotten and every single person, every family, every neighborhood is held lovingly in our collective embrace for as long as it takes to restore complete health, wholeness, and well-being for all.
