The Staff

5Kumu Kaʻohu Harada is the Kumu Alakaʻi for Papa Mālaaʻo. She was raised here on Kauaʻi in the moku of Haleleʻa under the care of Maunahina, the ipo noenoe of Makana, and the ʻehukai kai of Hāʻena. . She is a vested and an active member of her family and community through which she has practiced how to be of service to others, a collaborator and building ʻohana. She is an alumnus of the first graduating class of Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiʻi o Kapaʻa. Kumu Kaʻohu has worked at Kawaikini for 5 years and is now in her fourth year teaching Papa Mālaa‘o. She is proud to be a part of Kawaikini, as it is the actualization of dreams held by Kaiapuni alumni, parents, and Kumu from so many years ago.

Contact: kumukaohu@kawaikini.com

Kumu Malina Waiʻaleʻale Battad is the Kumu Alakaʻi for papa ʻekahi. She was born and raised here on Kauaʻi in the moku of Puna. After attending Punana Leo ʻo Kauaʻi as well as Kawaikini, she graduated from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama and has continued studies for Bachelors in ʻŌlelo and ʻIke Hawaiʻi. Her passions include hula, holoholo, and spending time with ʻohana. As a first year Kumu, Kumu Malina is very humbled and excited to have the opportunity to see and be a part of the revitalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi through the next generation of ʻoiwi leaders.

Contact: kumumalina@kawaikini.com

Kumu Imi Santos is the Kumu Alakaʻi for papa ‘elua. Daughter to Herman and Becky Santos. Born on Maui, raised in Anahola since 2003. She graduated from Kapaʻa High School leading her to obtain her education and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She was granted the opportunity to go to the University of Waikato to study Māori language and culture for a semester. She is pīhoihoi to be teaching the hanauna hou in our ʻōlelo makuahine.

Contact: kumuimi@kawaikini.com

Kumu Kamāliʻi Haumea-Thronas is the Kumu Alakaʻi for papa ʻehā. She hails from Olohena, Puna, Kauaʻi and is a previous attendee of Kawaikini from the first papa mālaaʻo class in 2008 to her 6th grade year. She then went on to graduate with honors from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama (ʻ21) and graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi with her BA in Political Science. This is her second year as a kumu alakaʻi, but she was a substitute teacher at Kawaikini for a few years prior. In her spare time, Kamāliʻi enjoys riding dirt bikes and engaging in local environmental and native rights politics. She is stoked to fill in as the 4th grade kumu this year and kākoʻo the next generation of young ʻōiwi leaders.

Contact: kumukamalii@kawaikini.com

Kumu Kīwaʻa Hermosura is the Kumu Alakaʻi for papa 5. Born and raised in Hanalei Kauaʻi, he makes his trek each morning from Haleleʻa to teach the very class of his moku here at Kawaikini. Kumu Kīwaʻa graduated from Kamehameha Schools Kapalama class of ʻ22 and has continued studies for a BA in Hawaiian Language and Botany. In his spare time he loves to holoholo, read, and play Hawaiian music.

Contact: kumukiwaa@kawaikini.com

Kumu Hāmiha Arquette teaches papa ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi for kula waena, grades 6-8. She was born and raised in Waimea Valley and is an alumna of Waimea High School and UH Mānoa. Hāmiha holds a dual Bachelors of Arts degree in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and ʻIke Hawaiʻi with emphasis on Kūkulu Aupuni and Mālama ʻĀina, as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate in secondary education, specifically in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Prior to moving back home to Kauaʻi, Kumu Hāmiha taught and worked at Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Ānuenue and Roosevelt High School. She enjoys working alongside the haumāna at Kawaikini and watching them grow in their ʻŌlelo Makuahine.

Contact: kumuhamiha@kawaikini.com

Kumu Kanani Durant is from the ʻili of Peʻaiki, Hanamāʻulu, Kauaʻi. She is the current Kumu Alakaʻi Pili Kanaka for pae Kualua 6-12. She is a graduate of Kauaʻi High School and holds a BA degree in Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Kumu Kanani also attended a Political Science Graduate program at UH Mānoa focused on indigenous studies. Upon returning to Kauaʻi, she developed and implemented a curriculum focused on Hawaiian cultural and ʻāina based education, providing these resources to various educational institutions including Kawaikini over the past 15 years.

Contact: kumukanani@kawaikini.com

Kumu Mahina Nakea teaches English in our Secondary Program, grades 9 – 12 and serves as the department’s pouhana. This is her seventh year at Kawaikini. Mahina came to Kawaikini from Kapa‘a Middle School, where she was a SPED instructor; and Island School, where she taught fourth-grade English. Mahina holds a Bachelors of Arts in English from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate in secondary English. She also taught many years at Kamehameha School, Kapālama Campus as the fourth-sixth grade art teacher. She enjoys participating in aloha ‘āina huaka’i and feels that as a Hawaiian and a kumu, it is her responsibility to support the mission of Kawaikini.

Contact: kumumahina@kawaikini.com

Kumu Mālia ‘Alohilani Kuala Rogers is the Cultural Specialist and is currently teaching the Kapa course to Papa 12. She has taught in the field of Hawaiian language education for over 30 years, where she has taught at the elementary, middle school, adult education and community college levels. She has also helped develop and translate materials used in the Hawaiian language education program. Kumu ʻAlohilani has a BA in Hawaiian Language from the University of Hawaiʻi and certification in elementary education. She was previously on the Board of Directors of ʻAha Punana Leo, and currently serves on the Boards of Mālama Mahāʻulepū, and Namahana Charter School. Her goal is to see the revitalization of the Hawaiian Language and culture here in Hawaiʻi through the education of our kamaliʻi, with a specific emphasis on Kauaʻi. She enjoys spending time with her ʻohana and reading, especially stories and articles from old Hawaiian language newspapers and books. Kumu ʻAlohilani was our previous Academic Director.

Contact: kumualohilani@kawaikini.com

O Kumu Nāinoa Alefaio kekahi o na kumu alakai o ke kula kiekie. Alakai hoi oia i na papa pili helu, hooikaika kino, a me ka papa Manokalanipo. O ka hau o Maunakea kona nio, na ke ahi o Maunaloa hoi kona mole, he pua ohia ia o moku Pele, kahi ana i haumana ai ma na kula kaiapuni o Ka Umeke Kaeo ame ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino mai ka punana oluolu o Punana Leo o Hilo a i ka papa 9. I ka malu o na puu o Kaimuki ame Laeahi a keia i puka aku ai mai ke kula kiekie o Kaimuki ma ka makahiki 2019, go bulldogs. He palapala laeuhai a laepua kona mai ke kulanui o Hawaii ma Manoa laua o ke kulanui kaiaulu o Kapiolani mai ka papahana haawina Hawaii o na kulanui elua. I keia makahiki kula 25-26 e ko ana oia i kona palapala laeoo mai ke kula haawina Hawaii o UH Manoa ma o ka noii nowelo ana i kekahi moolelo kahiko i pai ia ma na nupepa. O ka moolelo o na kupuna o Hawaii nei ko Kumu Nāinoa puni o ka puni. Ke ike ia oia e kilohi wale ana aku i kekahi mea, i ka nui o ka manawa, ke noonoo nei oia no kekahi mea i pili i ke kupanaha o ko kakou poe kupuna hiwahiwa i ka noeau. Hoihoi loa o Kumu Nāinoa i ka launa ana ame ke ao pu ana me kela keia haumana, kumu, hoa kaiaulu, a ohana pu no hoi o ke kula nani hoi i ka malie o Kawaikini nei.

Contact: kumunainoa@kawaikini.com

No Wailuanuiahōʻano ma ka moku ʻo Puna mai ʻo Kumu Kawailehua Hamberg. Mai ka makahiki 2019-2023 he Kumu Alakaʻi Papa 1 hoʻi ʻo ia. I kēia makahiki naʻe, noho ʻo ia ma ke ʻano he Kumu Alakaʻi papa ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi 9-12. Hoʻomaka hoʻi kona aʻo ʻana i ka ʻōlelo mai kona wā Pūnana Leo, a komo i ka papahana kaiapuni ma Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kapaʻa. Puka kula naʻe ʻo ia mai ke kula ʻo Kawaikini NCPCS i ka makahiki 2014 a holomua aku i ke Kula Nui ʻo Hawaiʻi ma Mānoa. Puka akula ʻo ia me nā palapala ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a me ka ʻIke Hawaiʻi (Kūkulu Aupuni) ma lalo ʻo ke kula o Hawaiʻinuiākea. Haʻaheo wale ʻo ia e hoʻi mai i Kawaikini nei ma ke ʻano he Kumu. 

From Wailuanuiahōʻano, Puna, Kauaʻi, Kumu Kawailehua Hamberg served as the Kumu Alakaʻi in Papa 1 from 2019-2023. She now serves as the Kumu ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi for papa 9-12. She is an alumna of the Hawaiian language immersion program which began at Pūnana Leo. She continued her educational journey at Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kapaʻa and completed her high school diploma at Kawaikini NCPCS. She has received her Bachelor’s Degree as a double major in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and ʻIke Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies) with a focus in Kūkulu Aupuni (Envisioning the Nation) under Hawaiʻinuiākea at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is proud to return to Kawaikini and her community here on Kauaʻi.

Contact: kumukawailehua@kawaikini.com

Kumu Shelby Wilson teaches Papa ʻEpekema for grades 6-11. She holds a Bachelors of Applied Science in Hawaiian and Indigenous Health and Healing from UHWO and is currently pursuing Bachelors degrees in Hawaiian Studies and WGSS from UHMānoa and a Teacher Certification from Kahoʻiwai, a program designed to cultivate kumu who are devoted to nurturing naʻauao in every Hawaiian child. Kumu Shelby is a Notary Public who has studied Sustainability and Biculturalism with Otago Polytechnic in Aotearoa where she is also a Legal Executive. She serves as the President of the Friends of Kapaʻa Library and the Secretary Treasurer of the Kekahu Foundation. Kumu Shelby is grateful for the blessing of mothering ʻeono keiki and enjoys ʻōlelo ‘ōiwi, aʻo, heluhelu, kākau, kuke ʻai pono, mālama loʻi, kuʻi ʻai, aloha ʻāina, a me nā mea ā pau i waho o mau hale 🙂

Contact: kumushelby@kawaikini.com

Kumu Lilia Gutierrez-Kelley serves as a Kumu Kōkua for Kula Haʻahaʻa. She was born and raised in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi. She then attended kula kamaliʻi at Pūnana Leo o Kauaʻi. From there, she then attended ke kula hoʻāmana ʻo Kawaikini. After she graduated from Kawaikini, she shortly started her journey of being a kumu by going back to her piko. While working at Pūnana Leo o Kauaʻi, it was there that she realized how much she not only loves working with keiki, but also how passionate she is at maintaining, and teaching ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. From Pūnana Leo ʻo Kauaʻi, she then returned back to Kawaikini. Where she continues to pursue her passion of hōʻola ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, and lending a helping hand in any ways she can.

Contact: kumulilia@kawaikini.com

Kumu Māhealani was born and raised on Oʻahu and moved to Kauaʻi with her husband in 2001. She worked alongside her husband doing conservation work, trail building and guiding for twenty years, and together, did voluntary work for the State and Mālama Huleʻia. From a young child, her desire was to learn Hawaiian but was not able to so she immersed herself in Polynesian dance.  She danced professionally for 20 years and taught Tahitian, Hawaiian, Samoan and Maori dances for 17 years. Then in 2018, she was encouraged to attend the Papa Makua at Kawaikini and has been loving it ever since!  In 2021 she was honored to join the Nā Koʻo team as Kumu Kōkua and in 2022 she became a Kumu Kōkua for Secondary.

Contact: kumumahealani@kawaikini.com

Kumu Kamahina Giminiz serves as a Kumu Kōkua for Kula Haʻahaʻa. She was born and raised on the island of Kauaʻi. She attended Pūnana Leo o Kauaʻi as well as Kawaikini then later moved to the island of Hawaiʻi and graduated from Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. Then she later moved back to her homeland, and now is excited to kōkua with expanding the kuanaʻike and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to the next generation.

Contact: kumukamahina@kawaikini.com

Kumu Kamalani Hopkins serves as a Kumu Kōkua Kīnānā for the Nā Koʻo team.

He haumāna papahana ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi ʻo Kumu Kamalani. Mai ka Pūnana Leo, a i ka puka ana mai Kawaikini i ka makahiki 2015. No ka moku ʻo Koʻolau (Anahola), a me ka moku ʻo Puna (Kōloa) mai ʻo ia. He makua ʻo ia i ʻelua keikikāne, a o ka muli, he haumāna papa malaaʻo ma Kawaikini. Ua hoʻomaka kona aʻo ana i nā kamaliʻi ma ka Pūnana Leo ʻo Kauaʻi ma hope pono o kona puka kula ana, mai ka makahiki 2015-2020, a laila neʻe aku e komo i ke kūlana kumu kōkua ma Kawaikini. I ka makahiki 2022, ua neʻe i ke kūlana kumu kākoʻo Kīnana kula kiʻekiʻe, a mau nō i kēia manawa. He kumu kākoʻo pū ʻo ia no ka papa Manokalanipō no ka papa 9-10. Ua hoʻi nō i ka piko.

Contact: kumukamalani@kawaikini.com

Kumu Kalei is kumu kokua for kula haʻahaʻa and kula kualua.

Contact: kumukalei@kawaikini.com

Kumu Ryan Gingerich is the Special Education department head of the nā Koʻo team.  He holds a Masters in Education from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.  This is the third Hawaiian charter school he’s had the opportunity to enjoy.  His Hawaiʻi teaching license includes the following endorsements: English 6-12, Special Education K-12.  He is excited to be working on his ‘ōlelo at Kauaʻi’s finest Hawaiian immersion school. He is starting his fourth year at Kawaikini and is enjoying the brilliant haumāna.

Contact: kumuryan@kawaikini.com

Kumu Brandi Fairbanks is now in her 2nd year of teaching Special Education  at Kawaikini. She moved to Hawai’i island, Kona side one week after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Development from Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo, CA in 1991. With her three keiki born in Kealakekua she came to Kauaʻi in 2005 and was employed as an Educational Assistant in Special Education at Kilauea School.  During her employment as an EA she attended University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa to earn her Special Education teaching license and certificate with a Post Baccalaureate degree.  She taught as a Special Education Teacher atʻ Eleʻele Elementary School for 12 years. She enjoys teaching and learning ʻōlelo and being immersed in a true Hawaiian cultural school setting.

Contact: kumubrandi@kawaikini.com

Kumu Devi Berg serves as our Student Services Coordinator/Academic Coach. Devi born and raised in Kilauea, currently lives in Kapahi with her ‘ohana. Kumu Devi holds a Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education and a Bachelors of Arts in Natural Science from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She also has her Hawaiʻi State Teacher’s License in both Elementary Education, K-6 field and the Teacher Leader Field.

Contact: kumudevi@kawaikini.com

ʻAnakē Patty Lingaton serves as our bus driver for the South/West route.

Contact: anakepatty@kawaikini.com

ʻAnakē DeeDee Gorospe serves as our bus driver for the North/East route. She has worked in the hospitality, business, and education industries for years before working with Akita Enterprises Ltd. in 1998 as a bus aide and began driving vans and buses in 2000. In the early years of Kawaikini, Akita Enterprises was contracted for our bus service and ʻAnakē DeeDee was our driver for several years. She retired from Akita Enterprises in July 2023 and began at Kawaikini shortly afterward. She also holds certificates in American Sign Language and Early Childcare. Her passion is working with kūpuna and children of all ages. Her hobbies include growing orchids, bonsai plants, and raising koi.

Contact: kumudeedee@kawaikini.com

ʻAnakē Keʻala Bristol serves as the school’s Student Administrative Services Assistant (SASA). Keʻala studied Journalism and Public Relations at Hawaiʻi Pacific University in Honolulu, where she also began her journey learning ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Keʻala lives in Puhi with her husband and two keiki. She is excited to contribute to the preservation of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and treasures the opportunity to hear Hawaiian language daily in the workplace.

Contact: keala@kawaikini.com

‘Anakē Noe Haumea serves as the School Operations Coordinator and Alakaʻi for Kawaikini’s after-school program Hoʻopākela. She is a Kamehameha School graduate. ‘Anakē Noe has earned her Associates in Arts degree in Hawaiian Studies from Kauaʻi Community College and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UH West Oʻahu. She has four keiki, all of whom are products of Hawaiian Immersion, and also has four moʻopuna.

Contact: noe@kawaikini.com

ʻAnakē ʻAuliʻi Herrod serves as Kawaikiniʻs Administrative Manager. ‘Auliʻi started ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi in Papa Malaaʻo at Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kapaʻa. She is a graduate of Kawaikini, Class of 2013.

Contact: aulii@kawaikini.com

ʻO Kumu Kalikolehua Goo ke Poʻokumu o Kawaikini.  No ka moku o Puna mai ʻo ia ma ka mokupuni o Hawaiʻi.  He hana kona ma ke aʻo akula pili i ka mālama ʻana i nā kaianoho Hawaiʻi a me ke kūpaʻa ʻana ma ka ʻōlelo me ka loina kuʻuna Hawaiʻi no 21 mau makahiki me nā haumāna kula pēpē a i ka papa 12.  He palapala aʻo ko Kumu Kalikolehua ma ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi M-6 a me ka Pili Helu Moʻomeheu M-12.  He kēkelē laepua kona ma ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi me ke kēkelē laeoʻo ma ke Aʻo Pili Helu pili i nā ʻike kuʻuna Hawaiʻi.  Nanea ʻo Kumu Kalikolehua i ka huakaʻi ʻana ma nā aupuni ʻokoʻa o ka honua, ka hele wāwae ʻana me kāna ʻīlio, ʻo Weʻa, a me ka heʻenalu ʻana me kāna keiki, ʻo Haʻakoa.

Kumu Kalikolehua Goo is Kawaikiniʻs Academic Director.  She is originally from the moku of Puna on Hawaiʻi island.  She has worked in environmental, indigenous, and Hawaiian focused education for the past 21 years with students from preschool to grade 12.  Kumu Kalikolehua currently holds a Hawaii state teaching license in K-6 Hawaiian immersion and K-12 Ethnomathematics.  She also holds a bachelorʻs degree in Hawaiian Studies, and a masterʻs degree in Mathematics education with a focus on Hawaiian culture-based mathematics.  Kumu Kaliko enjoys traveling abroad, taking her dog Weʻa for walks, and surfing with her keiki, Haʻakoa. 

Contact: pookumu.kaliko@kawaikini.com

Kumu Nāmomi McCorriston is Kawaikiniʻs new Executive Director. She taught preschool at Pūnana Leo o Kauaʻi for four years, and grades K-2 at Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Kapaʻa for three years. Nāmomi was part of the founding Kumu of Kawaikini NCPCS. Kumu Nāmomi currently holds a BA degree in Hawaiian Studies – Ōlelo Hawaiʻi as well as her Elementary Teaching License from Brigham Young University Hawaiʻi, where she served as the President of the Hawaiian Club. Kumu Nāmomi graduated from Chaminade University with a Masterʻs degree in Educational Leadership and a certification from Kahoʻiwai. She is a dedicated educator with a passion for teaching Hawaiian culture and language. Kumu Nāmomi is fluent in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. She has served two terms on Kawaikiniʻs Governing Board. Nāmomi is a mother of four children and has two grandchildren. Kumu Nāmomi enjoys spending time with family, traveling, swimming, and taking walks near the ocean.

Contact: pookula.namomi@kawaikini.com