Who We Are
OUR MISSION
RISE Earth Initiative works to create awareness about issues affecting rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Earth, build power through impact-driven projects and media, sustain communities and educate future generations.
Rights. Impact. Sustain. Educate.
OUR VISION
Our vision is a world where the rights of Indigenous Peoples are fully respected, where the Earth is treated with care, and where all communities thrive in harmony with nature, where all people have access to clean water, where our lands and waters are free from the harmful impacts of militarization, and where we all are working towards a sustainable future. We envision a world where Indigenous Peoples and communities are empowered through cultural preservation, equitable opportunities, and sustainable development, fostering a future where heritage thrives, voices are heard, and generations flourish.
RISE is committed to working towards this vision by raising awareness about the pressing issues affecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Earth, including access to clean water, fishing rights, landback, sustainability, and the harmful impacts of militarization. We are working to build power through impact-driven projects and media initiatives, to sustain communities by providing support and resources, and to educate future generations about the importance of cultural diversity, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation.
CORE VALUES
1. Respect: We honor the wisdom, traditions, and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples and recognize their inherent rights to self-determination, land stewardship, clean water, fishing rights, and sustainability, grounded in the principles of landback.
2. Environmental Stewardship: We advocate for sustainable practices that protect the Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity, ensuring equitable access to clean water for all, sustainable fishing practices, and the restoration of Indigenous lands through the principles of landback.
3. Justice: We stand in solidarity with marginalized communities and strive to address systemic injustices, including the inequitable distribution of clean water, fishing rights, and the harmful impacts of militarization, while advocating for landback as a means of restoring justice and sovereignty to Indigenous Peoples.
4. Collaboration: We believe in the power of partnerships and collective action, working alongside Indigenous leaders, activists, and allies to achieve our shared goals of justice, sustainability, and peace, rooted in the principles of landback.
5. Empowerment: We seek to empower Indigenous communities by providing resources, amplifying their voices, and supporting projects that promote self-sufficiency, resilience, and the protection of their rights to clean water, fishing, sustainability, and landback.
6. Education: We are committed to raising awareness and fostering understanding about Indigenous issues, environmental challenges, clean water access, fishing rights, sustainability, landback, and the harmful impacts of militarization, equipping future generations with the knowledge and skills to be effective stewards of the Earth and advocates for justice, sovereignty, and sustainability.
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OUR PEOPLE
Keola Kauhane Castro, Founder and Director
Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Keola grew up surrounded by the ocean and rich traditions of his ancestors. From a young age, he learned the art of ‘upena ho‘olei (throw net fishing) from his elders, spending countless hours in the water, mastering the delicate art of casting and retrieving his net with precision. His connection to the land went beyond the ocean and led him to learn cultivation of the earth, restoration of fish ponds and lo‘i, and later, led him to work for the Board of Water Supply for 17 years, where he learned intimately how Hawai‘i's watershed works and how water travels through the island's aquifer systems connecting the mountains to the ocean. His passion for water and people led him and a close group of friends to found RISE Earth Initiative with the purpose of restoring lost, time-honored traditions and reconnecting people to the lands and waters of Hawai‘i. In addition, as a photographer and deeply understanding the power of impact-driven media, he is committed to sharing the stories of the people of Hawai‘i and around the world to raise awareness and foster change. With each throw of his net and sowing seeds into the future, Keola is committed to forging a path forward for Indigenous Peoples and the Earth rooted in tradition and boundless possibility.
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Edmond Richard Kamano, RISE Secretary
As a Native Hawaiian founding board member, Ed has worked for his entire life to raise awareness about the needs of the Hawaiian community. When he's not at the Halau, he can be found doing coconut weaving to the sound of blues guitar. He is dedicated to supporting the RISE Earth Initiative program work to ensure it makes a change in the lives of people in Hawai‘i and around the world.
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Garrick "Brah" Francisco, RISE Treasurer
Founding board member, Brah continues to work to preserve dying arts of traditional cultural practices including Hukilau style of fishing and making leho heʻe tools among others. He is providing advising and his expertise for the Hoʻohuli Ana I Ke Kai program, which aims to create healing and break the cycle of recidivism by reconnecting people to the land and water.
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Desiree DeMello, RISE Board Chair
Founding board member and current board chair, Desi has a background in administration and marketing, but as a local business owner in the hospitality sector, she works every day to bring people to Hawai‘i and change the tourism industry to promote education and awareness about the challenges facing the people of the Pacific Islands while promoting respect and an understanding of aloha.
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Nora Saravia, RISE Public Relations & Education Coordinator
Originally from Lima, Peru, Nora is an experienced educator, writer, certified holistic health counselor, and knowledgeable communications and public relations specialist. She has worked at newspapers including Noticias del Mundo, Wall Street Journal (Americas), and HITN, the largest Spanish-language public broadcasting network in the United States. Nora is a skilled communicator and tireless advocate for change. When she is not busy working with youth and developing new ways to educate the community, she can be found playing her guitar and singing or working in her garden.
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Radyn Kaleikini, RISE Advocacy Coordinator
Radyn brings his background in administration, management, and finance, to advance policy initiatives and make a positive impact on society. Dedicated to driving positive change with a passion for environmental justice, Radyn is responsible for leading RISE advocacy efforts and working closely with our team to develop effective strategies that advance our mission. Radyn enjoys ocean activities and the gym in his free time.
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Ikaika Stephens, RISE Research Officer
Ikaika leads research efforts to support and strengthen RISE programming and initiatives. Equipped with a degree in Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma and a deep commitment to decolonizing research methodologies, Ikaika has embarked on a path to advocate for Indigenous rights and wellbeing. As an Indigenous person of Native Hawaiian and Wichita descent, Ikaika understands the importance of timely and useful information that can be used to strengthen RISE programming. When he's not reading, he can be found training for a marathon or dreaming about #Landback.
