Wahine Aloha ʻĀina: A multi- case analysis of wahine concepts of leadership in ʻāina educational based nonprofits and their effects on teaching and learning in their spaces

Abstract

This research explores the experiences and leadership practices of female leaders in ʻāinaeducational-based nonprofits in Hawaiʻi. ʻĀina (land) education, grounded in the belief that the land, sea, and air sustain life, plays a pivotal role in the restoration and sustainability of Hawaiian culture and communities. Through this qualitative, phenomenological multi-case study, the research aims to examine how female leaders within these nonprofits lead and how their leadership influences the work they do. Initial conversations and interviews with female leaders, combined with observational field notes, uncovered critical leadership concepts that inform the study of leadership and contribute to a deeper understanding of Native Hawaiian female leadership and those practices that support the survival and sustainability of both the ʻāina and kanaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiians). These findings also inform strategies for the development of future female leaders in these crucial spaces. Key Words: Wāhine leadership, ʻĀina Educational Nonprofits, Tea