Kūhiō Fellows

McKayla McCullah

Office of Representative Ed Case (HI)
Home State: Mākaha, Hawaiʻi
School: Arizona State University
Degree: Global Studies and Sustainability (BA ‘27)
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McKayla McCullah was born on the island of Oʻahu and comes from a blended family of nine siblings. She is from the communities of Mākaha and Kāneʻohe. A proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, she studied at Arizona State University with a background in Global Studies and Sustainability. While there, she was a member of multiple organizations that propel young leaders and uplift Indigenous communities.

McKayla discovered her love for sustainable Indigenous communities while studying abroad in Costa Rica during her freshman year of college. She has a deep love for community service and listening to others. She began volunteering at age 12, as her parents always encouraged her to give back to all communities. McKayla first began volunteering in the loʻi with Keiki O Ka ʻĀina. Since then, she has given back to organizations and programs such as the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, Arizona Animal Welfare League, Blue Zones Projects, American Cancer Society, handicap services, and music leadership through Vacation Bible School.

McKayla discovered her passion for policy when she began volunteering with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN) in 2022 and became the Vice State Lead for Hawaiʻi in 2023. After serving as a co-founder of the Indigenous Volunteer Voices and Young Leader Caucus, McCullah received the first-ever National Young Leader Award from ACSCAN in 2024.

In 2023, she founded her own support network, Cups of Light, where she focuses on meeting with community members, facilitating conversations, and providing support to those navigating the difficulties of the health world. McKayla also helped found the Kirkira Institute, a social impact lab rooted in sustainable and justice-driven movements.

McKayla wishes to run for a State Representative or Senate position before the age of 30, representing her Mākaha and Waiʻanae communities. She hopes to use her experiences to uplift Indigenous communities and be a vessel for Native Hawaiians.

In her free time, McKayla enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, relaxing at the beach, and reading.