Amber Luga He ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani mai au; ʻaʻohe makani nāna e kulaʻi. #507 I am a wind-resisting ʻaʻaliʻi plant; no gust can push me over.Amber Kainoa Luga was born and raised on the island of Oʻahu in the moku of Koʻolaupoko and ahupuaʻa of Waimānalo. Amber was reared in a community with a strong cultural influence, shaped by lessons and experiences that only ʻāina and kai can instill and was fortunate to have many amazing mentors who pointed her in the right direction when life sometimes pointed the other way. It is in Waimānalo that Amberʻs passion for helping people overcome adversities, aloha ʻāina and building community was cultivated and she now carries these values, lessons and aloha with her as she transitions into the community of Molokaʻi. Currently residing in Hoʻolehua, Molokaʻi, Amber spends her free time working on the ever-expanding farm with her partner, tending to her 2 fur babies Nākea and Coco, 6 chickens, 4 ducks, 3 cats, 1 pig, and 2 baby goats. She also enjoys picking fruits from the orchard, spending hours at the beach looking for shells, and doing all things artsy. Amber is a graduate of Kailua High School and an Alumni of University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on Clinical Mental Health. Prior to working for Liliʻuokalani Trust, Amber worked with at risk youth in Waimānalo, and later in more clinical settings as a Residential Substance Abuse Counselor and Mental Health Case Manager. It was through these experiences that she came to the realization that her true passion lies in working with youth. Amber is forever grateful for the lessons that she learned in her clinical career and looks forward to using the skills and knowledge gained while working with the kamaliʻi and community of Molokaʻi and Liliʻuokalani Trust.