06/24/2026
Introducing INIHKD 2026 Keynote Speaker Kaina Makua.
Kaina Makua is a Native Hawaiian educator, farmer, entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to youth development, cultural preservation, and workforce readiness.
A 2002 graduate of Waimea High School, Kaina attended Kapiʻolani Community College before earning a B.A. in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He later completed the Ho’okulāiwi Master of Education in Teaching program in 2009, specializing in Secondary Hawaiian Language education.
After teaching Hawaiian language for 10 years, Kaina left the classroom in 2014 to start a poi company and farm 10 acres of loʻi kalo. He later co-founded Kumanoikeala o Makaweli, a nonprofit focused on empowering youth through cultural education, leadership development, and workforce readiness.
Kaina believes that tradition and innovation can work together to strengthen communities and create meaningful opportunities for the next generation.
🔗 Register for INIHKD 2026 today using the link in bio or at inihkd.com/registration