| His commitment to the formation of the Cultural Resource Plan and establishing rules for burials and ahu formations helped to solidify the approved plans. He was meticulous about reviewing extensive and comprehensive research reports coming to Kahu Kū Mauna for review and advisement. Leningrad often included grammar edits to the reports. It was his attention to detail and meeting preparation that others came to rely on.
Patti Cook, a board member of the Waimea Community Association noted in an interview with Hawaii Tribune Herald, “he never went to a meeting where he hadn’t read every single document that was going to be on the agenda. He always went totally prepared and that gave me a lot of confidence.”
Kahu Kū Mauna Board Chair Shane Palacat Nelson shared, “What I admired about him was his ability to really hear others even in disagreements. Leningrad’s philosophy centered on the idea that it was okay to have differences of opinions within the Kahu Kū Mauna council. He spoke his mind and allowed others to do the same. I admired that of Leningrad.”
Leningrad was born and raised in the district of Ka‘ū. His abundance of cultural knowledge came from his ‘ohana and community which included Mary Kawena Pukui, a close family friend who also was born in Ka‘ū.
Perhaps Leningrad’s affinity for the mauna came from his father who was a heavy equipment operator who cleared the first road up Maunakea—the Maunakea access road to the stone cabins.
Leningrad Elarionoff brought a diverse Native Hawaiian viewpoint to the tough issues. He chose to use his leadership skills and mana‘o to help guide the mauna’s stewardship decisions with the mantra that all the decisions we make today have to be better for the future.
Mahalo Leningrad, all is good.
Maunakea, kuahiwi ku ha’o i ka mālie
Maunakea, standing alone in the calm. |
