a dream come true

from Hualalai Magazine - Summer/Fall 2023

the Worth Wait

Where does your passion for sharing Hawaiian culture and language come from?

› My parents didn’t grow up learning about Hawaiian culture, and they wanted to make sure their children had the opportunity. I was enrolled in a Hawaiian-language immersion school and developed a love of Hawaiian music as a member of the Hawai‘i Youth Opera Chorus and the Kamehameha Schools Concert Glee Club. I continued learning by spending time with masters of traditional practices at Honolulu’s Bishop Museum, and I connected with Hawai‘i’s voyaging traditions by participating in a sailing expedition on board the canoe Hōkūle‘a for three months.

My parents’ desire for us to embrace our culture and history became a part of me. My family are my ﬁ rst teachers, but I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have many great teachers along the way. It’s truly a dream for me to come to work and talk about Hawaiian language and culture all day.

What is your vision for the Ka‘ūpūlehu Cultural Center’s role in connecting Members, guests, and employees with the culture of Hawai‘i?

› Hawaiian culture can be found everywhere on our property, and it goes far beyond the four walls of our center. If you’re playing golf, you should know that the land you’re golﬁ ng on has a rich history. One of my goals is to perpetuate Hawaiian culture across the whole Resort, whether through our food, the music we play, or the language we use.

How do you convince guests to get up oﬀ their sun loungers and come for an educational experience while on vacation?

› If I have to convince someone, then maybe it’s not

(Kaulumāhiehie Amaral) is a well-known solo hula dancer throughout the entire Kona coast and incredible with lei making, and Micah De Aguiar is a professional musician and lover of Hawaiian history. You’ll always hear unique stories here, because each lesson is tied to one of us, the teachers we’ve learned from, and the local communities we are part of. We all pass on knowledge and teachings from our kūpuna, our elders, so that it’s not forgotten.

What kind of programs are you looking to add?

› We have different months dedicated to different themes. January is Mu‘umu‘u Month in Hawai‘i, and we’ve been able to introduce Hawaiian fashion and design into our history talks. I’d also love to see more music throughout the entire property. Our music plays such an important role in preserving Hawaiian language and history through song. Maybe one day you’ll hear the whole staff singing. It would be such a powerful gift to welcome people or send them off with chanting and song.

Is the center more than a one-shot experience?

› There’s something new to learn every time you come to us. When people say to me, “I’ve already been, I don’t have to do that again,” I challenge them. If they made a bracelet last time, I ask if they want to try making a water bottle cover or a bracelet with a diﬀerent pattern. Even if it’s your twentieth visit to the Resort, there’s always something new to learn. You’re gaining additional knowledge from the previous lesson and experiencing it with us.

What do you hope visitors take away?

› I think many guests come to us with a certain expectation, but they leave with something completely diﬀerent. We had one guest who came to make a lei, and when she left, she told us she felt as if she had a new family member. The connection she made with the Aunty who taught her was so strong. I also want to think about what our guests can leave this place. When I visit places, I want to leave them better than I ﬁ nd them, and I’d like visitors to think about not only what they can take away, but also what they can give to Hawai‘i. What can they contribute? That question about how we can leave places better than we found them is very important. It helps us all become better travelers who care for and respect the places we visit.