Kalani is the Founding and current Director of the Olohana Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit based on Hawaii’s Big Island since 2008. Olohana focuses on building community capacity, cohesiveness, resilience, and emergency preparedness around food, energy, water, and knowledge systems. Kalani is also a Coastal Community Resilience Trainer with FEMA Consortium member, the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He serves as a cultural competency consultant for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Services Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is regularly called to lead and participate in workshops and webinars on topics including disaster preparedness, community, relationships, knowledge systems sharing, indigenous environmental stewardship, and climate change adaptation. He also serves as a mentor with the Hawaii non-killing effort out of the Spark Matsunaga Center for Peace and as a board member for the Ala Kahakai Trail Association, part of the National Park Services Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail.

Scope and Content Note
This oral history interview with Matthew Kalani Souza provides insights into the changes and challenges faced by the coral reefs in Hawaii due to human activities and development. Souza describes the impact of population growth on the nearshore environment and highlights the degradation of once-thriving marine ecosystems. He emphasizes the need to address human behavior and adjust our actions to support the recovery of coral reefs. Souza also shares Hawaiian creation stories, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the natural world. The interview underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts and sustainable practices to preserve Hawaii's unique coral reef ecosystems. Additionally, Souza reflects on his early involvement in environmental activism and his disappointment with limited governmental measures. He calls for the younger generation to rise up and take action, emphasizing the importance of new ideas and approaches. Souza also shares lessons on embracing multiple perspectives and practicing forgiveness. The interview explores Souza's experiences with marine life and his belief in resilience, finding happiness, and prioritizing collective growth and joy.