Go to homepage

How Liliʻuokalani Trust Develops Hawaiian Youth Leaders

By Landon Chinen, Manager, Youth Leadership, Liliʻuokalani Center and Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha

How Liliʻuokalani Trust Develops Hawaiian Youth Leaders

null

In the summer of 2023, Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) launched an Advisory Committee for Native Hawaiian youth. The mission: to amplify and reflect “youth voice” in the design, program, and vision of Liliʻuokalani Center — the largest learning center for Indigenous youth, scheduled to open in Honolulu in mid-2025.  

When the first cohort of the Youth Advisory Committee assembled in July 2023, its members created the program’s foundation and selected the name Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha (“the Voices of Kamakaʻeha”). This name honors Queen Liliʻuokalani and reflects the resilience and determination of Hawaiian youth as they overcome challenges to build a brighter future for Hawaiʻi. 

What began as a 14-week pilot evolved into a year-long internship/mentorship program — now in its fourth cohort. Each cohort has built upon the work of its predecessors, introducing new ideas and projects while sustaining peer mentorship and youth-led initiatives.

At the Eahou Fest with Purple Maia in 2024, members of Nā Leo Cohorts 2 and 3 organized a youth panel and a lāʻu lapaʻau workshop about the healing benefits of medicinal plants.  

Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha members have demonstrated leadership skills in peer mentoring. They have supported after-school programs, facilitated a youth engagement night at Lydia House, and piloted different program opportunities for LT, creating a lasting legacy of youth leadership. 

Members have showcased "Youth Voice" on broader platforms. For example, in the fall of 2024, members led a roundtable discussion at the Hawaiʻi Pacific Evaluation Association (HPEA) Conference, sharing their stories through a Photovoice project that challenged participants to consider solutions to the challenges youth face. These experiences have helped members develop leadership, communication, and collaboration skills. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

“ “

“Initially, many participants expressed doubts about their ability to lead, due to personal hardships or preconceived notions about leadership.”

Nā Leo Cohort 3 partnered with LT’s Hawaiʻi Island Youth Development team to address the audience at a Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement conference, which took place in 2024 in Waikoloa.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

“ “

“We have designed a program that fosters a true sense of belonging, creating a collaborative network where neither adultism nor youthism dominates.”

Nā Leo Cohort 3 participated in a hardhat tour of Liliʻuokalani Center, scheduled to open in Honolulu in the summer of 2025.

At the end of each cohort, a celebration brings together participants and their mentors to reflect on their journey and celebrate their growth. Alumni often return as guest speakers or cultural practitioners, sharing their expertise and continuing to support the program.

For alumni and current members, Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha is more than an advisory committee. It is a community where youth feel supported, valued, and empowered to make a lasting impact, shaping their future together.

Members of Nā Leo Cohort 3 take a break during a training session in Kona.

Instead of acting on every idea proposed by the youth — without first pausing to reflect — participants focus on coming together as partners. Adults serve as mentors, guiding and supporting youth as they openly express their ideas, working together to shape and refine them.

This space cultivates a shared sense of ownership and belonging for adults and youth, fostering collaboration and mutual respect. Through these connections, youth have stepped into roles of support during programming and contributed to workplace initiatives, demonstrating their ability to lead and make meaningful contributions.

In 2024, Nā Leo Cohort 2 participated in the roundtable discussion “Youth Voice Through Photovoice” at the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Evaluation Association (H-PEA) Conference.

Many youths who once felt they couldn’t be leaders have embraced opportunities to take the lead, including organizing groups and recruiting peers with similar lived experiences. They have shown no shame in their journeys, and their willingness to take the initiative inspires others to find their voices and step into leadership roles.

This reciprocal learning environment allows youth to grow into confident leaders while enriching the workplace with their unique perspectives and talents.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

QUESTION: What inspired you as you transitioned from LT's youth programs, to a member of Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha, to an employee of Liliʻuokalani Trust?

QUESTION: What inspired you as you moved from LT's youth programs to becoming a member of Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha, and eventually joining Liliʻuokalani Trust as an employee?

QUESTION: What does it mean to you to be a Native Hawaiian youth leader?

QUESTION: As a Native Hawaiian, what does "Youth Voice" mean to you?

QUESTION: In what ways have your experiences with Liliʻuokalani Trust and Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha influenced your future aspirations?

QUESTION: Please share a pivotal moment from when you were a member of Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha.

QUESTION: How can Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha support the development of Native Hawaiian youth leaders?

Landon Chinen is the Manager, Youth Leadership, for Liliʻuokalani Center and Nā Leo o Kamakaʻeha Liliʻuokalani Trust. He has a Doctorate in Social Work, concentrating his capstone on amplifying Indigenous youth voices through the support of Western frameworks. His work led to a nomination for the DEIPAR (Diversity, Equity, Intersectionality, Inclusion, Power, Anti-Racism) Award for Social Justice and Innovation in Social Work.