Born and raised in Manoa on the island of O`ahu, I'm a devout environmentalist and advocate of Native Hawaiian Rights. I have a JD and a certificate in environmental law; I also have a PhD in American Studies and do work with historic preservation and natural resource management. I have researched and written on civil rights and environmental justice issues at length. I am a strong opponent of the continued colonization of native people. I firmly believe in the need for local people to become empowered in their own lives and communities.