Nicole Kūwalu Anakalea
Name Nicole Kūwalu Anakalea
Age 49
Town/Moku Wailuku, Maui
Island Hawaiʻi Island
Social Media Handle Hauhoa Place
Nominated by Pomai Bertelmann
Leadership Category Education
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.
I am a Social Studies Teacher who emphasizes on Hawaiian history and culture. I teach grades K-5 and 8th grade Hawaiian Studies. I service over 150 students per week. I teach history and culture through an indigenous lens.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?
The Hawaiian culture is not something I only learned in school; it is my lifestyle. I love to teach the children of Hawaii and believe that all children have the ability and an inherited right to know, understand and appreciate the special place in which we all live. As a teacher it is important to inspire, grow, and create critical thinkers in our community who one day will be the major decision makers in our global society. As we continue to spread “Aloha” throughout the world, it is important for all to truly feel and understand the deeper meaning of this word, as we all know that the world needs our Aloha.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.
A leader leads by doing, modeling, and sharing their vulnerabilities. Leaders recognize the potential in their followers and allows the followers to grow through trial and tribulations, without judgment, but with compassion. A good leader listens to their followers, allows them to be a part of the important conversations, decision making processes, and reflective process.
I like to use the he'e or octopus as my metaphor of a good leader. The head represents the leader, the one who knows what needs to be done and makes the tentacles ('awe) move. However, each tentacle has the ability to move independently allowing the he'e to be one of the most productive animals. I see my students as my tentacle, each with a talent, each willing to do the work that is needed, and each acting independently according to the task that is needed to be completed. I also believe that the leader can change and become the tentacle. That is what I teach my students! When they lead, I will help to support in any way I can bringing my talents forward. Knowing when to lead and when to be a good support or 'awe is the key to good leadership.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?
My grandmother predicted a long time ago that I would be a teacher. I did not believe nor was that the career I wanted. After my grandmother passed, I applied for an office position at a Hawaiian Charter School, Kanu o ka 'Āina where thankfully the Director Kū Kahakalau saw my talents and encouraged me to be in the classroom as a teacher. After a few years, I was able to get my teaching license through Hālau Wanana, a Hawaiian focused teacher licensing program and became a highly qualified teacher in Hawaii. My hula training and 'uniki also forced me to teach. My teachings under my Kumu Taupouri Tangarō has been one of the greatest gifts of my life, both as a student and as a teacher. As a Kumu hula, it is important to see each student as an individual who helps to create the collective message. It is because of the mentors that I have surrounded myself with and the high level of expectations that these mentors have put on me that I have strived for my own excellence in the classroom and hope to bring out the excellence in my students each day!
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?
Awakening!
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?
Sustainablity!