Episode 1 – Alapaki Nahale-A
In this episode of Pilali, Ashley and Wren sit down with Alapaki Nahale-a to explore identity, belonging, and what it means to truly be “of” a place. From growing up in Hilo on Hawaiian Homelands to his experiences at Kamehameha Schools and the University of Pennsylvania, Alapaki reflects on how place shapes responsibility to community.
The conversation covers his work in Hawaiian language immersion education, housing advocacy, and community leadership, along with themes of pilina, community accountability, and the forces that divide communities. Together, they explore what it takes to build empathy, connection, and shared responsibility as the foundation for meaningful change in Hawaiʻi.
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Alapaki Nahale-a has spent more than 30 years serving the community in a variety of roles, including as director and chairman of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and CEO of the Global Resiliency Hub at ʻIole in Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island. He is currently a partner at Islander Institute and has held leadership roles at Kamehameha Schools, including senior director of community engagement and resources for Hawaiʻi Island.
He has served on numerous community boards and commissions, including as chairperson of the County of Hawaiʻi Cultural Resources Commission and chair of the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents. He is currently chairperson of the Hawaiian Council, vice chair of Hawaii Community Lending, and vice chair of the NDN Fund Collective.
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@hiloboy68
@islanderinstitute
LinkedIn: Albert (Alapaki) Nahalea
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