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Build a better world. Be a kumu. Kumu are highly esteemed professionals who build a stronger Hawaiʻi and a better world.Bertram B.B.
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“KUMU CAREERS”
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12/03/2024
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Impress the heck out of everyone by telling them that what you are going to do after high school is build a new world.
You’re probably getting asked a lot what you’re going to do when you grow up. We know you’ve thought about it, being the responsible, hardworking, kuleana-driven kanaka that you are. What do you tell people when the truth is that you probably just want to take some well-deserved time to lie on the couch and watch Netflix? Do you mention that you want to go backpacking through Europe like some kid from the continent? Or maybe that all you can think of right now is catching some summer swells at Bowls?
Everyone wants to have a good answer to the question of what your post-high-school plans are, so why don’t you quietly take your couch time or your surf time, and then impress the heck out of everyone by telling them that what you are going to do after high school is build a new world. How can you change the world from your couch or from the lineup out at Bowls? Well, you can’t, but when the summer is over, you can get on the path to world-building by taking courses that will allow you to become a kumu!
The world is in desperate need of kumu, not just because of how you affect classrooms and schools.
The world is in desperate need of kumu, and not just because of how you affect students in the classroom. We are in a time of rising sea levels and global environmental issues, racism and homophobia, houselessness and a general disregard for our fellow kānaka. All of these things are at their root caused by the fact that those with decision-making power do not understand the pilina between ʻāina and kanaka, kanaka and kanaka. This is the legacy that your generations will have to deal with, but you can give haumāna a powerful weapon with which to fight these issues: ʻike Hawaiʻi.
Kumu are highly esteemed professionals who build a stronger Hawaiʻi and a better world.
So when you are done relaxing on the couch and the surf is flat, take the unique opportunity to change the world, be a kumu, a source, for the rising generations. Anyone can become a kumu if they are willing to put in the work, but those of you in Hawaiian culture, language, and ‘āina-based kula are already on your way down this path. You didn’t get all those paʻi from your own kumu for nothing! You carry the kuleana to share the ʻike that they have given you, and some of you will want to move further down this path and formally become a kumu like them, someone who will teach others about how this world can and should be, how we can look to our pasts to move into our futures, how to be better kānaka in pilina with the ʻāina. Kumu are highly esteemed professionals for our lāhui, one that many people dedicate their entire lives to, but we always need more, especially if we want to shape the world the way we do.
Don’t believe us? Believe these kumu.
We asked kumu what led them to being awesome and what they enjoy most about it. They had a lot to say, here are some highlights.
Kumu Lei
Līhu'e, Kaua‘i“I never feel like I’m working in this profession because I love what I do.”
– Kumu Lei Wann
Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School
Kumu Leimomi
Pālolo, O‘ahu“I became a kumu kaiapuni to ensure that our language, culture, and lāhui continue to live. Without our language, there is no Hawai‘i.”
– Kumu Leimomi Leong
Ānuenue
Kumu ‘Iolani
Ho‘olehua, Moloka‘i“I’m inspired by how the Hawaiian Language Immersion program gives our communities a strong and positive cultural foundation.”
– Kumu ‘Iolani Kuoha
‘O Hina i ka Malama
Kumu Kaliko
Mānoa, O‘ahu“Being a university professor looked enjoyable and seemed like a strong way to re-establish our ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i in our Kānaka Maoli.”
– Kumu Kaliko Baker
UH Mānoa
Kumu Kiani
Makawao, Maui“After graduating from Kaiapuni, I knew it was my kuleana to become a kumu to provide the same or better opportunities for my haumāna.”
– Kumu Kiani Yasak
Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Maui
Kumu Ka‘aka
Keaukaha, Hawai‘i“My mother is my inspiration to becoming a teacher. She is the force that has given me many opportunities when growing up to be a leader.”
– Kumu Ka‘aka Swain
Ka Umeke Kā‘eo
Kumu Kaumuali‘i
Pālolo, O‘ahu“Getting cracks from my Sifu at HKA inspired me to inspire others… minus the leg sweeps.”
– Kumu Kaumuali‘i Titcomb
Ānuenue
Kumu Trevor
Makiki, O‘ahu“I’m practicing to be a healthy, akamai kupuna like those who fed me. E ho‘okumu!”
– Kumu Trevor Atkins
Hālau Kū Māna
Kumu Kaleikoa
Kahului, Maui“Pehea kākou e lanakila ai? Ma o ka nui o ke aloha e pono ai.”
– Kumu Kaleikoa Kā‘eo
UH Maui
Kumu Mahie
Wailuku, Maui“When their eyes light up wearing a big smile on their face jumping for joy as they say, ‘Yes, I did it!’”
– Kumu Mahie Atay
Ke Kula o Pi‘ilani
Kumu Ekela
Pukalani, Maui“‘O kēia ko‘u kuleana e ho‘oponopono ai i ka hewa i hana ‘ia i ko kākou po‘e kūpuna a mālama i ia ‘ōlelo no nā hanauna e hiki mai ana.”
– Kumu Ekela Kaniaupio-Crozier
Kamehameha Schools Maui
Kumu Tehani
Wailuku, Maui“I hiki i nā keiki ke ‘apo ka mana‘o, hū ka pīhoihoi nō a ha‘aheo wau iā lākou! ”
– Kumu Tehani Guerrero
Ke Kula o Pi‘ilani
Kumu Larsen
Waimānalo, O‘ahu“I’m inspired simply by the faith that I am making a positive difference in the world!”
– Kumu Larsen
Mālama Honua PCS
Kumu Kēhau
Pālolo, O‘ahu“Lohe ʻia ka makua me kāna keiki e ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ana. 5 makahiki ke keiki. 18 oʻu makahiki. ʻAʻole hiki iaʻu ke ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.”
– Kumu Kēhau
Ānuenue
Kumu Lois Ann
Anahola, Kaua‘i“I enjoy building relationships with haumana and helping them discover a love of learning.”
– Kumu Lois Ann Ell
Kanuikapono
Kumu Kealohi
Mānana, O‘ahu“Ka hiki ke launa pū me nā haumāna ma o ka ʻōlelo o ko kākou ʻāina.”
– Kumu Kealohi Foster
Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Waiau
Kumu Lezlie
Waimānalo, O‘ahu“I enjoy learning from and alongside my kids. They have so much to teach me, so I enjoy creating spaces where they can share their knowledge.”
– Kumu Lezlie Kanamu
Blanche Pope Elementary
Kumu Kalaunuola
He‘eia, O‘ahu“Na lākou wau e aʻo mai i kēlā me kēia lā.”
– Kumu Kalaunuola Domingo
Ke Kula o S.M. Kamakau
Kumu Jessica
Waimānalo, O‘ahu“‘To whom much is given, much is expected…’ This lesson and values shared by my family and Dr. Scott is what inspired me to give back.”
– Jessica Ka‘akua
Mālama Honua PCS
Kumu Annie
Anahola, Kaua‘i“‘I became a kumu because my mother taught me that kula and keiki are how you connect to your kaiāulu for generations, and I love my kaiāulu.”
– Annie Torio
Kanuikapono PCS
Kumu Palala
Anahola, Kaua‘i“‘I am able to make a difference in the lives of the keiki of my community of Kaua‘i.”
– Palala Harada
Kanuikapono PCS
Kumu Ku
Moku o Keawe“We have so much fun sometimes we forget that we are learning also.”
– Ku Kahakalau
Ku-A-Kanaka
Kumu Rae
Hale‘iwa, O‘ahu“The haumana have such a great time at Loko Ea, it is hard for the Kumu to get them back onto the bus.”
– Rae DeCoito
Lokoea Fishpond
Kumu Kanoe
Waianae, O‘ahu“I wanted to help people. #kuleanafoundme”
– Kanoe Cadina
Kamaile Academy
Kumu Mikiala
Kapolei, O‘ahu“Every time I learn something new, I want to teach it to someone else.”
– Mikiala Lidstone
Ulu A‘e Learning Center
Kumu Lei
Kahului, Maui“Ma ka Hana ka ‘ike.”
– Lei Ishikawa
Paeloko Learning Center
Kumu Kanoe
Lahaina, Maui“I ola ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ma kuʻu kaiāulu ʻo Lahaina! ”
– Kanoe Steward
Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘o Lahaina
Kumu Kanani
Anahola, Kaua‘i“ʻĀina inspired me to be a kumu. I love creating opportunities for students to learn from ʻāina. ”
– Kanani Durant
Kawaikini
Kumu Henohea
Pukalani, Maui“The knowledge and compassion that all of my kumu instilled in me inspired me to be the same foundation for the generations after me.”
– Henohea Kane
Kamehameha Schools Maui
Kumu ‘Au‘a
Keaukaha, Hawai‘i“Ia’u e ‘Ike ai i ke alo o nā Keiki, ka ‘i’ini, a ka ikehu i loko o lākou. ma laila nō ka mana. ‘O ia ku’u walea.”
– ‘Au‘a Ka‘au‘a
Ka Umeke Kā‘eo
Kumu Kahea
Mānoa, O‘ahu“No ka pono o ka ‘āina!”
– Kahea Faria
Ke Kula Ho‘ona‘auao o Hawai‘i
