At Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha, our kumu dedicate themselves to shaping the next generation of ʻōiwi leaders. For Kumu Appreciation Week, we’re highlighting some of their efforts to help our haumāna grow, ensuring a bright future for our lāhui.

Meet Kalā Aukai, KS Kapālama

What inspired you to become a kumu?
What inspired me to become a kumu was my college internship at an after-school tutoring center for at-risk youth in Los Angeles. I appreciated the mentoring experience because I was able to make a positive impact on my haumāna by being a consistent presence in their lives. A caring and trustworthy adult who believed in them was a key component to ensure that they were on a path toward success and I was in awe at the level of growth that my haumāna achieved because of their dedication. Ultimately, my internship led me to apply for an alternative teaching certification program after graduating from college, which allowed me to return to O‘ahu and teach in the DOE, then at Kamehameha Schools.

Tell us about a time you saw your haumāna use what they’ve learned to make a difference. What did that mean to you?
This is the first time in my ten years of teaching that I was able to follow my haumāna to the next grade level since I recently shifted from being an English kumu to a learning support specialist. Being able to witness my students’ growth has been inspiring. From seeing their self-efficacy develop to watching them take on leadership roles, I am privileged that I get to be a part of their whole middle school learning experience plus play a role in their advancement. I chose to be an educator to empower the next generation; however, I feel that they educate me more than I teach them. My haumāna have shown me how to be resilient and how to maintain a growth mindset since they have continued to be a source of encouragement and strength for me.

What’s one lesson you hope your haumāna carry forward?
I hope that haumāna carry forward the lesson of viewing setbacks as learning opportunities. Although easier said than done, I push haumāna to reframe their mistakes as areas for personal growth that they can utilize to build a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. It is okay to be disappointed at the onset, but I encourage haumāna not to let their errors define them but to focus on what can be learned. When I encounter hardships, I reflect on how innovative our kūpuna were with far fewer resources than we have today. I ground myself in their strength because of the brilliance they radiated in the face of adversity, misfortune, and oppression. In the end, when I recall what our kūpuna were able to persist through, I feel motivated to persevere in my own journey.

What’s your advice for new kumu embracing this kuleana?
My advice is to prioritize pilina and develop their knowledge of the haumāna. Once haumāna know that the kumu cares, they will be more likely to engage in class. I accumulate data of students’ backgrounds through ‘ohana surveys, classroom observations, etc., to compose a multifaceted profile of each haumāna to advance their learning and growth. I apply that knowledge to my instruction by implementing their learning style preferences along with various differentiation strategies. Another piece of advice is to hold all haumāna to high standards because that also shows that the kumu cares. If haumāna are being held accountable, they can achieve greatness regardless of their personal circumstances, so remain consistent in challenging the haumāna to reach beyond their present abilities while accommodating their individual needs.

Shout out a fellow kumu who empowers their students every day!
First, I want to shout out all kumu because we put forth our best to impart ‘ike to the next generation with the hope of lifting the lāhui. I am now a part of the middle school student support team, so I appreciate the backing that I have received during my transition. Specifically, I would like to shout out my fellow middle school learning support specialists: Lauren Fonseca-Fiddler, Melanie Mundon and Diane Victor. This job is challenging with the level of coordination, documentation, and intervention necessary to support student success, but my team has been a beacon by providing me with aloha and mana‘o. Since we work with a wide range of haumāna, it is great that we can collaborate on best practices to reach and empower them. Overall, the haumāna are the ones who motivate us because they serve as our reminder of why we do this important work as kumu.

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