Ku Kahakalau

Name Ku Kahakalau

social media @kuakanaka

Age 62

Town/Moku Waipiʻo Valley

Island Hawaiʻi Island

Leadership Category Mālama ʻĀina - Evironmental Sustainability

Nominated by Ileana Ruelas; Elisapeta Lesātele Alaimaleata

Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.

I am a Native Hawaiian educator, researcher, cultural practitioner, grassroots activist, visionary, community leader, traditional songwriter, and expert in Hawaiian language and culture. The first person in the world to earn a Ph.D. in Indigenous Education, I have been a leader in the Hawaiian culture-based education movement for over three decade and founded and directed a number of highly successful, culturally-driven educational programs, including Kanu o ka ʻĀina Charter School. In 2017, my daughter ʻIʻini and I started Kū-A-Kanaka, a native Hawaiian social enterprise, specializing in culture-based consulting and online education, where I am the CED and lead education designer.

Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?

For the past 40+ years my goal has been to educate Hawaiians so they can reach their highest potential, something that is not just important to me but to all Hawaiian mothers and grandmothers, so that we donʻt have to watch our keiki and moʻopuna move to the continent.

Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.

The most important quality of a leader is to be pono and to show aloha to kanaka, ʻāina and akua. As a Hawaiian educator I developed and practice EA, which stands Education with Aloha, since my research confirms that love, compassion, respect and kindness are the most important ingredients in 21st century education, just like they were in ancient times.

Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?

One of my foremost mentors is Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask, whom I learned from and worked for in the 1980s. In addition, there are countless kūpuna who shared their knowledge with me and who have made me a better educator.

What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?

KŪ A KANAKA

What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?

KŪʻOKOʻA