Kamalani Johnson is a scholar rooted in Kahana, Oʻahu, specializing in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and moʻolelo Hawaiʻi. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, focusing on Indigenous politics and political theory, with a graduate certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Holding BA degrees in Hawaiian Studies and Linguistics, and an MA in Indigenous Language and Culture Education, his research delves into Hawaiian ethnoecological chants and Kanaka Maoli intellectual sovereignty. With over 20 years of experience in Hawaiian language revitalization, Kamalani has been involved as both a student and educator, contributing significantly to the preservation and teaching of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
About Kīpuka Moʻolelo
He papa hana hou ʻo Kīpuka Moʻolelo e hāpai aʻe ana i ka ʻōlelo, moʻomeheu, a kuanaʻike Hawaiʻi ma ka hoʻonaʻauao, kālaiʻāina, mele, a hoʻopaipai pū. Ma ka holo ʻana o ka papa hana, nānā ʻia ka moʻolelo o kekahi o nā koa o ke aukahi hoʻōla ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, a pēlā pū hoʻi nā kānaka e ʻaʻa nei i nā palena o ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. He papa hana laulima ʻo Kīpuka Moʻolelo na ʻŌiwi TV, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, ke Kikowaena Kilo Hōkū ʻo ʻImiloa, a me ke Koleke ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi ʻo Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani.
Kīpuka Moʻolelo is a new series exploring the contemporary use of the Hawaiian language, culture, and perspective in the areas of education, politics, music, and advocacy. Over the course of the series, we learn about the journey of a few early proponents of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement as well as others who are pushing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi into new domains. Kīpuka Moʻolelo is a collaboration between ʻŌiwi TV, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, and Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
