{"id":194616,"date":"2024-03-28T14:52:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T00:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=194616"},"modified":"2024-03-28T14:52:40","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T00:52:40","slug":"harman-from-hula-to-phd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/03\/28\/harman-from-hula-to-phd\/","title":{"rendered":"From hula to PhD<\/abbr>: UH<\/abbr> Hilo kumu shares \u02bb\u014dlelo Hawai\u02bbi journey"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Kekoa Harman with ʻōlapa<\/span> (dancers) at a Â鶹´«Ã½Hilo hoʻolauleʻa.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Born and raised on Maui, Kekoa Harman, an associate professor of Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language at University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo<\/a>, recalls his ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> (Hawaiian language) journey beginning in the seventh grade at his alma mater, Kamehameha Schools Kap\u0101lama. Growing up, Harman learned many Hawaiian chants and songs, which propelled him to learn ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, to gain a better understanding.<\/p>\n

“I was especially interested in hula,” Harman said. “[That] inspired me to learn the language further so that I could understand what I was chanting, what I was singing, and what I was dancing about.”<\/p>\n

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Kekoa Harman (Photo credit: Cody Yamaguchi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After high school, he continued Hawaiian language at then Maui Community College and earned an associate in arts degree. Hungry for more, Harman came to UH<\/abbr> Hilo, which continues to be recognized for its crucial role in the revitalization and advancement of Hawaiian language. He would go on to secure a BA<\/abbr> in Hawaiian studies and MA<\/abbr> in Indigenous language and culture education and doctorate in philosophy in Hawaiian and Indigenous language and culture revitalization<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Much more than a degree<\/h2>\n

The Maui native now calls Keaʻau<\/span> home and is thankful to be a kumu ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s Ka Haka ʻUla<\/span> o Keʻelikōlani<\/span><\/a> College of Hawaiian Language. He recognizes teaching Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s mother tongue extends much farther than the Hilo campus.<\/p>\n

“This is a large community when we talk about the Hawaiian language movement, when we look at the preschool all the way up to the college level right here in East Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. We are a part of something that\u2019s much more than just a degree or a Hawaiian language course. We are part of a movement, part of a community,” Harman said.<\/p>\n

Harman is UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s representative for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Papa O Ke Ao<\/a>, a program tasked to create activities in support of UH<\/abbr> being a leader in Indigenous education across all 10 campuses across the UH<\/abbr> system. He\u02bbs also a member of the Hanakahi Council<\/a>—a campus-based group of faculty and staff who are Native Hawaiian or associated with Native Hawaiian programs. In this role, he hopes to promote Native Hawaiian culture and language on campus.<\/p>\n

For more go to UH<\/abbr> Hilo Stories<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n

—By N\u0101pua Iolana Bicoy<\/p>\n