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Kumu Appreciation stories



forest
May 7, 2025

Meet our kumu: Ashley Kalaiwaʻa — Instilling Hawaiian identity early on

The lead teacher’s goal is for keiki to leave the classroom knowing it is beautiful to be Hawaiian and show aloha.

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forest
May 7, 2025

Meet our kumu: BJ Peloso — Teaching kindergartners aloha ‘āina in the māla

The kindergarten kumu loves watching haumāna work in their campus māla and connect with ʻāina.

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forest
May 7, 2025

Meet our kumu: Cherise Akao — Leading with heart and Hawaiian values

Even though she's only been teaching for three years, the teacher has learned so much about herself as a kumu and kanaka.

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forest
May 6, 2025

Meet our kumu: Kalā Aukai — Empowering growth through connection

The KS Kapālama teacher turned learning specialist was inspired to become a kumu by a college internship at an after-school tutoring center for at-risk youth in Los Angeles.

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forest
May 6, 2025

Meet our kumu: Shirah Minagawa — Growing leaders with core values

The KS Maui learning support specialist is proud to say her haumāna have become community leaders, positively impacting Hawaiʻi.

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forest
May 5, 2025

Meet our kumu: Mara Bacon — Celebrating culture through performance

The Kapālama alum urges new kumu to uphold Hawaiian culture-based education and the values of the E Ola! graduate, celebrating Hawaiʻi’s unique heritage in the classroom.

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forest
May 5, 2025

Meet our kumu: Michael Oliver — Elevating student voices through English language arts

The KS Maui teacher became an educator to have meaningful conversations with students and advocate for those who feel invisible.

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forest
May 5, 2025

Meet our kumu: Carl Pao — Inspiring creativity through art

The art teacher encourages new kumu to be authentic, teach to their strengths, and bring unwavering passion to their work every day.

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forest
May 5, 2025

Meet our kumu: Piʻikea Kihe — Teaching aloha through ʻike kūpuna

The preschool kumu grew up with a deep aloha for education, inspired by her mother's dedication.

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forest
May 9, 2024

Kumu appreciation week: ʻIke Hawaiʻi inspires next wave of Kapālama scientists and stewards

Bethany Kimokeo pioneers a Hawaiian language marine science course at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, moving the needle of ʻike Hawaiʻi in the classroom.

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forest
May 8, 2024

Kumu appreciation week: Embracing creativity and E Ola! at Kamehameha Schools Maui

Kamehameha Schools Maui kumu Robin Prais fosters growth mindsets through innovative teaching methods that contribute to students’ success.

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forest
May 7, 2024

Kumu Appreciation Week: Student empowerment and identity drive education innovation at KS Hawaiʻi

At Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi, teachers like Kaipo Bowman-Tam and leilani portillo are bridging traditional teaching methods with innovative approaches to empower students.

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forest
May 6, 2024

Mahalo piha e nā hoa kumu!

Taking a moment to celebrate our kumu this week during National Teacher Appreciation week.

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forest
May 6, 2024

Kumu Appreciation Week: Celebrating KS Preschools kumu

As part of Kumu Appreciation Week, we salute the kumu mentoring our youngest learners at KS Preschools across the pae ʻāina.

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forest
May 9, 2023

Mahalo piha e nā kumu!

We appreciate and uplift all of our kumu every day and recognize the important role they have in fulfilling the unique purpose of our kula.

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