2025 Ka Lama Kū: Five UH Hilo students receive leadership awards
Based on Native Hawaiian cultural values, the annual Ka Lama Kū awards recognize the exceptional contributions the honorees make as student leaders on campus.
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Ka Lama Kū Student Leadership Development Program held its annual award ceremony on April 15, 2025.
Based on Native Hawaiian cultural values, the program’s Ka Lama Kū Awards recognize contributions students have made in their formal and informal leadership roles on campus and acknowledge those individuals who show strong evidence of future leadership potential.
Each year, a committee of UH Hilo students reviews the nominations for Ka Lama Kū Award recipients and selects the awardees.
Students and student groups are honored for displaying one or more of the values of Ka Lama Kū: Alakaʻi (leadership), ʻIke Pāpālua (gift of vision), Kuleana (accountable and responsible), Laulima (no task is too big when done by all), and Mālama (taking care of others and community).
This year’s recipients
Alakaʻi (Leadership) Award: Shayne Victor
“Shayne is a senior undergraduate majoring in History with an Education Certificate. Shayne has consistently demonstrated the qualities of an exemplary leader who inspires and empowers those around him. As a long-standing officer of the Student Activities Council (SAC), he has played a crucial role in planning and organizing events that enhance student life. SAC is responsible for providing cultural, social, recreational, and educational programs for UH Hilo students, and Shayne’s leadership has ensured the success of numerous initiatives. His ability to coordinate events, manage volunteers, and engage students in meaningful activities reflects his strong leadership skills and unwavering commitment to the university community. Shayne’s impact is also felt in his roles as Vice President of the Crit Club RISO and Member-At-Large of the History Club RISO.”
–Nominator Kamalani Poepoe, Student
ʻIke Pāpālua (Gift of Vision): Hayden Niles
“Hayden is a junior at UH Hilo majoring in Marine Science. In addition to maintaining academic excellence in his studies, Hayden has been a Bonner Student Leader since fall 2022, and has given over 500 hours of time in our Hawai’i Island community over his years here. Hayden engaged with community organizations all over the Island, from Mauna Kea to Waikōloa Dry Forest, without ever knowing what to expect until he was there and figuring it out. His openness to new experiences helped him to learn and meet people, which ultimately led him to his current work with the Food Basket. Hayden models the value of ʻIke Pāpālua in multiple ways. The first is his decision to attend UH Hilo. Hayden is from a very small town in South Dakota, Waubay, which has a population of 473. His first year was a challenging transition – culture, academics and meeting people was a little overwhelming. But he stayed and we could see in his second year how he had worked hard to learn and adapt to his new home and how he embraced learning all that he could.”
–Nominator Julie Mowrer, Acting Director of the Center for Community Engagement
Kuleana (Accountable and Responsible): Tavan Nakamura
“Tavan is a Sophomore and a Sociology major who has worked in our office since his first week as a freshman here at UH Hilo. At just 17 he started in our office as a Student Employment Liaison with minimal work experience and a great attitude. Tavan has proven to dependable and exceeds expectations at every turn. As our program has grown and changed to include career services and internships, he has been pivotal in our expansions. He is in a job position with ever changing responsibilities. Our program is always shifting gears since it is new and this will continue as we work to find the best way to assist students. Tavan consistently seeks new ways for us to do things better, explores new processes and is able to share his vision effectively. We have modified some of our processes as we grow career services and updated student employment because of his suggestions.”
–Nominator Marcy Martinez, Director of Career Services
Laulima (No Task is Too Big When Done By All): Gemmy Alegre
“Gemmy Alegre is a dedicated third-year pharmacy student in the Class of 2026 at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP). She currently serves as the Vice President of Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS), Delta Lambda Chapter, the international pharmacy leadership society, and is also the DKICP Senator for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Student Association (UHHSA). Through these leadership roles, Gemmy has demonstrated her passion for student advocacy, professional development, and fostering a sense of community within the college. As the DKICP Senator for UHHSA, Gemmy actively represents and advocates for the interests of pharmacy students to the UH Hilo administration. She has worked on multiple initiatives aimed at enhancing student life, fostering academic success, and ensuring that DKICP students have access to the necessary resources for a fulfilling educational experience. Her goal is to create a supportive academic environment that promotes collaboration, well-being, and a sense of belonging within the college.”
–Nominator Lara Gomez, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy
Mālama (Taking Care of Others and Community): Kamalani Poepoe
“Kamalaniʻs unwavering commitment to academic excellence, campus involvement, and mentorship has made a profound impact on the UH Hilo community. As a dedicated student majoring in Geology and [minoring in] Astronomy, she is a leader, researcher, and cultural practitioner, Kamalani has consistently demonstrated the qualities of leading by example, uplifting her peers, and fostering a strong sense of belonging. As a 2024 PIPES (Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science) Intern and a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Intern, she has dedicated herself to advancing scientific research through olivine studies while maintaining a deep respect for Hawaiʻi’s landscapes. Her current research on Kīlauea’s June 2023 eruption demonstrates her passion for environmental science and her commitment to understanding the land (ʻāina) through both Western and Indigenous perspectives. Additionally, her work on ʻuala and kalo moon growth systems for NASA’s Artemis Mission highlights her dedication to innovation, sustainability, and the future of space exploration. By engaging in these groundbreaking research projects, she not only contributes to scientific discovery but also inspires fellow students to pursue knowledge with curiosity, purpose and awareness.”
–Nominator Shayne Victor, Student
