This week on ‘Muthaship,’ we shine the spotlight on the first female fire captain in Hawaii County history ― Melanie Keolanui!

It’s a title that Mel admits comes with a lot of pressure and challenges, since meeting the demands of her first responder duties while being a mother to a 10-year-old son isn’t easy.

But ultimately, Mel says: “It doesn’t matter what gender you are. If you put in the work, you can do it!”

A year into her new role, Melanie is already changing the mindset of young girls who aren’t used to seeing women in firefighting gear. With her drive to succeed as an all-star high school and college athlete, and her dad’s legacy as her biggest motivator, Mel says she isn’t done making a difference in the community just yet!