Are you looking for someone new to speak about cultural tourism, international politics or indigenous peoples?

Kainoa Horcajo is an emerging leader in this field, specialising in the application of Native Hawaiian values, principles and practices to a holistic visitor experience.

Born and raised on the island of Maui, Kainoa is a perpetual student of the Hawaiian culture, studying under the guidance of highly respected kupuna (elders) in varied disciplines such as traditional celestial calendars, martial arts, herbal and energetic healing and more.

Most recently he served as the Hawaiian Cultural Director of the Andaz Maui at Wailea, seeking to create an authentic Hawaiian sense of place while instilling culturally-grounded values throughout the workplace. Working with the team prior to the resort’s opening, Kainoa assisted in the naming and conceptualisation of the resort’s now award-winning outlets such as Ka’ana Kitchen and ‘Awili Spa and Salon.

As a sought-after trainer in Hawaii’s visitor industry, Kainoa has instructed thousands of executives and employees from the state’s largest resorts including the Westin Maui, Sheraton Waikiki, Four Seasons-Lana’i, Outrigger Resorts and more. He was also the lead trainer for Maui County in preparation for the international APEC meeting in 2012.

Kainoa is a popular speaker who weaves cultural values into personal development, motivational, and productivity training and has delivered keynote speeches to many corporate groups and organizations. He has hosted and facilitated conferences and workshops including TEDx Maui 2012 & 2013.
He is a graduate of the University of San Diego, earning his bachelor of arts degree in International Relations focusing on Indigenous Peoples and Politics. His post-graduate education includes the Ka Ipu Kukui fellowship program for community-selected future leaders and the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association’s Ola Hawaii place-based hospitality training program.

Kainoa shows his aloha ‘aina, love for the land, through volunteer service to numerous organizations including Maui Recycling Group, PBS Hawaii’s Community Advisory Board, Sustainable Living Institute of Maui, DeBolt Gardens Foundation, Maui Tomorrow, Hui o Na Wai Eha, ‘Ao’ao o Na Loko i’a o Maui and more. He also spends time working on Mahina Farms, his family’s farm in Iao Valley that produces coffee, hardwoods, and native plants.