Like any proud mother, Leinaala Bright couldn’t wait to see her only daughter graduate from college. She just didn’t expect to be wearing her own cap and gown when it happened.
Bright and her daughter, Cassandra Poggi, both graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa this semester, proudly sharing the honor of being the first in their family to earn a four-year degree.
"We’re setting the new standard for our family," Bright said, laughing.
Bright, granddaughter of legendary Hawaiian musician Solomon Bright, was born and raised in the Bay Area but maintained close ties to her Hawaiian roots through her father’s catering business, Hawaiian cultural clubs in the area and summer vacations in the islands.
She attended the University of California, Davis, for a year and a half before moving to Hawaii and starting a family.
Bright’s long-held fascination with Hawaiian cultural practices led her to study lomilomi massage — which she has practiced professionally for more than 20 years — and later lua, the Hawaiian martial art.
A single parent, Bright continued to take college classes when she could, eventually earning an associate’s degree from Windward Community College. But it wasn’t until her son Keawa, the youngest of her four children, graduated from high school that she was able to devote herself to her studies.
Transferring to UH-Manoa, Bright enrolled in the Hawaiinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge and studied laau lapaau, Hawaiian healing, under kumu Levon Ohai.
"I couldn’t justify going back to school if I couldn’t make what I learned real to me," Bright said. "I wanted to be able to take the knowledge that our ancestors acquired and pass it on to my keiki and moopuna (grandchildren) in ways that are real and viable to who we are today."
As her knowledge of traditional healing arts deepened, so did her appreciation for her culture and her desire to use her growing expertise to help build sustainable communities in Hawaii.
Three years ago Bright founded Naloponics with David McGuire. The business promotes sustainable living through modern aquaponics and traditional Hawaiian gardening principles.
The Bright family’s two college graduates have already moved on to the next phase of their lives. Cassandra, who earned a degree in financial management, has already landed a full-time job in her field. Meanwhile, Bright is preparing to enter graduate school with hopes of one day teaching in the university system.
"It was really hard at times," Bright says of her educational journey, "but I had great teachers and mentors along the way. School is a big part of my life now."
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Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@staradvertiser.com.
