{"id":212178,"date":"2025-03-12T10:17:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T20:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=212178"},"modified":"2025-03-12T10:17:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T20:17:24","slug":"sustainability-culture-shidler-alumna-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/12\/sustainability-culture-shidler-alumna-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability, culture at heart of Shidler alumna\u2019s work"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"headshot\"
Taylor Ledgerwood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Taylor Ledgerwood, a 2023 University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa Shidler College of Business<\/a> alumna, is a driving force behind regenerative tourism in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> through her role as manager of the Kahala Initiative for Sustainability, Culture and the Arts (KISCA<\/abbr>). Her work draws on environmental sustainability, cultural preservation and community engagement to create thoughtful, purposeful experiences for guests and residents.<\/p>\n

Ledgerwood creates platforms via events and guest activities that showcase and celebrate Hawaiian cultural practitioners, non-profit partners, local and Native artists and restoration projects in the area.<\/p>\n

Her first role centered around sustainability projects and environmental education. She also taught coral education pop-ups, microplastic keiki art classes and the Sunset Seminar speaker series. Transitioning to her current role as manager allowed her to shape KISCA<\/abbr>\u2019s direction more strategically, expanding its reach and impact.<\/p>\n

Under her leadership, KISCA<\/abbr> has introduced transformative programs such as tree-planting initiatives where guests can sponsor or plant trees themselves. These activities offer a hands-on way for visitors to connect with Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s environment while giving back to the land.<\/p>\n

Additionally, partnerships with organizations such as M\u0101lama Maunalua have allowed KISCA<\/abbr> to play a vital role in the Restore with Resilience Project, which focuses on ecosystem restoration from mountain to sea. One of her proudest accomplishments has been bridging the gap between cultural authenticity and luxury hospitality.<\/p>\n

“I see sustainability and cultural initiatives continuing to evolve and becoming even more essential in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s hospitality industry,” she said. “What\u2019s interesting, in my opinion, is that every property will likely develop its own unique ‘personality type’ when it comes to regenerative tourism.”<\/p>\n

Sharing knowledge, encouraging persistence<\/h2>\n

Beyond her work at KISCA<\/abbr>, Ledgerwood has shared her knowledge through returning to her alma mater to guest lecture and has given presentations at conferences on regenerative tourism. When asked for advice to current Shidler students, she emphasizes the importance of persistence and passion.<\/p>\n

“Stay committed to what drives you, even if the path isn\u2019t clear yet,” Ledgerwood said. “When I started, sustainable tourism wasn\u2019t a widely recognized field, but I found ways to integrate my interests into my studies and career. Don\u2019t be afraid to carve your own path—the opportunities will come.”<\/p>\n

For the entire story and more stories like this, see the fall\/winter 2024 edition of Shidler Business<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Under her leadership, KISCA<\/abbr> has introduced transformative programs such as tree-planting initiatives where guests can sponsor or plant trees themselves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[90,679,498,1466,1314,158,146,73,9,1626],"class_list":["post-212178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-alumni","tag-alumni-recognition","tag-business","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-publication","tag-shidler-college-of-business","tag-sustainability","tag-uh-manoa","tag-women-of-uh","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t