President, Kumukahi Ke Aloha 501c3

I am the daughter of Jo Kumukahi Davidson and David Allen Davidson, the mother of Hanale, Nālani, Kuʻulei, Kamanaʻopono, and Heather, and the fiancée of Paulo Faleafine, Jr. I live in Waiohuli, Maui, where ʻohana is the heart of my life, grounding me in aloha, kuleana, and service.

As President of Kumukahi Ke Aloha (kumukahikealoha.org), CEO of Punawai, LLC (punawai.life), and a Teacher of the Tao Academy, I weave Hawaiian Soulfulness—aloha-centered thoughts and actions—together with Tao wisdom to uplift our community. Guided by my mantra:

“Serve the Servant.”

My life’s work seeks to empower and nurture keiki, kūpuna, and ʻohana through cultural education, food sovereignty, wellness practices, and environmental stewardship.

My interests are rooted in nature and the joy of connection. I delight in watching my grandchildren play and seeing my children thrive—whether in the ocean, dancing hula, creating food, or designing. I treasure time with friends, catching up on their lives and sharing laughter. I go into the mountains—Mauna Kahalawai or Haleakalā—for grounding and strength. Whether in ʻĪao Valley, Puʻu Kukui Watershed, sunrise or sunset atop Haleakalā, or walking through Hosmer’s Grove— In the Wao Akua.

I am reminded of the sacredness of water and the responsibility to care for our ʻāina. Kuʻi kalo, lei making, and planting native trees and plants are skills I cherish, while kapa, lei hulu, farming techniques, and refined cooking with canoe plants remain practices I seek to deepen.

I honor my teachers Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha and Kumu Hokulani Holt Padilla, whose guidance has shaped my path and nurtured my life’s work. With Paulo, I have discovered a new love of travel—Japan rekindled the joy of entering a foreign land, embracing spontaneity, culture, and the unknown.

I find purpose in helping others discover their potential and navigate life’s challenges. Through meditation, breathwork, and service, each effort—whether small or great—moves us closer to a vision of vitality where people and ʻāina flourish in harmony.

What are your thoughts on aging?

Age is a construct of the mind. I have been blessed to learn from and share time with those in their 90s and even beyond 100 years. Since I was little, I dreamed of becoming a kupuna, inspired by my Tutu wahine who I saw as wise, gracious, powerful, and intelligent. Elders around me embodied vibrancy, joy, and love for life, and I have always admired that.

Being my age now means carrying blessings and wisdom learned through my own experiences and the sage advice of others. I have endured suffering beyond what many may ever experience, yet I hold close my grandmother’s words: “everything will be ok.” Her reminder has led me to dive deeper—to learn more about myself, bring harmony to my journey, and support others along theirs.

In life we travel a pathway that offers both great challenges and deep rewards. It all begins with knowing your purpose, practicing gratitude daily, and staying connected to goodness. My dad always reminded me, “what goes around comes around.” Our thoughts and words are powerful. What we ingest into our bodies will help or harm; what we say and think can do the same. Life is a series of lessons and blessings.

To age, for me, is to keep learning to breathe, to relax, and to connect with higher consciousness. It is to choose goodness, to serve others, and to balance that service with care for health, ʻohana, and community.

A one sentence gift for you: Aging is a journey of gratitude, wisdom, and aloha—choosing goodness, serving others, and nurturing harmony.

What wonderful things can younger women look forward to at your age?

Younger women and girls, might think that it's scary getting older. Let's inspire them!Aging is not to be feared—it is a state of mind filled with wisdom, freedom, and possibility.

While you are young, take care of your health; the foundation you set will carry you as you grow older. Take advantage of your energy and seek the guidance of those who have walked before you. Trust in yourself will deepen with age, and the wisdom gained from life’s experiences will bring confidence and clarity.

You can look forward to having a stronger base of knowledge, lasting friendships, and more space to live and grow with your ʻohana. With time, you learn when you have the capacity to do something—and when to say “not now” or simply “no.” Your body will change, but today there are more women leaders and experts in medical and wellness fields to walk with you on that journey.

Many women have paved the way for you. Their courage has created opportunities and choices that once did not exist. Growing older is not something to fear—it is something to embrace. With vision, supportive friends, and a heart full of aloha, you can step into each new stage of life with strength and joy.

Share tips on how you celebrate yourself, what you do for fun, and self care.

To celebrate myself is to live aloha—in the sacred lands that shape me, the practices that sustain me, the traditions I honor, and the simple joys that remind me of life’s sweetness. At the summit of Haleakalā, I chant E Ala E and greet the rising sun with love and gratitude, feeling the magnificence of the Earth, the illusion of touching the sky at 10,000 feet, and the deep presence of Source. In ʻĪao Valley and the Puʻu Kukui Watershed, I honor Mauna Kahalawai, where the fragrance of naupaka kuahiwi and the presence of kahuli (Hawaiian tree snails) remind me of the sacred balance of life. As Pomaikaʻi Kaniaupio-Crozier says, “If there are no snails, there will be no whales.” Every being, no matter how small, has its place in sustaining creation.

For more than 15 years, I have nurtured myself through Tao practices, building energy, stamina, and immunity. As a student of Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha and a Master Teacher, I guide others through breathing, meditation, and Hawaiian Soulfulness, including my personal path of LAWA: Live Authentically With Aloha. LAWA is a living practice—a way of being that unites thought and action in compassion, humility, and harmony. Alongside it, I carry forward the vibration of Love, Peace, and Harmony, frequencies that uplift individuals, strengthen families, and bring healing to communities.

My aloha also lives in cultural practice and simple joys. To skillfully gather just enough plants from Puʻu Kukui to make haku lei is the best self-care I can give myself—each lei, woven with aloha, carrying fragrance, memory, and love. Everyday moments sustain me too: pausing to capture a rainbow, watching clouds shift, or tasting the island’s gifts—sunflower sprouts from Uncle Vincent in Wailuku, poi and Aunty Sandy’s banana bread in Keʻanae, bananas, avocados, lilikoʻi, and fresh coconut candy in Hāna, vegetables and lavender scones from Kula, or George’s fried fish in Napili. Whether sacred or simple, these moments remind me that life itself is an indulgence—a journey of discovery, rooted in aloha, service, and harmony. 🌈🌺

Share one experience/story. We all have life struggles. But the big share is how did you over come and lift yourself up? Advice to other women to empower them.Grief to Aloha:

Healing gives us strength to lift others with compassion and aloha.

The greatest struggles of my life have been around death—the passing of my Tutu Wahine (who raised me like a mother), my twin son in utero, my oldest son at 9 ½ years old, my father, and my spouse five years ago—all spanning 35 years. Each brought grief in different ways, yet each carried a common truth: death is not the end, but a transition. It is the end of a physical relationship, but not the end of love.

Three decades ago, I believed I had to carry grief on my own. I didn’t lean on others or seek support, convinced no one could help me. In two of those seasons, I poured myself into work—supporting others through human rights and education as a way of pouring out my own pain. The result of this was complete burnout, which later led to health challenges.

By the time my spouse passed, I had been practicing Tao teachings for over ten years. That training opened me to deeper parts of myself and new ways of being in relationship. I also came to value the importance of quiet—silencing the mind, being still, and taking in all that is happening around you. Resting into these spaces of grief, allowing yourself to move more slowly, and giving time to acknowledge pain and release it daily became a profound part of healing. Dreams, emotions, and the messages that rise in vulnerable times carry wisdom when we pause to receive them.

Through these experiences, I discovered that my own healing became a pathway to serve others. The strength and compassion I developed allowed me to walk alongside those grieving their own loved ones, offering presence, understanding, and care.

I also discovered the power of inner knowing—an ability to connect with higher consciousness. For me, this unfolds through meditation, the ocean, the mountains, gardening, and being with animals. Nature itself became a communion with life.

Another awakening was the practice of opening my heart. It may seem counterintuitive, but the more we open the heart, the faster healing can come. Trust in whomever you pray to or ask for guidance from. The heart has a vast capacity to restore us, especially when we allow those who love us to serve us. Receiving and accepting the time and energy of others became a tremendous gift in my journey.

In the end, I realized that everything of value requires presence and consistency. Whether it is love, service, or spiritual practice, showing up each day—imperfectly yet wholeheartedly—is what carries us back into the light.

We all have a finite time on this Earth. This is not something to fear, but something to hold with reverence. When we consider our words, our thoughts, and our actions with care, we ensure that the time we are given is spent with meaning. What matters most is that those we love feel our presence, and the communities we are part of know the depth of our contribution. In this way, our lives become a legacy of love, service, and aloha.

What would you tell your 14-year-old self?

Be quiet, and listen deeply to yourself. Follow your naʻau—your inner knowing. Trust in its guidance and remain humble. You are more connected to goodness than you realize. Love with your whole heart, and care for your health and well-being with attentiveness.

Remember that you are love itself, and that you are protected and appreciated by all those who came before you. Their strength flows through you. Be still, and in that stillness, you will find the truth of who you are.

What is your definition of success?

Attracting goodness and generating abundance with ease. Being in flow with the Source to live your lifeʻs purpose.

What is the best advice you have been given?

"The purpose of life is to serve, to serve is to make others happier and healthier. To serve is to make others empowered and enlightened." Dr & Master Sha

 Twenty years from now, when you look at these portraits we took together, what do you think you will say to yourself?

I leaped, trusted.