The success of the Kuleana Academy is due to the participation and support of a whole lot of people, including the HAPA Board of Directors, generous donors and especially program manager Aria Castillo. Participants are instructed by highly qualified professionals with direct experience dealing in politics and policy making.  Subjects covered include public speaking, message development, campaign management, fund-raising etc.  Participants are also taught fundamental personal basics such as that in order to win, you must be willing to lose.  It is this key personality trait that I believe separate the “doers” from the “talkers”.  In total, I have been a candidate in 10 different elections over the past 20 or so years, winning 6 of those campaigns and losing 4.  Frankly, it is through the losses that the most important lessons are learned.  I share my knowledge and experience with participants but that is only one small part of the over-all education and training that occurs.