The Staff

Kumu Kaʻohu 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 alumni of the first graduating class of Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiʻi o Kapaʻa. She has since graduated with an AA degree in Hawaiian Studies. Kumu Kaʻohu has worked at Kawaikini for 5 years and is now in her third 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.

Kumu Moʻiwai is the Kumu Alakaʻi for papa ʻekahi.

Kumu Kaʻiulani Carvalho is the Kumu Alakaʻi for papa ‘elua. She comes to Kawaikini from the island of Hawaiʻi as a Hawaiian medium graduate from Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Hawaiian Studies with emphasis in Hawaiian Language and also a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She has a Graduate Teaching Certificate from Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education and a Master of Arts Degree for Indigenous Language and Culture Education under Kahuawaiola from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She is fluent in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and enjoys community and volunteer work that will support our goal of normalizing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi in our community.

Kumu Kiele Harada is currently serving as the Kumu Alakaʻi for Papa 4, with a strong connection to her ancestral lands of Haleleʻa and Koʻolau. Over the past 15 years, she’s been fortunate to live in the beautiful land of Wailua, Kauaʻi. She’s a product of the Kaiapuni program and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama campus Class of 2012. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science with a focus on Political Science from UH West Oahu, she’s currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Education for Teaching Elementary K-6. Her motto for the year is “Aloha kekahi i kekahi,” reflecting her dedication to fostering a positive learning environment and embodying compassion to express her aloha for mea Hawaiʻi but most importantly for the ʻohana of Kawaikini.

Kumu Pualoke Harada holds the esteemed role of Kumu Alakaʻi for Papa 5, representing the rich heritage of her family. With roots tracing back to the splendid moku of Haleleʻa within the ʻahupuaʻa of Wainiha, she radiates a deep connection to her ancestral lands. A distinguished presence in the Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Kapaʻa, she emerged as a graduate from Kawaikini NCPCS and Kamehameha Schools Kāpālama in May 2012. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, specializing in Political Science from UH West Oahu, Kumu Pualoke is now on the brink of completing her Masters Degree in Education, specializing in K-6 teaching through UH Mānoa. This year, her guiding motto is “Kūlia i ka Nuʻu ” reflecting her goal which is to “Strive to Success” and nurturing students to persevere and be a part of the great work to perpetuate our Native Hawaiian culture forward.

Kumu Kanani Durant is from the ʻili of Peʻaiki, Hanamāʻulu, Kauaʻi. She is the current Kumu Alakaʻi Pilikanaka 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.

Kumu Wahineu`i Waiamau is the Secondary Program’s (6-12) Mathematics Kumu. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Secondary Education with an endorsement in Advanced Mathematics from Concordia University – Portland and recently earned a Master’s of Arts in Educational Leadership from Chaminade University. Kumu Waiamau has been a part of the secondary team since the 2015-2016 school year.

Coming from the fertile clay soils of Papakōlea, ka poli o Puʻuʻōhiʻa, Beau Shishido teaches papa ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi for Kula Kualua, papa 9-12. He graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, attaining his Bachelor of Arts degree in Hawaiian Studies and his Master of Arts degree in Hawaiian Language. He enjoys moʻolelo kahiko published in Hawaiian language newspapers.

Kumu Mahina Nakea teaches English in our Secondary Program, grades 9 – 12 and serves as the department’s pouhana. This is her sixth 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.

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 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 is also on the Board of Directors of ʻAha Punana Leo, 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.

Kumu Sheri Abigania is new to Kula Kawaikini this school year and is teaching English and Study Skills for our middle school classes. Previously, she was a teacher with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, where she taught academic subjects as well as focusing on Hawaiian culture through the arts and gardens using moʻolelo, oli, and mele. Kumu Sheri is also a Hawaiian kapa maker and kumu. She started the Kapa Revival Project in 2012 in order to restore this cultural practice and she continues to work with students of all ages to meet this goal. Her educational credentials include a certificate in Hawaiian Botany, a Bachelorʻs degree in Education, and a Masterʻs degree in Art Education.

Kumu Māhealani was born and raised on Oʻahu and moved to Kauaʻi with her husband, Charlie Cobb-Adams, 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, for circumstances beyond her control, she was not able to do so. She later was able to immerse herself in Polynesian dance and performed throughout Hawaiʻi, the US, and Japan. 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 with Kumu Kanoa and has been loving it ever since! She then started meeting with friends in her bible study class to teach what she was learning in Hawaiian. Last year she joined the Nā Koʻo team as Kumu Kōkua. Having had a son who needed special services while in elementary and middle school, and was able to completely integrate back into the classroom due to the extra help he received, she is grateful and honored to be here at Kawaikini. Kumu Māhealani is the Kumu Kōkua for Secondary.

Kumu Kawailehua currently serves as a Kumu Kōkua in the Elementary Program for Papa M-2.

Kumu Kanani Durant is from the ʻili of Peʻaiki, Hanamāʻulu, Kauaʻi. She is the current Kumu Alakaʻi Pilikanaka 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.

Kumu Leina continues her position as Kawaikiniʻs K-12 school counselor. Born and raised in the moku o Koʻolau, Leina and her kāne raise their little ʻohana in her one hānau o Anahola teaching them to cherish our ʻŌlelo and lāhui Hawaiʻi. Kumu Leina is a makua to one of Kawaikiniʻs second generation haumāna in papa ‘ekolu and a two year old kaikamahine. Leina is a graduate of Kawaikiniʻs class of 2014 and Punana Leo o Kauaʻi. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UH West Oʻahu and a Master of Education in School Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Kumu Leina is fluent in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and excited to be back at Kawaikini as a limahana.

Kumu Ryan is a new member of the Na Ko’o team. He holds a Master’s 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 Hawaiian teaching license includes the following endorsements: English 6-12, Special Education K-12. He is excited to be working on his ‘ōlelo at Kauai’s finest Hawaiian immersion school. Mahalo nui!

Kumu Kamalani Hopkins is a Kumu Kōkua for Nā Koʻo.

Kumu Tahiti is a Kumu Kōkua for Nā Koʻo. She was born in Hilo and raised in Waimea on the island of Hawaiʻi. She attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo as a student in the Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani program and currently resides in Līhuʻe. She is excited to be a part of the Kawaikini ʻohana and to help educate the next generation in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the mother language of our kūpuna.

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 her two keiki. She is excited to play a role in the conservation of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and loves to hear Hawaiian language daily in the workplace!

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

‘Anakē Noe Haumea serves as the School Operations Coordinator and Alakaʻi for Kawaikini’s after-school program Hoʻopākela. She is a Kamehameha School graduate and was a stay-at-home mom until a couple of years ago, when she decided to go back to school. ‘Anakē Noe has earned her Associates in Arts degree in Hawaiian Studies from Kauaʻi Community College and her Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a concentration in Psychology from UH West Oʻahu. She has four keiki, all of whom are products of Hawaiian Immersion. The oldest graduated from Kawaikini in 2011. Her youngest now attends Kamehameha, and her two daughters are graduates of Kamehameha. She also has three moʻopuna. ʻAnakē Noe served as Treasurer for Nā Hulu Makua for five years, and is presently on the Kawaikini Governing Board. In her free time, she volunteers on the Kamehameha Parent Board (KSAK), and also enjoys traveling with her keiki.

Kumu Nāmomi McCorriston is Kawaikini’s Academic Director. She has taught preschool at Pūnana Leo o Kauaʻi for four years and in grades K-2 at Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Kapaʻa elementary school for three years. 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 recently graduated from Chaminade University in April 2022 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 was part of the founding Kumu of Kawaikini NCPCS. Nāmomi is a mother of four children and two grandchildren. Kumu Nāmomi enjoys spending time with family, traveling, swimming, and taking walks near the ocean.