ʻAuhea ʻOukou e nā Kumu? (English)

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Read this article in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

By Makalapua Alencastre, Ed.D.

Hui! Calling out to youth, parents, and aloha ʻāina friends across our pae ʻāina to heed this call to join the Hawaiian language revitalization movement – a movement enabling us to educate ourselves through our language and culture, assuring our mother language grows and thrives.

Starting in 1983, our Hawaiian education programs have developed and now span from early childhood to college levels. The ʻAha Pūnana Leo and Hawaiian immersion-medium schools are providing a valuable mauli ola Hawaiʻi education. Educational foundations are based on our ancestral knowledge, spirituality, behaviors, and Hawaiian language. The optimum goal is to bring our language and culture back into our family lives through educational sovereignty.

For our youth, there are currently 40 programs including 13 Pūnana Leo and 27 Hawaiian immersion-medium schools (six are public charter schools). Incredible progress is being made in our programs! However, one of the critical issues is the insufficient numbers of teachers for existing schools as well as for future programs. So, as a means of encouragement to become a kumu, a new video ʻAuhea ʻOukou e nā Kumu has been produced (as a sequel to the 1990 ʻAuhea ʻOe e ke Kumu).

This informative and inspiring video highlights culture-based learning environments depicting kumu educating our youth throughout our communities. Here a few interesting excerpts from the video illuminating the manaʻo of various reflecting their dedication and the value of being a kumu:

“We’re here in Hawaiʻi and it’s known that our language and culture are in great peril. Where else will it live? Only here and that’s our responsibility.” – Kumu Kaʻiulani Carvalho, Kawaikini, Kauaʻi.

“The tremendous amount of work of being a kumu kaiapuni is known but realizing how our lessons really impact students and teachers at the gut level is pure joy.” – Kumu Emilia Kaawa, Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo, Hawaiʻi.

“The immersion teacher’s responsibility is far greater than that of other teachers, because we strive to develop students’ mauli ola, their Hawaiian life force.” – Kumu Henani Enos, Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, Hawaiʻi

“It is the land that sustains us. I learned this from my parents and grandparents on Molokaʻi—that’s how this knowledge lives.” – Kumu Mahina Hou Ross, ʻO Hina i ka Malama, Molokaʻi.

“Before, we had to cut and paste and translate texts, the majority were not Hawaiian books, they contained American perspectives. Nowdays, the program has really progressed with a Hawaiian curriculum.” – Kumu Kini Kaawa, Pāhoa High, Hawaiʻi.

“I’m teaching middle school science classes, earth science and astronomy and as there are two perspectives, a Native Hawaiian one and foreign one, I teach both but start with the Hawaiian worldview as a foundation upon which students can build scientific knowledge.” – Kumu Keane Nakapueo-Garcia, Kula ʻo S. M. Kamakau, Oʻahu.

“If you truly cherish the Hawaiian language, you’ll seek ways to enhance it, to advocate for it when necessary to ensure that this deeply loved language endures.” – Kumu Kanoelani Stewart, Lahaina Intermediate, Maui.

“If we consider the independence of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian language is the language of this land…So, for our land and nation to live, the language must live.” – Kumu Simeona Tajiri, Lānaʻi Elementary, Lānaʻi.

Mahalo for all the important work of our kumu in all of our schools – they are our nation builders!

For our language and culture to live, heed this call to action to join in the Hawaiian education movement. Enjoy this video as it shares various learning environments developed by those kumu. We hope it will inform and inspire aspiring kumu to take the next steps to become a kumu.

Mahalo to Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, Kamaʻāina Creations, Kanaeokana and the ʻAha Pūnana Leo for supporting this video project. Gather with family, friends and perhaps your students to watch the video ʻAuhea ʻOukou E Nā Kumu ma https://kumu.kanaeokana.net/.


Makalapua Alencastre, Ed.D., is a parent, grandparent and teacher steadfast in aloha ʻōlelo.

Want to become a kumu?

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a kumu, contact the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education program at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, UH Hilo: https://www.olelo.hawaii.edu/en/haawinakala

There are numerous college scholarships for aspiring kumu: