Ho'olauna: Joey Aquino

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, HILT board member Joey Aquino was often struck by the vibrant colors that accompanied the changing seasons.

While the Seattle area was gray much of the year, the fiery hues of autumn and the intense emerald shades of summer were a striking contrast. As a child, when Joey first visited relatives in Hawaiʻi, he noticed similarities.

“But it was completely different sides of the spectrum…the brightness and the colors of the ocean or the textures of the sand were colors you don't normally see,” the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate said. “And so, it kind of piqued my curiosity.”

As an adult and an executive at Amazon, Joey once again found himself spending time on Oʻahu. In doing so, he sought ways to connect with and learn more about the community and its culture and contribute to its preservation.

“If I'm living in Hawaiʻi, if I'm taking space in Hawaiʻi, I need to make sure that I also give back  and find ways to protect this place for generations to come,” he said.

Laura Kaakua, a former HILT CEO and friend, introduced him to HILT and invited him to volunteer workdays at Maunawila, motivating him to strengthen his connection to HILT’s work. In 2020, Laura invited him to join the board, and he seized the opportunity.

Joey’s involvement with HILT also marked a step in his broader personal journey.

As the son of Filipino immigrants, he was taught to assimilate into Western culture and focus on professional success.

“Having the opportunity to reevaluate, ‘What is my sense of purpose? And what is my own relationship with, not even just myself, but with the land and environment here?’ is something that I’m just very grateful for,” he said.

Among Joey’s lessons is the importance of being fully present with himself and the 'āina.

“If you’re working in a loʻi, you can’t be on a device because it’s going to get all muddy, and if somebody’s next to you, you can have conversations with them,” he said. “So it hyper-focuses you on where you are and the people you’re with and the task you’re doing. That’s been a huge unlock for me personally and for my own mental health.”

Joey, who now lives on Oʻahu most of the time, strives to share his personal insight by coordinating volunteer days and corporate events for business executives at Maunawila and other HILT sites.

In the future, Joey hopes HILT will continue to build strong partnerships with other community organizations, enabling them to achieve their collective goals.

“We can continue to build relationships across the board, while also collectively steering this to the end goal that we all want to achieve,” he said.