Welina Mai Me Ke Aloha
Welcome to the world of Aloha First, Service Always!
NMII Events & Info
ALOHA KEKAHI I KEKAHI
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Join us to promote and preserve Aloha in the world.
All youth of every identity, race, and creed are welcome to BELONG here. You do not need to be Kānaka Maoli-Native Hawaiian to join, you only need to live in Aloha.
In our organizational culture we live Aloha First and positively Mālama-Serve ohana-family, community, and self. We are a society of Honor and represent the rich legacy of the Hawaiian Monarchy as Royal Guards. It is a sacred duty and trust to carry forward this responsibility into the world.
Aloha First, Service Always!
- Mr. Paulo Faleafine Jr., Founder of the Royal Hawaiian Guard (RHG) & Nā Mea ʻIke ʻIa (NMII)
Nā Mea ʻIke ʻIa (NMII) translating to “The Awakening of Knowledge from the Source,” is a Kānaka Maoli-Native Hawaiian led a 501(c)(3) Hawaiʻi charity with the purpose to promote and preserve Aloha in the world and mission to Mālama Hawaiʻi-Serve Hawaii.
Our work is dedicated to uplifting youth as cultural and community servant leaders through our RHG Honor Guard program, and community resiliency through positive identity, innovation, and technology programs.
NMII was incorporated and received its 501(c)(3) designation on February 24, 2017. NMII is the successor organization of The Royal Hawaiian Guard, a domestic nonprofit that was incorporated in Lāhainā, Maui, Hawaiʻi on August 1, 2009 and is now the corner stone program of NMII.
FEIN: 82-0746141. UEI: M9TFXMW5X2W7. Cage Code: 93CB4. Hawaii GE: GE-051-395-5840-01.
Aloha Means…
Aloha has over 30 uses in the ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). The newest use of the word is hello and goodbye, with the oldest use meaning deep affection. We work to Kaʻikaʻi-Uplift Aloha by keeping it central to everyday life. To live in aloha is unique and personal for each person as is its meaning and incorporation into daily life.
In the organization’s culture, Aloha Means to live a lifestyle in honor of Ke Akua (the Creator) who demonstrated the first act of Aloha through the creation of man as understood in the story of Kumuhonua. The epitome of living in Aloha can be seen in the legacy of Hawaiʻi’s Mōʻī (Monarchs).
In a recorded interview, Lydia Aholo, the adopted daughter of Queen Liliʻuokalani, recounted the moment when a crowd greeted the Queen. “She was met at the wharf by haole, hapa-haole, and Hawaiians with “Alo-o-oha!” (much like many commercial lūʻau-feasts of today). Liliʻuokalani stopped, shocked, still. She stood unmoving until the cry melted away as if in chagrin. She looked down upon the crowd and spoke…
I greet you with aloha. Aloha—that is the Hawaiian greeting... Never, never say alo-o-oha. It is a haole word. Aloha is ours, as is its meaning.”
-HM Queen Liliʻuokalani, Spring 1910, according to Lydia Aholo.
IT’S A KĀKOU THING!
who WE are & what WE do
Meet the Executive Team
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PAULO FALEAFINE JR.
FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, CEO
CHAIRPERSON OF THE HOʻOMĀHUA INITIATIVE COMMITTEE
LUNA NĀ KOA KIAʻI, KONELA - COMMANDANT OF THE ROYAL HAWAIANN GUARD, COLONEL, RHG.
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SCOT "HOAPILI" PATRICK
CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD, PAST PRESIDENT
CHAIRPERSON OF THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN GUARD COMMITTEE
HANOHANO KONELA - HONORARY COLONEL, RHG.
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RICK YNIGUEZ
SECRETARY, BOARD DIRECTOR
CHAIRPERSON OF THE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
KAKIANA MEKIA NĀ KOA KIAʻI - SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN.GUARD, SERGEANT MAJOR, RHG.
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BRENDA REICHEL
ARCHIVIST, BOARD DIRECTOR
CHAIRPERSON OF THE MOʻOLELO COMMITTEE
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ELIZABETH LAʻANUI
KAMĀLIʻI WAHINE, BOARD DIRECTOR
CHAIRPERSON OF THE AUPUNI COMMITTEE
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CAMILLE HAMPTON
BOARD DIRECTOR
CHAIRPERSON OF THE FINANCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEES
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KEAKA MITCHELL
BOARD DIRECTOR
CHAIRPERSON OF THE KAʻIKAʻI ALOHA COMMITTEE
NMII Programs & Needs
NMII has three primary programs.
The Royal Hawaiian Guard
Kaʻikaʻi Aloha-Uplift Aloha
The Hoʻomāhua Initiative
Our programs and services are focused on addressing needs in the community we believe are important to keep Aloha First in the hearts and minds of our members, their families, and communities.
NMII needs we work to address
Hawaiian Cultural Needs
Lahaina Needs
Lāhainā Disaster Response Services
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Humanitarian Unified Assistance (HUA) System
HOʻOMĀHUA INITIATIVE PROGRAM - HUA System
In response to the devastating wildires, our technology partner Bay Park Data Solutions, Hawaii Smart Tourism & Public Safety Solutions LLC, and IT/Cyber Security undergraduate team from Grand Canyon University launched into action to develop the HUA System. Our partners and volunteers have dedicated well over 1600 hours of their time to bring a working model of the HUA system to realization.
The HUA system is ready for Beta testing and is currently awaiting financial resources to implement within the community.
Click on Learn More below to visit the website of the HUA system.
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Ke Ola Hou - Lāhainā Healing & Resiliency Center
KAʻIKAʻI ALOHA PROGRAM - Kaʻikaʻi Lāhainā
Immediately after the August 8, 2023 wildfires, NMII began work to identify how it can uplift Lāhainā and support wildfire survivors.
Initially led by State House Representative Elle Cochran, NMII was able to work to align community partners into a Kāʻanapali propery to serve the community shaping the vision of Ke Ola Hou - Lāhainā Healing & Resiliency Center. The project is near a launching point to provide metal health and resiliency resources to aid survivors soon.
Community Services
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Community Honor Guard & Drill Team
ROYAL HAWAIIAN GUARD PROGRAM
Wearing white uniforms, our Honor Guard members are well trained to bring forward dignity to community, cultural, and significant events.
Wearing blue uniforms, our Drill Team members are experts in the art of Hawaii Military-Style Drill that lends a special touch of culture and excitement to events.
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Smart Tourism
HOʻOMĀHUA INITIATIVE PROGRAM - Smart Tourism Pilot Project
Developed after Covid-19 in response to assisting the East Maui community from the over-burdening of tourism, our Smart Tourism pilot project is actively working toward forging a new future of tourism using LiDAR, GIS, GPS, and advanced technology to protect the environment, increase the circular economy, advance Hawaii cultural education, and promote Kanaka Maoli-Native Hawaiian owned and locally owned and Hawaii registered businesses.
Thank you to Mayor Bissen and the Office of Economic Development for executing the grant made possible by County Council Members Tamara Paltin (West Maui), Kelly King (South Maui), and Shayne Sinenci (East Maui).
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Historical Education & Events
ROYAL HAWAIIAN GUARD PROGRAM
Initially formed in 2009 as the Royal Hawaiian Guard to carry forth Hawaiʻi’s royal guard legacy, history, and culture, Nā Mea ʻIke ʻIa strives to provide pathways to the community to connect positively in understanding of Hawaiʻi’s past to stand strong in their identity today and well into the future as a Kupa Hawaiʻi-Hawaiʻi Citizen.
As a partner with the JROTC programs, part of our work is to introduce Kānaka Maoli-Native Hawaiian culture into training and competitive events.
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Cultural Education & Aloha ʻĀina
KAʻIKAʻI ALOHA PROGRAM
Working with community partners, our goal is to provide cultural learning opportunities that allow participants to feel connected to the land and help them gain an understanding into ʻike kūpuna - ancient wisdom.
Youth Services
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Youth Development
ROYAL HAWAIIAN GUARD PROGRAM
Formed to uplift youth and provide them a safe group to belong to, our Royal Hawaiian Guard program offers young people an amazing opportunity to learn about and represent Hawaiʻi in a powerful way as a member of the Honor Guard or Drill Team.
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Hawaii Honor Guard & Drill Team Training
ROYAL HAWAIIAN GUARD PROGRAM
The Royal Hawaiian Guard program is the school house of Hawaii’s Guardsmen.
Our expert instructors are comprised of legacy Guardsmen from the Kings Guard Drill Team Waikiki and Hilton Hawaiian Village Guard Drill Team.
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JROTC Competition Support
ROYAL HAWAIIAN GUARD PROGRAM - Hawaii Drill & Competitions (HIDC)
Nā Mea ʻIke ʻIa is an official partner of Hawaii’s JROTC programs. We are contracted to provide services that enhance competition efficiency, engagement, and enthusiasm.