10/12/2026
Celebrating Indigenous culture and contributions.
Joshua Lanakilaoka’ Ainaikapono Mangauil, or Lanakila, as he is often known was born in 1986 and was raised in Hamakua on the Big Island of Hawai’i. He attended a Native Hawaiian language immersion school where he was immersed in cultural practices of the Kanaka Maoli and became fluent in the Hawaiian language. After graduation he became a Hawaiian Studies teacher in local public schools, after-school programs, community colleges, and colleges. In 2014 he founded the Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hamakua and continues to serve as its executive director and head instructor. Lanakila is a leader in preserving Kanaka Maoli cultural protocol, performing ceremonies as well as teaching hulu and chants. Within his hula lessons, he also shares Indigenous stories and knowledge including about the cycles of water, the moon and the tides. In 2020, Lanakila recognized his responsibility to continue to unify the people of Hawai’i through cultural education. He is committed to protecting the land in Hawai’i because he has stated, “ We take care of the land because without the land, we have no culture. Our culture cannot exist without these places.”
Source: Keene, Adrienne. Notable Native People (pg. 23). Ten Speed Press, Copyright 2021.
