Walter Ritte holds a robust background in community leadership and environmental advocacy. He graduated from Kamehameha Schools and later attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Ritte became a prominent figure in the Hawaiian community during the early 1970s, leading efforts for water rights and opposing land development. He played a pivotal role in the successful landing on Kahoʻolawe in 1976 and has since dedicated his career to environmental protection and social justice. Ritte co-founded the nonprofit ‘Āina Momona in 2017, focusing on food security and Hawaiian sovereignty.

Walter Ritte combines a deep-rooted commitment to Hawaiian sovereignty and environmental protection with a surprising willingness to bridge ideological divides. His advocacy for community-based water rights and opposition to environmentally harmful land development projects reveal a highly localized approach. Ritte's unexpected alignment with opposing factions on environmental regulations suggests a calculated strategy to protect regional industrial interests. His protest against the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea highlights a consistent dedication to preserving cultural and environmental heritage.