ABOUT US
Aloha With Action (AWA) is a Hawaiian nonprofit 501(c)3. AWA launched their “Hawaii Leadership Residency” (HLR) to positively influence the lives of young adults and to train them to make a difference. HLR exists to activate young leaders by engaging them in immersive discipleship, hands-on service, and intentional community on the island of Kaua’i. See our landing page for more info on what we do and our beliefs. See below to learn about our team and our key relationships.
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Eric and Lyn Taylor
FOUNDERS
Originally from South Africa, the Taylors are the visionaries behind Makanalani and the Residency. After raising their family in Irvine, California and leaving Corporate America in the early 2000’s, the journey of building Makanalani began. Read more about how we started.
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Noah
RESIDENCY COORDINATOR
Noah’s heart burns for our precious Lord Jesus, and he wishes to see the hearts of young men ignited by Him. Noah oversees the sheep flocks and HLR’s farm service at Makanalani. He has experience in media and film, was an NCAA athlete, and studied philosophy at Wheaton College.
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Calista
RESIDENCY COORDINATOR
Cal is profoundly motivated by Kingdom-hospitality and empowering young women. She is a skilled baker, leading our production of sourdough and farm-fresh products for markets. She studied psychology at Vanguard University and loves to surf and hike.
GENESIS COLLECTIVE— GLOBAL
We have an apostolic partnership with Genesis Collective, a group of Global adventurers, Gospel storytellers, and Jesus-community creators spanning dozens of churches that sow into the nations.
On God’s timing, Eric and Lyn Taylor (HLR founders) met Chris and Meryl Weinand (Genesis Founders) and together they dreamt to augment the program with a robust teaching schedule and discipleship culture. It was through Genesis that current coordinators, Noah and Cal, landed at HLR.
The collective works with HLR to craft curriculum and send in families to pour into our residents. Most weeks of teaching are led by GC leaders from all over the world. A major benefit of this partnership is that residents are connected to a global network– pastors, church planters, and marketplace leaders with a Biblical mindset. Residents have access to this network for the rest of their lives: to keep up with mentors, opportunities to travel on mission, and support for those pursuing careers and locations that Genesis leaders can help with.
MAKANALANI KIDS— FOUNDING
HLR was originally started as “Makanalani Internship Program” and remains connected to Makanalani, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides incredible free-of-cost camp experiences to the underprivileged and to island youth. Out of mere support of their vision and service, we partner with Makanalani by providing them volunteer help from our residents.
With Makanalani, our residents are provided the opportunity to lead Kid’s camps, to tend Makanalani’s gorgeous land (aina), harvest fruit, and care for livestock.
AMEN PODCAST— LOCAL
Amen Podcast is a 501(c)3 non-profit religious organization with the mission to preach the good news of Jesus Christ and how it applies to everyday life. Amen is led by Alex and Lokelani Wilson, who also host House Church, a church body on island. Their hope is that the preaching of God’s word will transform the believer and convict the sinner unto repentance and salvation.
The Wilsons are supporters of HLR and a part of the teaching schedule. Their example sets a beautiful vision of family, the importance of being rooted in a local church, and what it’s like to be a disciple of Jesus in Kaua’i.