District 49 Announces Kaina Makua as Keynote Speaker for 2026 Annual Conference

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi — Toastmasters District 49 is honored to announce Kaina Makua as the keynote speaker for the District 49 Annual Conference and International Speech Contest, to be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, South Pacific Ballroom, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A respected cultural practitioner, educator, and community leader from Waimea, Kauaʻi, Makua brings a powerful blend of ancestral knowledge, servant leadership, and contemporary influence to this year’s conference theme, Cultivating Growth with Aloha.

Makua is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kumano I Ke Ala, where he leads initiatives dedicated to restoring ancestral relationships to ʻāina through education, food systems revitalization, and Hawaiian language immersion. A lifelong kalo farmer raised on his family’s farm in West Kauaʻi, he holds a Master’s degree in Hawaiian Language Education and spent more than a decade teaching in Native Hawaiian charter and immersion schools. His commitment to ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and traditional agriculture also led to the founding of Aloha ʻĀina Poi Co., a grassroots effort to restore kalo cultivation and expand community access to this vital Native Hawaiian staple.

In Summer 2025, Makua made his acting debut portraying Kamehameha I in Chief of War, the highly anticipated Apple TV+ series executive produced by Jason Momoa. His casting marked a historic moment for Native Hawaiian and Indigenous representation in global media, grounded in lived cultural knowledge and leadership.

Guided by traditional Hawaiian models of servant leadership, Makua continues to serve West Kauaʻi through his work with schools, youth, and as Head Coach of the Kilohana Hoe Waʻa canoe club in Waimea—ensuring that aloha ʻāina remains both a priority and a kuleana for Hawaiʻi.

“Kaina Makua embodies the very essence of leadership rooted in purpose, culture, and service,” said Toastmasters District 49 Director Lynn Araki-Regan. “His voice and lived experience will inspire our members and guests to lead with authenticity, humility, and aloha,” added Toastmasters District 49 Program Quality Director Jan Cerizo.

Sponsored by MTX and Kevin & Susan Doyle, the District 49 Annual Conference will also feature the International Speech Contest, awards, a silent auction, continental breakfast, and buffet lunch. Early bird registration is available through January 6, 2026.