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Lynette Cruz


Lynette Cruz, was born in Hilo, but raised in Honolulu in the small neighborhood of Kapāhulu in Kona, Oʻahu. She graduated from Kaimukī High School and went on to attend Hawaiʻi Pacific University – Hawaiʻi Loa. She completed her BA in Pacific Island Studies in 1987. Soon after, she enrolled in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Anthropology and completed her Master’s in 1990, then her PhD in 2003.


Aunty Lynette taught at various campuses, including Hawaiʻi Pacific University and Kapiʻolani Community College. During her time teaching, she served on a number of boards, social justice organizing efforts, and kept active in her community. She served as the Oʻahu Island educational coordinator in the Sovereignty Education program for Hui Naʻauao for 3 years, as Fund Coordinator in Ahupuaʻa Action Alliance for the Earth Justice organization, as Board Member and Chair for Hawaiʻi People’s Fund, and so many more in between.


Needless to say, Aunty Lynette has always been a beacon of strength and action to all. Her many affiliations and projects speak volumes to the tireless work she does for the betterment of the lāhui. Even after retirement, Aunty Lynette continued to serve many other organizations, such as Mālama Mākua and Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Ka Lei Maile Aliʻi (an organization dedicated to honoring the life and work of Queen Liliʻuokalani through education and cultural programs).


From education, to activism, to organizing, to storytelling, she has and still is an example of resilience, intelligence, and strength.

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http://lahoihoiea.org/honorees/

13 Comments


I truly admire her strength of character.

Poor Bunny


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Davis
Davis
Mar 17

Wow, what an incredible life of service. Aunty Lynette’s dedication to education and her community is truly inspiring. mpeg to mp3 Mahalo for sharing her story.

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I found it interesting to learn that Lynette Cruz was born in Hilo but raised in the Kapāhulu neighborhood of Honolulu, and that she graduated from Kaimukī High School. Small biographical details like that made the story feel more personal and helped me picture the path that shaped her involvement in community work and advocacy. Reading about people who dedicate themselves to protecting culture and place always makes me pause and think about how local identity influences leadership. It’s a different kind of inspiration compared with the academic pressures many students deal with today sometimes even searching for things like Assignment Help in Australia yet both reflect how people look for support and guidance along their journeys.

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I read the story about Lynette Cruz and how she found joy and purpose in her life through family, work and helping others even when things were hard. It reminded me of a time when I was stuck on a paper and I had medical assignment writing services in UK because I did not know how to start and it helped me feel confident to finish. That story makes me think that support and care can help us push through hard moments.

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Nov 05, 2025

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