What It Takes to Lead in Hawaiʻi: Questions from the Next Generation

This summer’s internship cohort are unafraid to ask the uncomfortable questions that real leadership demands.

We asked them to reflect on what it takes to be a leader here, in Hawaiʻi. Rather than offering easy answers, they challenged themselves to ask the deeper questions that matter.

Below are just a few of the thought-provoking questions they posed, questions every local leader should be asking:

• Who are people I can look towards for wisdom and inspiration? – Vivian H.
• How much am I willing to sacrifice for my home? – Julie W.
• How do I involve communities in coming up with solutions to the problems Hawaiʻi is facing? – Aniqua M.
• How do we stop the brain drain? – Sabina F.
• What does it mean to lead with aloha? – Sandy T. 
• How can I bring people together, especially those with different views, while building trust and understanding? – Isabella R. 
• How can we bridge the gap between our kūpuna and the next generation? – Josephyn V.
• When I see something unfair, do I speak up or stay quiet? Why? – Eliana M.
• What makes up my foundation for my character? – Minh N.
• What do you want to see in Hawaiʻi in the next 10 years? – Alex C.
• What does a healthy and thriving community look like? – Alan H. 
• Who can I rely on to hold me accountable? – Ahryanna M. 
• What populations in my community are the most underserved? – RJ M. 
• Where are you needed most? – Joshua O.

These students reminded me that the future of leadership in Hawaiʻi isn’t just about having bold ideas, it’s about having the humility to ask deep questions, and the courage to act on the answers.