J. Kahealani Lono
Kumu Aʻo
Kahealani Lono was born in Frankfurt, Germany, but raised in Kāneʻohe, Koʻolau Poko, Oʻahu. She earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Hawaiian language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Her master’s thesis titled, “He Mana Ko Ka ʻŌlelo Makuahine” speaks about kūpuna who wrote articles to the Hawaiian language newspaper expressing their concerns about the decline of Hawaiian language and the importance to resist this language shift. While analyzing these articles, it became clear that kānaka maoli came from a genealogy rooted in aloha ʻāina and the continuance of native identity. Kahealani teaches Hawaiian 101 – 202 and also enjoys teaching the Hawaiian 100 FGB where she meets students from all over the world. Because of her desire to work with international and non-traditional students, she completed a second masters degree in the college of education to improve the quality of online classes and to offer Hawaiian language across the honua. With the knowledge provided by the learning design and technology program, her current passion is to offer more online classes.