The Staff

Kumu 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.

Kumu Malina Waiʻaleʻale-Battad 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 Kamāliʻi Haumea-Thronas is the Kumu Alakaʻi for papa ʻehā.

Kumu Kiwaʻa Hermosura is the Kumu Alakaʻi for papa ʻelima.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Kumu Damian Nash is new to Kawaikini, as the Secondary Science and HS Math teacher. He grew up in Boulder, Colorado, then lived in Moab, Utah, for 20 years before moving to Kauaʻi in 2012. He taught CTE Engineering, Technology and Construction at Kauaʻi High School for seven years. A National Board Certified Teacher, Nash holds a BA in World Religion and Engineering from the University of Colorado, and also a master’s degree in AI in Neuroscience. He recently completed a M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership and Nā Hopena A’o (“HĀ”). As a career teacher of STEM subjects, his students won the NASA/Boeing International Space Settlement Design Contest in 2007 and 2008. Kumu Nash enjoys swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing, boats, motorcycles and chess. He runs chess tournaments for keiki on Kauaʻi and serves as President of the Hawaiʻi Chess Federation. He is honored to work with the students and staff at Kawaikini, and he is eager to learn more about Hawaiian language and culture.

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 alumnus 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.

Kumu Kekaimana Aki-Jansson serves as a Kumu Kōkua for Kula Haʻahaʻa.

Kumu ʻŌnikiniki Sadaoka serves as a Kumu Kōkua for Kula Haʻahaʻa.

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 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.

Kumu Ryan Gingerich is the Special Education department head of the Na Koʻo 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 Hawaiiʻ 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 third year and enjoying your brilliant haumana. Mahalo nui!

Kumu Brandi Fairbanks is a new Special Education Teacher to 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 she came to Kauaii in 2005 and was employed as an Educational Assistant in Special Education at Kilauea School. During her employment she attended University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa to earn her Special Education teaching license and certificate with a Post Baccalaureate degree. She worked as a Special Education Teacher atʻ Eleʻele Elementary school for 12 years. She looks forward to learning ʻōlelo and being immersed in a true Hawaiian cultural school setting.

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

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.
Kumu Kalei McClellan serves as a Kumu Kōkua Kīnānā for the Nā Koʻo team.

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

Kumu Kalei McClellan serves as a Kumu Kōkua Kīnānā for the Nā Koʻo team.

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

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.

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!

‘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 Social Sciences with a concentration in Psychology from UH West Oʻahu. She has four keiki, all of whom are products of Hawaiian Immersion, and also has four moʻopuna.

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.

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 Makemakika pili i ka moʻomeheu M-12. He kēkelē laepua kona ma ka Haʻawina Hawaiʻi me ke kēkelē laeoʻo ma ke Aʻo Makemakika pili i nā ʻike kuʻuna Hawaiʻi. Hoʻomaha ʻo Kumu Kalikolehua me ka huakaʻi ʻana ma nā aupuni ʻokoʻa o ka honua a me ka heʻenalu ʻana me kāna keiki.

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 and surfing with her keiki.

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.