Jamie "Tia" Koerte
Name Jamie "Tia" Koerte
social media @tlc_18
Age 37
Town/Moku Kekaha
Island Kauaʻi
Leadership Category Education
Nominated by U`ilani Corr-Yorkman
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.
I am a mother of two boys, Loea and Liloa. I am the middle child and daughter to Mike and Lu Koerte. I am the granddaughter of Moses & Luka Niheu and David & Marlow Koerte. I was born and raised in Kekaha, Kauai while my ohana have roots in Kalaekii, Niihau and Wailua, Kauai. I am passionate about empowering future generations through education and aloha. I am deeply committed to ensuring that the olelo and moomeheu of Niihau live on in perpetuity through curriculum development and production in my role as kumu (teacher) since 2009 and pootumu (director) since 2014.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?
The vision of Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha is to hoohanohano i na tupuna o Niihau - to honor our Niihau ancestors. Embedded within this vision is a strong commitment to strengthen and perpatuate olelo and moomeheu Niihau. As a ninth generation descendent of tupuna and ohana Niihau it is both my personal and professional kuleana to ensure that the vision and mission of this kula are upheld and that the beautiful legacy of our tupuna Niihau lives on forever and are documented and shared with the generations to come.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.
The qualities of leadership I admire the most are courage and compassion. Courage and compassion to me goes hand-in-hand. A compassionate leader is vulnerable enough to recognize and feel the pain, suffering and challenges of a people, community or organization, rather than ignoring it. Secondly they realize that the only way to reverse this and empower ones people, community or organization is to act upon alleviating these adversities and are brave enough to accept the kuleana and leadership role to do so. It is by this definition that I strive to lead with courage and compassion in my own community.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?
I have been inspired by many people throughout my life but my grandma, Tutu Luka Kanahele Niheu, is the one who has inspired me the most in accepting the kuleana of the work I do today. I spent much time in my younger years with Tutu Luka under her lemi (calamansi) tree. Though she was stern, she was the epitome of unconditional aloha. She was grounded in the unwavering love and forgiveness of Ke Akua, she cared deeply for her immediate and extended ohana and was always willing to malama those in need. She was also good fun to be around and hosted a great deal of gatherings and parties in her day. She lived a very simple and humble life in Kalaekii, Niihau and up until her passing on Kauai in 1998. As a native Niihau speaker she barely spoke English which forced me to learn olelo Niihau and made the limited time I spent with her extra special. It is her legacy of unconditional aloha for all things Niihau that inspired me to pursue a teaching career in olelo Hawaii which ultimately led me to Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha and doing the work I do today. E ola ta olelo Niihau.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?
Liberation
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?
Oppression