Nā ʻElele o Kahikina Congressional Fellows Program
As Kanaka ʻŌiwi, Kahiki harkens concepts of past, present, and future all at once. Simultaneously, imagery of our ancestral homelands and voyaging toward distant horizons outside Hawaiʻi showcases our capacity to be grounded in our moʻokūʻauhau while navigating toward something new. Kahikina means east, but it also signifies arrival and blessing. It represents the direction of the rising sun, a symbol of new beginnings and enlightenment. It is with this in mind that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Hawaiian Native Corporation (HNC) proudly launch the Nā ʻElele o Kahikina Congressional Fellows Program.
Co-sponsored by OHA and HNC and administered by the E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center (Nā Kahu o Kahikina) and the Nakupuna Foundation, this program cultivates the next generation of Native Hawaiian public servants and policy leaders in Washington, D.C. Rooted in the Hawaiian value of kuleana (responsibility) and inspired by the legacy of those who once carried the voices of Hawaiʻi to the nation’s capital, Nā ʻElele o Kahikina prepares emerging leaders to serve as informed, effective, and culturally grounded representatives of the lāhui.
This bipartisan fellowship places participants in congressional offices, federal agencies, and policy organizations, where they gain firsthand experience in legislative processes, public policy development, and federal advocacy for Native Hawaiian priorities.
Through mentorship, professional training, and cultural grounding, Nā ʻElele o Kahikina strengthens the bridge between Hawaiʻi and Washington, D.C., ensuring that Native Hawaiian perspectives continue to shape the decisions that affect Hawaiʻi’s future.
