Why did you choose Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani?

I chose to attend Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani so that I could deepen my understanding of the Hawaiian language, culture, and history. Unfortunately, I was not raised speaking ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, and it was not heard in the house while I was growing up. It was my hope to learn how to speak ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, practice Hawaiian culture, and tell Hawaiian stories and pass those on to my ʻohana.

What is the value of Ka Haka ʻUla to you?

When I was about to graduate from high school, I had heard that Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani was the best Hawaiian Studies program to become fluent in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. However, when I actually immersed myself in the program, there was so much more to learn besides understanding and speaking Hawaiian on a surface level. One of the most valuable things that I have learned here is to think from a Hawaiian perspective. Rather than putting my English thoughts into Hawaiian words, I have learned to contextualize my thoughts through a Hawaiian lens and then my speech follows.

How did you grow as a person and how was your life impacted because of your time at Ka Haka ʻUla?

Because I pursued my education at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, my knowledge and skill in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi has greatly increased, my understanding of Hawaiian history and culture has grown immensely, and my Hawaiian identity has been firmly cemented as a part of who I am. I was able to not only learn about the revitalization efforts for ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in an academic setting, but also engage with the movement by working at Hale Kuamoʻo and the Ka Haka ʻUla admin office, being able to work with the community in those spaces.