Q. Yours is a brand new position. How did it come about?

A. Solely through, of course, 'aumakua, through which we seek our spiritual knowledge. 'Aumakua has tied me to the right people at the right time, focusing my attentions on architecture early in my life and lua later. That has established a good balance in my life, knowing the Western way of doing things and, of course, the Hawaiian way of doing things. I firmly believe that Kamehameha Schools saw that, above everything else, there was a balance there. And balance is always a good thing for any organization.

Q. How will your new role affect visitors and local residents?

A. Kamehameha Schools and The Festival Companies (which manages the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center) are making every effort possible to reinvigorate and be an integral part of the Hawaiian renaissance. Waikiki was an area reserved solely for the chiefs, where the chiefs learned leadership, strategy and healing, and that also ties into the Kamehameha Schools mission in education and leadership. Not only do I take care of the cultural programs, which we're going to augment on top of the programs that we already have, but aloha and na mea ho'okipa, or hospitality, extends from within to without. So we need to take care of our management team, our staff and make sure everyone is working like a well-oiled machine. How can you share aloha if you do not have it inside of you? We have a different way of doing things here in Hawai'i and it's very special and unique.

Q. What kind of new programs do you plan to add to the existing lessons in such things as 'ukulele, hula and Hawaiian quilting?

A. When you ask someone about the Hawaiian culture of Hawaiian people they range from great hula dancers to great food. The programs that we are going to begin go over the fact that Hawaiians went from Tahiti to Hawai'i with no navigational tools whatsoever, at least in the Western sense. So we're expert navigators. We were expert orators. Our culture is oratory. We did not have to write things down on paper. We memorized thousands of years of genealogy. We were expert lua. I like to say that when Kamehameha conquered the islands he didn't send out hula dancers. He sent out warriors. There's warriorship in Hawaiian culture. That doesn't have to be in a negative way. You could use warfare in a positive way. That's something we learn in lua and that's something I'd love to bring back to Waikiki, the birthplace of that. Bringing our Native Hawaiians and local residents back is key to having a successful mix here at the Royal Hawaiian.

Q. Will they all continue to be free?

A. All of our programs are packed and free at the shopping center. The common question I get is, 'Why is it free?' We're educating people about what the Native Hawaiian is. In light of our current challenges within the Native Hawaiian community with Congress and/or the federal government, it's important that we educate in a positive way what the indigenous culture is. If we can share that with people, it's better than buying a handbag because handbags and clothes deteriorate but memories never do. I think if we share the true aloha spirit — share the face of heaven, which is what aloha means — it's unforgettable.

Q. You're also planning a "100 Kahili Program." What is that?

A. Our kahili instructor will now go out into the community and teach business organizations how to make kahili (or feather standard, a symbol of royalty). If you wanted a kahili in your lobby, you have it — on the condition that you bring it back for the grand opening (of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in the first quarter of 2007). The last time the Native Hawaiian community has seen 100 kahili at one time was when a chief was born or died. We here celebrate (Princess Bernice) Pauahi Bishop. We want to rebirth her. Manifested through 100 kahili is a good way to start. So the program takes its fingers out into the community, educates and shares Hawaiian culture in a positive way, with the understanding of sharing back with the Royal Hawaiian and then you can go ahead and keep them.

Q. Do many businesses and organizations know they can participate in learning how to make kahili of their own and be part of creating 100 kahili?

A. On the island of Maui the turnout has been fantastic.

Q. The redesign of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center includes a dramatic new feature, the Royal Grove where a large, three-story bridge used to stand. What is the intent of the Royal Grove?

A. It's bifurcated into two parts: a male part and a female part, a mauka side, a makai side, a day side, a night side. This polarity is called palua or duality. It is one of the key elements in establishing pono, or balance. On the mauka, male side, we plan to house lively entertainment in a natural, outdoor amphitheater, surrounded by a grove of niu coconut trees. Throughout Waikiki they had in excess of 10,000 trees. We intend to bring that history back and say, 'This is what we understood was here before.' Everything here is for the intention of sharing our culture in a positive way. On the female side, we will place our first statute of Pauahi, where our guests can find respite and we might have programs in lomi lomi massage for our guests who have been shopping at our mall all day. There will be wetland taro with usable plantings. True Hawaiian sense of place means we use things not just for looks, but because we need it. We plan to plant wetland taro, cut it and teach our guests how to pound poi, which they're free to take home. There's nothing better than freshly pounded poi.

Q. There has never been a statue erected before of the princess?

A. I believe in all of K.S. holdings this is the first statue of Pauahi. Our intention is to have our ali'i seated. As is custom, if the ali'i sits, then all can sit. I know we are doing good by placing her in the grove.