Pacific Region

Bronson Kainoa Azama, 22

Tribe: Kānaka Maoli, Hawaiʻi 

Bronson is a senior at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa majoring in Political Science focusing on Indigenous Politics. He is expecting to graduate in 2024. He is a youth trailblazer who has advocated at every level of government from the City Council to the United Nations. His experience, skill sets, and values are proven and tested to help facilitate change in government and the community to benefit kānaka maoli and our ʻāina (natural environment/family).

What does it mean to you to be an environmental ambassador? In our traditions in the Pacific the Earth, Sky, and Sea, and all natural things of this earth are viewed as ʻohana, family, or kaainga, also family. Our duties entail caring for our grandmother earth, sky father, and our mother who is the sea. It is our sacred duty to protect our family, the titles bestowed upon our people identify who we are. Such a title as to be an Earth Ambassador is to be someone who embodies what is best for our natural family to maintain a reciprocal relationship to ensure they are best capable to feed their children the humans, the birds, the fish, and so much more. An Earth Ambassador speaks and acts in the best interest of the Earth(grandmother, to ensure our cousins the bird and whales are cared for amongst all other relatives of the natural world, and that our grandmother can continue to nourish life that sustains all generations to come after our time in this world.