Tag Archive for: Leadership

Stewardship & the Return to True Nature

A journal from the forest and the stars

As the echoes of eclipse season linger—Virgo’s earthy precision, Aries’ fiery initiation, Libra’s recalibration—we stand in the threshold of something subtle yet powerful: a return.

These aren’t just celestial events. They’re archetypal energies moving through the body, the heart, and the field. They’re not asking to be understood. They’re asking to be embodied.

True harmony may not lie in keeping the peace,
but in the fierce clarity of living in alignment with one’s own truth.

The Feminine Rising: Voice, Desire & Devotion

Venus is ascending now, emerging from her 40-day underworld passage through Aries and Pisces. She returns covered in stardust and saltwater—tender, fierce, unapologetic.

The feminine voice rises—not in polished perfection, but in raw, creative truth. No longer hiding her longing or her widom. No longer betraying herself to be digestible.

Mercury, freshly direct after his retrograde, travels with her. Together, they tell a story of reclamation.
A story of voice. Of truth.
Of no longer waiting for permission to be real.

Saturn offers structure.
The North Node pulls the path into focus.
The cosmic pattern whispers:

This is not the time to shrink your compassion. This is the time to expand the heart.

Listening to the Land: A Walk Through the Gulch

Today we walked into the gulch.
We’re staying in a remote corner of Huelo, deep Haiku Maui. Way down at the end of the road.

To get here, you drive down Hana highway, then veer off to a rough dirt road.
The dirt road grows rougher and rougher until you’re moving no faster than if you walked.

And then, the rainforest opens, and there it is:
our home, the gulch, blue ocean.
Perched over cliffs and the crashing sea,
wrapped in wild forest and tangled vines,
mangoes, coconuts, guavas, sugarcane,
streams twisting through the terrain.

We walked with Lucy and Naga, our pups,
watching how they splashed in the water in the stream,
how they greeted the pigs, goats, and chickens that roam wild.

There is no real trail here. No steps but the ones chosen in the moment.
No clarity but the one earned through presence.

“There is no paved path through the gulch of the soul. You find your footing by feeling.”

The descent is messy.
No signs, no markers.
Just loose earth, sugarcane, cobwebs, and tall grass.
And in between, the shimmer of sunlight breaking through canopy.
Birdsong. Stillness. Beauty that catches you mid-step and fills you.

It reminded me of time with my kumu, Uncle Kimokeo, deep in the valleys of Honokōhau.

He worked the land with intuition, not an agenda. “Plant ti here. Papaya trees over there. Taro where the water pools and flows. Move that stone. Divert that water.”

He didn’t command the land. He conversed with it.

A true steward doesn’t control.
A true steward listens and responds.

That’s what this walk felt like. That’s what this moment in the sky reflects.

The terrain of the heart is no different. It is wild. Sacred. Demanding. Beautiful. To walk it is to become responsive, aware, and rooted.

Not claiming ownership of land, but practicing care.
Not forcing shape, but listening for what is already alive and asking to be tended.

strat·e·gy

/ˈstradəjē/ noun

  1. a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim

Stewardship as Strategy

The sacred geometry of this moment—Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Neptune—forms a living strategy. Not one drawn on paper, but one etched in breath, in stillness, in sensation.

This isn’t strategy for control.
It’s strategy for communion.

To witness.
To feel.
To respond with clarity.
To live from the pulse of what is real.

The Recalibration of the Heart

As Mercury meets Neptune in Aries, the mind dissolves.
The oracle steps forward.
The heart speaks.

Logic may no longer be the guide.
But something older is.
The flame within. The instinctual knowing. The intuitive thread.

This is a warrior heart awakening,
not to fight, but to stand firm in sacred truth, in Aloha.

This Astrology Is Not Abstract

It’s alive. Asking:

  • Where am I not fully present?
  • What part of me is rising from the underworld?
  • Where am I still filtering my voice to maintain comfort?
  • Am I letting desire shape my direction—or fear?
  • Am I leading—or listening to what life wants from me?

Journal Prompt to consider;

  • Where am I not fully present and just following the path?
  • What part of me is ready to rise from the hypnosis?
  • How can I tend to my life like sacred land—intuitively, honestly, and with care?

Let the voice return.
Let the breath slow.
Let the beauty guide.
Let the true path form beneath your feet.

This is the return to true nature. Wildly at peace. Peacefully wild.

Navigator Leadership: Guiding Maui’s Future Through Experiential Learning & Strategic Growth

In today’s rapidly evolving world, Maui’s leaders—business owners, nonprofit directors, educators, and community organizers—must navigate a landscape of increasing complexity. The aftermath of the wildfires has only amplified the urgency for resilient, visionary leadership that can meet the growing needs of our communities, businesses, and families.

At Navigator Project (navigatorproject.org), we believe in a leadership philosophy deeply rooted in action, nature, and indigenous wisdom. Our approach goes beyond traditional executive coaching—it’s experiential, immersive, and transformative. Through ocean expeditions, leadership retreats, and strategic consulting, we empower individuals and teams to develop the skills necessary to lead with clarity, adaptability, and purpose.

Leadership as Wayfinding: A New Approach to Executive Coaching

The ancient Polynesians were master navigators, charting thousands of miles across the Pacific using only the stars, ocean currents, and deep observational awareness. This wayfinding mindset is just as relevant to modern leadership as it was to voyaging across open seas.

Successful business owners and organizational leaders often reach a plateau where traditional methods no longer bring growth. Just as a canoe must adjust to shifting tides, leaders must learn to navigate challenges with wisdom, foresight, and strategic decision-making.

A skilled navigator:
Reads the environment and adjusts course as needed
Leads a crew with clarity, trust, and purpose
Balances tradition with innovation
Understands that true leadership is about service

Our Navigator Leadership Training applies these same principles, integrating executive coaching with real-world, experiential learning that brings leadership lessons to life.


Beyond the Boardroom: Leadership Development Through the Ocean

Unlike conventional leadership seminars, we take leaders out of the boardroom and into the natural world. The ocean is a powerful teacher—it reveals our strengths, our blind spots, and our ability to work together under pressure.

Our Maui Leadership Expeditions include:

🌊 Outrigger Canoe Expeditions: Leadership & Team Cohesion

Paddle together, learning Hawaiian wayfinding, celestial navigation, and team synergy. The canoe is a perfect metaphor for an organization—each person must pull their weight, communicate clearly, and adjust to the ever-changing conditions of the ocean.

🐢 Snorkeling & Marine Exploration: Lessons in Adaptability

Dive into Maui’s coral reefs and swim alongside sea turtles, tropical fish, and dolphins, drawing lessons in ecosystem interdependence, resilience, and long-term thinking—essential qualities for leaders navigating today’s challenges.

🌅 Leadership Retreats & Family Reconciliation

For businesses, nonprofits, and even families, our day-long retreats and immersive experiences focus on team-building, strategic alignment, and relational healing. Just like paddling a canoe, leadership requires harmony, clear direction, and a shared vision.

🏄 Canoe Surfing & Inter-Island Crossings: Leading Through Challenge

For those seeking advanced leadership training, we offer long-distance inter-island canoe expeditions and wave-riding experiences, where leaders confront their limits, build resilience, and learn to trust the process of adaptation and growth.


Executive Coaching: Strengthening Organizations from Within

A strong leader creates strong teams. Yet many business owners and nonprofit leaders struggle to provide the ongoing mentorship, accountability, and strategic vision their teams need.

Our Executive & CEO Coaching Program provides:

Focus & Prioritization: Identifying high-impact goals that drive success
Active Accountability: Ensuring leaders stay on track with structured guidance
A Strategic Sounding Board: Problem-solving with experienced mentors
Leadership Skill Development: Building internal capacity for sustainable growth

The best leaders don’t work alone. Just as a navigator relies on the wisdom of the stars and the strength of their crew, today’s leaders need expert guidance and a network of support.


Why Leadership Training is Crucial for Maui’s Future

Maui’s businesses, nonprofits, and families are facing increasing pressure to adapt, grow, and lead effectively. In the wake of economic shifts, environmental crises, and community rebuilding efforts, the demand for high-impact leadership training has never been greater.

  • Nonprofit Organizations must expand services, scale operations, and strengthen leadership to serve the growing needs of our community.
  • Businesses need strategic vision, branding clarity, and operational excellence to thrive in an unpredictable economy.
  • Educational and Government Leaders must develop agile teams and innovative solutions to support Maui’s evolving landscape.
  • Families & Communities require tools for communication, reconciliation, and leadership development to foster long-term resilience.

At Navigator Project, we provide the leadership training, coaching, and experiential learning programs needed to equip individuals and teams to meet these challenges head-on.


Answering the Call: Train, Lead, and Navigate the Future

The ocean teaches us that to navigate successfully, we must paddle together, adjust to the changing winds, and trust in our ability to find the way forward.

Are you ready to elevate your leadership and empower your team? Whether you are a business leader, nonprofit director, government official, or part of a family seeking deeper connection, we invite you to explore our programs.

📩 Reach out today for:
Customized Leadership Training
Team-Building Expeditions
Strategic Business & Organizational Consulting
One-Day Retreats & Long-Term Coaching

🌐 Learn more at navigatorproject.org and set your course for the future.

Maui Leadership: Rising to the Challenge in a Time of Change

Maui has always been a land of resilience, innovation, and deep-rooted wisdom. From the ancient Polynesians who navigated the vast Pacific using only the stars to today’s community leaders forging a path forward in uncertain times, leadership here has never been about individual power—it has always been about collective strength, adaptability, and the ability to navigate change together.

Now, more than ever, Maui needs strong, adaptive leadership. In the wake of the devastating fires, our island faces unprecedented challenges. Nonprofit agencies are stretched thin, government and educational organizations are restructuring to meet the evolving needs of our people, and businesses and families alike are searching for better ways to lead, collaborate, and serve the community. The time for reactive leadership has passed. We must cultivate the skills to lead with vision, purpose, and resilience in an environment that demands more from us every day.

Leadership Rooted in Aloha: The Maui Way

True leadership on Maui isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about responsibility. Kuleana, the Hawaiian value of sacred responsibility, reminds us that leadership is about service. It’s about making decisions with integrity, wisdom, and a deep respect for both the people and the land.

Hawaiian leadership is built on these key principles:
Pono (Righteousness & Balance): Leading with ethical clarity, ensuring that actions align with the greater good.
Laulima (Cooperation & Teamwork): Understanding that true progress happens when we work together.
Aloha (Compassion & Respect): Creating an environment of trust, empathy, and strong relationships.
Wayfinding & Adaptability: Like our ancestors who navigated the Pacific, modern leaders must be adaptable, forward-thinking, and attuned to the ever-changing environment.

The Increasing Demand for Stronger Leadership

Maui’s nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, and families are all feeling the pressure of increased need and limited resources. As the island rebuilds and reinvents itself, leaders across all sectors must strengthen their ability to problem-solve, innovate, and collaborate under pressure.

  • Nonprofit Organizations are being called upon to expand their reach, scale services, and operate with greater efficiency to support displaced families and environmental restoration efforts.
  • Government and Educational Leaders need to foster more agile, responsive teams to meet the growing demands of the community.
  • Businesses must rethink their models, focusing on sustainable strategies, ethical leadership, and long-term resilience in an economy that has been shaken to its core.
  • Families & Community Leaders must navigate difficult conversations, collective decision-making, and intergenerational healing, strengthening the foundation of Maui’s future.

The need for transformational leadership training is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Leadership Development Through Experiential Learning

Leadership isn’t learned in a classroom. It is forged through experience, challenge, and reflection. That’s why we offer immersive leadership training, taking participants out of traditional boardrooms and into the natural world—where lessons of teamwork, adaptability, and resilience become real.

Through day-long retreats, workshops, team-building expeditions, and business strategy consultations, we help organizations and leaders develop the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. Our training programs include:

🔹 Ocean-Based Leadership Expeditions: Canoe paddling, wayfinding, and teamwork-building experiences on the waters of Maui.
🔹 Strategic Business Consultation: Helping businesses refine their mission, vision, branding, and operational strategy to align with today’s challenges.
🔹 On-Site Leadership Seminars: Interactive workshops focusing on team cohesion, problem-solving, and decision-making under pressure.
🔹 Family & Organizational Reconciliation Retreats: Strengthening communication, trust, and collaboration among teams, families, and communities.

Answering the Call: Strengthen Your Organization’s Leadership

The challenges Maui faces today require leaders who are not only capable and strategic but also deeply connected to the values of Aloha, Pono, and Laulima. Whether you are leading a nonprofit, a business, a government agency, or a family, now is the time to invest in your leadership development and the growth of your team.

If your organization is ready to level up, strengthen its core functions, and create lasting impact, let’s connect. We offer customized training, retreats, seminars, and expeditions designed to meet your needs and empower your team to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose.

📩 Contact us today to start the conversation and build the future of leadership on Maui.