I am lucky enough to be a native Hawaiian living on the Big Island of Hawaii. growing up in Waipiʻo Valley, my family’s connection to the land has always been a part of who I am. Waipiʻo, known as the “Valley of the Kings,” is where my ʻohana (family) plants kalo (taro) in the loʻi (taro patches), just as our ancestors have done for generations. I’ve spent countless hours with my hands in the cool mud, learning from my parents and grandparents how to mālama ʻāina (care for the land) and honor our kūpuna (ancestors). Planting kalo isn’t just about growing food; it’s about nurturing life, preserving our culture, and carrying forward the mana (spiritual energy) that connects us to our past and future. Attending a Hawaiian based Private High School has deepened my understanding of what it means to be Native Hawaiian. Surrounded by peers who share my heritage, I’ve learned that my education is not just for me, but for my community. For fourteen years, hula has been my way of expressing this connection. Through hula, I tell stories of our people, honor our language, and carry the spirit of aloha in every movement. Hula has taught me discipline, respect, and the power of cultural pride. But even with these strong roots, I wasn’t always sure where my path would lead. I loved creativity, and I wanted to help people feel good about themselves, but I didn’t know how to combine these passions. Then one day, while helping my cousin get ready for her first hula competition, everything clicked. She was nervous, worried about her costume and how she looked. I did her hair, carefully applied makeup, and talked with her to calm her nerves. As I worked, I saw her confidence grow. She stood taller, smiled brighter, and walked onto the stage with a new sense of pride. That moment was powerful for me. I realized that beauty isn’t just about what you see on the outside-it’s about helping someone feel valued, strong, and connected to who they are. From that day on, I began helping friends and family with their hair and makeup for graduations, performances, and special occasions. Each time, I felt the same joy I experience in the loʻi or on the hula stage, the joy of uplifting others and sharing aloha through my hands. Choosing cosmetology feels like a natural extension of my heritage and values. I want to open a salon that feels like ʻohana, where Hawaiian culture is honored and celebrated. I dream of creating a space where everyone feels welcomed and empowered. Most importantly, I want to mentor young Hawaiians, showing them that their culture is a source of strength and inspiration in any career they choose. For me, cosmetology is more than a career-it’s a way to take care of my community, carry forward the lessons of Waipiʻo Valley, and honor the spirit of hula. I want to leave a mark of aloha and kuleana (responsibility), inspiring others to embrace their identity, pursue their dreams, and remember that true beauty begins from within. Through my work, I hope to help my community feel proud, connected, and strong for generations to come.

As a Native Hawaiian, my heritage greatly shapes who I am, what I value, and the dreams I chase. Growing up, I was surrounded by the beauty of my culture, it’s the hands-on experiences with my family in Waipiʻo Valley that truly ground and connect me. Waipiʻo is an extremely important place to my ʻohana and I. it’s where my ʻohana plants kalo, just as our ancestors did for generations. Every time I step into the loʻi with my family, I feel a deep connection to my roots. The cool mud between my toes, the careful planting of huli, and the sound of water flowing through our patches are reminders that I am part of something much bigger than myself. Working in the loʻi has taught me lessons I carry everywhere. Patience, humility, and the importance of mālama ʻāina. Watching my parents and grandparents tend to the loʻi, I learned that our kuleana, our responsibility, is not just to ourselves but to our community and future generations. When we harvest kalo we honor our ancestors and ensure that their knowledge lives on. These moments in Waipiʻo Valley have shaped my values more than anything else. My journey at Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi has also deepened my understanding of what it means to be Hawaiian. Surrounded by classmates who share my heritage, I’ve been encouraged to dream big but always remember where I come from. Hula has been another anchor in my life. Fourteen years of dancing has taught me discipline, grace, and the power of storytelling. Through hula, I’ve learned to honor our language, our stories, and the mana that flows through all of us. When I think about my future, I see myself blending these lessons into my career. I want to study cosmetology. Not just because I love the art of beauty, but because I see it as another way to uplift my community. In Hawaiian culture, true beauty comes from within, it’s about the aloha we share and the mana we carry. My dream is to open a salon that feels like home, where everyone in my community feels seen, valued, and celebrated. I want to create a space where our culture is honored every day. Most of all, eventually, I hope to give back by mentoring young Hawaiians who want to enter the beauty industry. I want them to know that their heritage is a source of strength. The mark I hope to leave is one of pride and empowerment. Whether I’m in the loʻi, dancing hula, or behind a salon chair, I will carry my heritage with me and I hope to inspire others to do the same, leaving our community stronger and more connected for the next generation.

Teenage love, something every teenager battles through. The deeply affecting lyric "I guess love is never logical" from Olivia Rodrigo's song "Logical" in her album "GUTS" encapsulates a profound truth that resonates deeply with the typical teenage experience. This simple yet powerful statement serves as a gateway to exploring the intricate tapestry of adolescent emotions and the transformative journey of self-discovery. The teenage years are full of emotional and psychological development, with young love often taking center stage in this period of life. This phase is characterized by an intoxicating blend of newfound independence, self-awareness, and the exhilarating realm of romantic attachments. The nature of love, as found in Rodrigo's lyrics, perfectly mirrors the complexities of teenage love. This song speaks to the irrationality of human emotions. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for logical reasoning and impulse control, continues to develop well into early adulthood. Consequently, teenagers often find themselves with decisions and feelings that may seem illogical or impulsive to the more tempered adult mind. Moreover, the concept of love's illogicality serves as a metaphor for the broader teenage experience. It encapsulates the internal conflicts that arise as adolescents strive to reconcile their evolving identities with societal expectations, peer pressures, and their own burgeoning desires. This struggle often manifests in seemingly contradictory behaviors and attitudes, mirroring the unpredictable nature of young love. The process of growth and self-discovery during adolescence is inextricably linked to these early romantic experiences. Each crush, heartbreak, and fleeting connection serves as a crucible for personal development. These experiences, while often irrational, play a crucial role in shaping an individual's understanding of relationships, emotional resilience, and self-worth. Furthermore, the acknowledgment that love defies logic can be seen as a path towards emotional intelligence. It encourages teenagers to embrace the complexity of human emotions, fostering a more nuanced understanding of themselves and others. This realization can lead to greater empathy and interpersonal skills that will serve them well into adulthood. The universality of this sentiment also provides a sense of solidarity among teenagers. Knowing that others experience similar emotional turbulence can be profoundly comforting, alleviating feelings of isolation that often accompany the intense emotions of adolescence. This shared experience, articulated so succinctly in Rodrigo's lyrics, creates a collective narrative that validates the often confusing and overwhelming nature of teenage emotions. In conclusion, the line "I guess love is never logical" serves as a powerful touchstone for the teenage experience, encapsulating the essence of adolescent emotional landscapes. It acknowledges the inherent chaos of young love while simultaneously highlighting its role in personal growth and identity formation. By embracing the illogical nature of love and, by extension, the journey of adolescence, teenagers can find solace in the shared experience of this transformative period. This acceptance paves the way for a deeper understanding of oneself and others, fostering emotional maturity and resilience that will resonate far beyond the teenage years.